Recent Blog Posts
Strategies for Preventing Escalating Estate Feuds
Not only about drafting documents, estate planning is a tool to protect your loved ones from unnecessary stress after you’re gone. Yet even families that get along well can find themselves in heated disputes over wills, trusts, and inheritances. These conflicts can become costly, emotional, and deeply damaging to relationships. The good news is… Read More »
What Is Self-Dealing and Favoritism in Estate Administration?
When a loved one passes away, the administration of their estate should be handled fairly, transparently, and in accordance with Florida law. Unfortunately, disputes sometimes arise when the personal representative of the estate engages in actions that raise questions of self-dealing or favoritism. It is important to be informed and know how various factors… Read More »
Courts and Resolving Disputes Over Guardianship in Florida
Guardianship is one of the most sensitive areas of elder law. It arises when an adult is no longer able to manage their own affairs due to age, illness, or disability, or when a child needs someone to handle their personal or financial matters. In Florida, guardianship is a legal relationship created and supervised… Read More »
6 Reasons Sibling Disputes Arise in Estate Matters
Comfort and unity can come from family members when someone passes away. Yet there are also situations where estate matters bring long-simmering tensions to the surface. Siblings, individuals who share one or both parents, may suddenly find themselves in conflict over inheritances, responsibilities, and family dynamics. Family disputes can complicate grieving, fracture relationships, and… Read More »
Why DIY Estate Planning Can Backfire
In today’s digital age, do-it-yourself (DIY) legal templates and online estate planning tools are popular. But while these templates may seem like a quick and cost-effective way to prepare for the future, DIY estate planning can come with serious risks. Florida law has unique requirements when it comes to wills, trusts, and other estate… Read More »
Forgery in Estate Documents and What to Do About It
Meant to provide peace of mind, estate documents are drafted so that a person’s final wishes are honored and their assets are distributed as intended. Yet that peace can be disrupted when someone suspects that a will, trust, or other estate document has been forged or tampered with. In Florida, forgery in estate planning… Read More »
Intestate Succession and Common Arguments Among Heirs
A Florida estate is distributed according to the state’s intestate succession laws when a person passes away without a valid will. While this legal framework is designed to ensure assets are passed on to close relatives, it can lead to confusion, disputes, and stress among surviving family members. Understanding how intestate succession works and… Read More »
Why Would a Will Be Invalid?
Foundational to any estate plan, a will allows individuals to clearly state how they want their assets distributed after death. But what happens when a will is challenged, or worse, declared invalid? In Florida, several factors can lead to a will being deemed legally unenforceable. Talk to a Palm Harbor estate planning lawyer to… Read More »
Duties of Personal Representatives (and Red Flags to Watch For)
Should someone pass away in Florida and leave behind a will, the person responsible for managing their estate is called a personal representative. These individuals are also commonly referred to as executors. They play a vital role in the probate process and have a legal duty to act in the best interests of the… Read More »
Is There Compensation for Executors in Florida?
Serving as the executor, which is a role often referred to as a personal representative in the state of Florida, is a major responsibility. You may need to gather and safeguard assets, pay debts and taxes, handle paperwork, and distribute property according to estate documents or state law. It’s time-consuming work, and it can… Read More »