Category Archives: Estate And Probate Administration
Florida calling for more probate judges
The Florida Supreme Court has recently put the state Legislature on notice to the fact that Florida needs more judges. The State’s highest court cited the large number of cases, the increased complexity of those cases and new legislation as the primary reason for requesting 32 new judges. One of the biggest areas of… Read More »
Florida probate laws always changing
Florida has a well-established probate code that dates back to the turn of the 19th century. In addition to the code, our state enjoys ample legal precedent from judges that have interpreted these laws. As a result, there is some continuity and certainty in the probate of an estate. At the same time, the… Read More »
Fort Myers residents, self-dealing and estate administration
A recent revenue ruling issued by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has caught the attention of many estate planners in the Fort Myers’ area. The ruling concerned an individual who had sold an interest in his company to a trust for a note. Under his will, the man then conveyed the note to several… Read More »
Smooth estate administration planning requires pro-activity
This blog regularly discusses issues with estate planning. From wills to trusts, there are countless ways for local Fort Myers and Lee County residents to control their final wishes. In practice, though, these plans can be undone by poor administration. As a result, any comprehensive estate plan must make provisions for a smooth estate… Read More »
Florida probate laws lay Groundwork for efficient administration
Like most states, Florida has a lot of laws. These laws are codified and made available to the public. While many of them may not interest the average Floridian, the probate laws may be interesting to those tasked with administering an estate. These statutes set forth such things as will formalities, intestate succession and… Read More »
Florida courts help heirs through estate administration
This blog regularly reports on the difference between a will and a trust. The most commonly cited difference is that trusts are private documents which can be administered, generally, without court supervision. Wills on the other hand must go through a probate process that is overseen by Florida courts. After decades of guiding heirs… Read More »
Why is probate administration important?
Virtually everyone has heard about and fretted over the word “probate.” Probate, the court supervised gathering and distribution of a deceased person’s assets, has gotten a bad reputation in Florida and in other states because of the administrative hoops loved ones must jump through. While there are certainly formal requirements, the process of probate… Read More »
Singer’s estate fights for rights almost 30 years after his death
Much of estate planning is concerned with wrapping up one’s affairs. Florida residents who execute their wills or create other estate planning documents are thinking about passing their assets on to the next generation. However, sometimes these assets are things that will continue to gather value for many years to come. Sometimes estate administration… Read More »
White House ivory ban may affect estate administration
Recently, a White House official announced an initiative to ban all commercial trade of ivory. Long sought after for its beauty, elephant ivory has been under scrutiny in the United States for decades because of concerns over its collection. While such an initiative may seem like just another mundane action being taken in Washington,… Read More »
Tax consequences critical for estate administration in Florida
One of the biggest estate questions that family members have after losing a loved one is the extent of their tax liabilities. The media loves to report on the ever-changing estate tax environment. Often referred to as death taxes, this levy is often misunderstood. For instance, most estates do not owe any estate taxes…. Read More »
