Am I Responsible for My Deceased Relative’s Debts?
When a relative passes away, there are a myriad of factors to think about. Among those concerns may be debt that relative still owed when they passed – but what becomes of that debt? The good news is, generally speaking, you will not be responsible for that debt. Such a debt would only attach to […]
To Probate or Not To Probate (and if so, which?)
Your relative has died. Now what? Do you need to open a probate case? What is a probate case? When someone passes away and they have left assets in their name alone (for more details on what needs to be probated, see our blog post: The Non-Probate Pail) you will likely need to open up […]
What Is a Personal Representative and What Does He/She Do?
When people think about Wills, the focus is usually on property: whether that is the house, money, cars, the old jewelry collection, or whatever else the deceased may have owned. While that is a big part of the story when it comes to estate planning, the person who is chosen to be personal representative can […]
How Much Does It *Really* Cost to Die?
When most people think of dying and the cost associated with this event, they often only consider the funeral and burial/cremation expenses. It isn’t until a few weeks later when they are left with their relative’s belongings, assets, accounts (and sometimes pets) that they realize they need to hire an attorney and open a case […]
Why an Estate Plan Should Be A Part Of Your Hurricane Preparedness Plan (Part II)
Yay for Hurricane Month! –Said nobody ever (except maybe public adjusters and hardware stores) Last August, we went into detail as to why an estate plan should be a part of your hurricane preparedness plan. Check out the post HERE. More importantly, we discussed WHY it’s important to make sure you have your legal documents […]
Cheap Wills and Trusts – You’ll Get What You Pay For
I’ve received quite a few phone calls throughout the last month asking if a Will or Trust they’ve downloaded off the internet (or intend to download) will suffice, and my best answer is: “How would I know?” No two trusts or wills are the same, and the validity and effectiveness of the legal documents you […]
Are Electronic Wills Legal in Florida?
The usual estate planning process goes something like this: You call, make an appointment, sit down with the attorney for about an hour to discuss the details, and then wait for the documents to be drafted (in our office it’s usually no more than 2-3 weeks), and then you come back to review the documents […]
Formal Administration vs. Summary Administration in Florida
In the days of Google searches, I don’t know why I am still surprised when a potential client asks: “Can we proceed with a Summary Administration?” Still, as I’m sure my medical doctors experience when I arrive listing symptoms and my incorrect conclusion of what I believe my ailment to be, there’s more to summary […]
Why an Estate Plan Should Be A Part Of Your Hurricane Preparedness Plan
When you think hurricanes, you think Estate Planning, right? Oh wait, I guess that’s just me. Hurricanes bring about destruction, loss of power, short supply, and, well, I can’t help but compare this to a heavily litigated Probate or Guardianship case. When an estate that does not have an effective plan falls into Probate, or […]