Trusts

Why Trustees Open a Florida Probate Administration

One of the big reasons one would consider setting up a Living Trust (technically called “inter vivos trust,” meaning a trust created while you are alive) is to avoid a probate administration after your death. By correctly titling all of your assets (except for personal effects, cash and other assets which are not “titled”) in… read more

Read More

An Important Change to Florida Law

Who inherits, and how much, when there is no Last Will? Starting October 1, 2011, step-parents in Florida have even more incentive to have a Last Will. Without a will, the surviving spouse inherits much less of the estate if either of the parents has children by any other relationship. Thankfully, the results below can… read more

Read More

Finally, a Book to Recommend

People often ask us if we can recommend estate administration or estate planning services, software or books, and we’ve been looking, honestly. Sadly, the answer is usually “no.” Florida law has just enough oddities that anything written for a national audience almost always fails to spot all the places where Florida law differs. But we’re… read more

Read More

Don’t Blindly Trust Trusts

The best thing a nominated Trustee can do is decline to serve (I’m only kidding…or perhaps not). The second best thing is to hire an attorney. It’s no secret among those who regularly practice in trusts and estates that living trusts have been oversold for the past 15 years. By “living trust,” I am referring… read more

Read More