Dealing with the death of a loved one may prove challenging, especially once probate opens. When the estate plan becomes common knowledge and the last wishes heard, you may suspect something is wrong. One of the most common issues facing grieving families in court is...
Estate Planning And Probate
Should you leave money in your will for your pet?
If you have already written your will, you most likely remembered to leave something for your children and grandchildren. But what about your pet? Many people overlook their four-legged buddies when estate planning. After all, it seems excessive to leave cash to a...
How do executors and trustees get paid?
Depending on your priorities, you may pass an inheritance to your family with a will, a trust, or perhaps both. If you use a will, you should name someone to be your executor. If you create a trust, you will need to appoint a trustee. In both cases, you should...
Can you face lawsuits for mismanaging an estate?
When someone in Florida dies after naming you the personal representative over his or her estate, you have to assume certain responsibilities on that party’s behalf. There are many important steps involved in serving as someone’s personal representative or executor....
Estate planning tools that provide benefits during your lifetime
You might believe that the sole objective of estate planning is to benefit your family and other beneficiaries after your death. However, a durable power of attorney for finances together with an advance health care directive will provide benefits for you during your...
When could unpaid creditors seek payment from my heirs?
Some of your debts may not disappear after death. As noted by Credit.com, joint mortgages and shared credit card balances generally become the responsibility of the surviving borrower. If you have joint accounts with a spouse or an adult child, they may need to pay...
What are the Florida probate proceedings?
The Florida probate process assists individuals with identifying and distributing a person's assets after they pass away. The Florida Bar notes that the state recognizes two types of probate, formal and summary administration; in most cases, formal is the more common...
What should I know about assigning a beneficiary?
The time it takes to process your estate through probate is probably a reason you are thinking about avoiding probate if you can. There are a number of ways you can bypass probate, such as setting up a trust. You may also try something less complicated. You may...
How can I avoid common estate planning mistakes?
Everyone should have a solid estate plan in place, regardless of age or level of wealth. You may think you don't have anything, but what if you died holding the winning lottery ticket? Estate plans protect your assets, but they also provide peace of mind to your...
How can you ensure your money stays with your family?
If you are like most families, you want to keep your wealth with your loved ones. You do not want it to disappear because of taxes or because the wrong person wasted it. To keep your money with your family, you do need to take a few important steps, explains the U.S....