Many Floridians who are estate planning are eager to help their heirs and beneficiaries avoid the probate process. While probate could be unavoidable for certain assets, individuals may be able to use various strategies to prevent the need for probate for some...
Many of us here in Brevard County are pet lovers. We wouldn't dream of taking a walk without our dog at our side or curling up on the couch without our cat on our lap.Americans are increasingly interested in taking care of their pets in their estate plans, according...
A pair of Florida lawmakers is proposing a measure to make it easier for state residents to get documents notarized. The proposal would take advantage of improvements in technology that allow easy video conferencing.If the idea is passed by the legislature and signed...
The right to contest a will is not an inherent one. For example, you cannot file a will contest against just any will. You usually need to be in a position of being a beneficiary or having the possibility of being a beneficiary of the estate involved.In estate law,...
If you drive north along the coast of Florida from Brevard County, you will arrive in Jacksonville in about three hours. Our state's most populous city is the home of a generous couple who decided to pay it forward.Though the couple has no children, they have...
There are many good reasons why Brevard County residents visit estate planning attorneys. Some people have just had a child or are expecting an addition to their family, so they want to update a will or estate plan that will protect the new family member. Others have...
You were extremely happy when you had a child, but you were caught off-guard when your child developed a life-long illness. He'll never be in the "normative" classification, and the likelihood that he could ever care for himself is low. Fortunately, there are options...
Harper Lee wrote one of the great American novels, upon which a classic film was based. Despite the critical acclaim and commercial success of "To Kill a Mockingbird," there are many lingering questions about the reclusive novelist who died two years ago at 89.People...
One of the most important duties of an estate executor involves the paying off of debts owed by the estate. These debts might include loans, credit card bills and tax debts.The executor needs to determine the value of all the estate assets -- including investment...
The problem with estate planning is that if it is neglected, it can come back and haunt the people you love. And if the plans are not clear, the same problem will exist after you are gone: those you love will pay the price."People think, 'Oh, I have a simple life,'...