Probate & Estate Planning
Probate
- Initiate Probate Proceedings: File petitions to open the probate case in court and ensure the process starts smoothly.
- Identify and Inventory Assets: Locate, evaluate, and compile a complete list of the deceased’s assets, including real estate, investments, and personal property.
- Assist with Notifications: Notify heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, and relevant parties as required by law.
- Manage Estate Debts and Taxes: Settle outstanding debts, file final tax returns, and ensure estate taxes are paid, if applicable.
- Distribute Inheritances: Facilitate the transfer of property and assets to heirs and beneficiaries according to the will or Florida intestacy laws.
- Handle Probate Litigation: Represent clients in disputes involving wills, trusts, or contested inheritances.
- Aid with Ancillary Probate: Manage probate for assets located in other states if the decedent owned property outside of Florida.
- Close the Estate: Submit the final accounting to the court, distribute any remaining assets, and officially close the probate case.
Estate Planning
- Creating Wills: Drafting legally binding documents that specify how assets should be distributed.
- Establishing Trusts: Setting up various types of trusts (like revocable and irrevocable trusts) to manage and protect assets during a person’s lifetime and after their death.
- Naming Beneficiaries: Helping clients designate who will inherit their assets.
- Appointing Trustees: Selecting individuals to manage trusts according to the terms set forth in the estate plan.
- Drafting Powers of Attorney: Creating documents that allow individuals to appoint someone to make financial or medical decisions on their behalf if they become incapacitated.
- Healthcare Directives: Establishing advance directives that outline healthcare wishes in case of medical emergencies.
- Tax Planning: Advising on strategies to minimize estate taxes and maximize the value passed on to heirs.
- Avoiding Probate: Implementing strategies to prevent assets from going through the potentially lengthy and public probate process.
