Question: I read on the internet that I could handwrite my own will without having the formality of witnesses and that the will would be valid for probate. Is that true? Answer: While you [...]
Question: Before my father passed away, he told me he had appointed me personal representative of his estate. I know I need to initiate a probate proceeding to administer his estate, but I [...]
Question: What happens to real estate in Florida if the owner is an out-of-state resident who dies without a will? Answer: When someone dies without a will or ‘intestate’, there is no will [...]
Question: How do I know if I have an authenticated copy of a foreign will? Answer: Florida law allows for ancillary administration for a resident of another state that dies leaving assets [...]
Question: Can I reduce my taxes if I do not develop my land? Answer: Policy makers at the federal and state level have enacted tax incentives to encourage landowners to conserve [...]
Question: Does Florida Real Estate Owned by an Out-of-State Resident Always Have to Go Through the Florida Probate Process? Answer: An “ancillary administration” of the estate is usually [...]
Question: My ex-spouse is a trust fund beneficiary, but has not paid me court-ordered child support in over 2 years. Can I attach a lien on my ex’s trust income? Answer: Florida law [...]
The American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 (ATRA), passed to avoid the fiscal cliff, includes two provisions that are important to many IRA owners and retirement plan participants. The first [...]
Question: What happens when someone dies owning real estate or other assets in Florida, but is a resident of another state? Answer: If a deceased person was a resident of a state other [...]
The Supreme Court of the United States’ ruling that a portion of the Defense of Marriage Act (“DOMA”) is unconstitutional may allow same sex spouses who were legally married under state law at [...]
