Archives

Question:  My husband recently died.  He was very tech savvy and handled all of our finances online.  If the court appoints me personal representative, how am I going to find all his financial [...]

Question:  I am the personal representative for someone who died out of state and is not a Florida resident.  However, the deceased owned land in Sarasota County.  Do I need to open an ancillary [...]

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:     What is a guardianship? Answer:    Guardianship is a process by which a court appoints someone to protect the health and financial security of an incompetent or incapacitated [...]

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 [...]