When Kevin passed away, he left an estate worth $3 million, property he owned separately, property owned jointly with his second wife, and both minor and adult children. He had not consulted with an estate planning attorney for many years, so his estate plan was not as current or up-to-date as it should have been. As...

Probate can become complicated, especially when an out-of-state personal representative is involved. What is a personal representative? The person who takes on the responsibility of shepherding an estate through probate is a personal representative. This person is also sometimes referred to as the executor. Someone who wants to serve as a personal representative must: Be at...

The person who executes or administers (the preferred term) an estate during probate is usually called the personal representative. The jobs of getting an estate through probate may seem simple. However, estates vary greatly in value and complexity. Generally, though, there are at least 6 steps to take when administering an estate. #1 Obtain Multiple Copies...

Lawyer advertisements are everywhere, from the local newspaper to billboards out on I-95 to the Internet. The sheer number of attorneys seeking to represent you can be overwhelming, especially when dealing with a probate matter. How will you choose the attorney who is the best fit for you? There are some compelling reasons why you should...

This St. Lucie Probate Lawyer Joined The List of Top 500 Fastest Growing Law Firms For The 3rd Consecutive Year Probate cases hit close to home. Often, close family members are involved, and it can be a stressful time. Hiring a local attorney to handle your probate case may reduce the stress of estate administration. That’s...

When someone dies, they leave behind heirs and sometimes a surviving spouse. Sometimes surviving spouses may be dismayed to learn they have been disinherited by the decedent, left a smaller share than expected, or simply not mentioned. When this happens, the surviving spouse may be able to claim an elective share of their spouse’s estate. What...

In her long and illustrious career, Aretha Franklin hit many milestones:  first female artist inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, winner of 18 Grammys and a host of chart-topping albums and singles. When she passed away on August 16, 2018, she was added to the long list of celebrities who failed to leave...

While it may be a risky mistake to fail to do any estate planning, it is never too late to start.  Life moves fast, and sometimes we don’t think much about retirement until it’s almost there. You may have been contributing to retirement accounts for years. What about your estate planning? Can elder law and estate...

After the memorial service has ended, and every casserole or ham has been served to grieving friends and family, the decedent’s surviving spouse begins a new role. As difficult as it may be, there are actions that a surviving spouse should take as soon as possible after a death. Contact Stuart probate lawyer John Mangan Hopefully...

Gary served as executor of his dad’s estate. Molly prepared a complete estate plan, which she updated every year. James was concerned that the executor of his mother’s estate was not doing a good job. All three of these people at some point probably asked themselves, “What is a probate estate asset?” Frankly, it is not...