Inheritance laws may be found in two places. The Florida Probate Code (Chapter 732) contains laws relating to wills. It also includes statutes regarding folks that pass away without a will. Additionally, the Florida Trust Code (Chapter 736) lists statutes relating to trusts. The extensive laws are very briefly summarized below. However, due to the…
Solid estate planning documents written by experienced attorneys that specialize in this area of law remain extremely important. Many families establish well-constructed plans and update documents as time passes and family dynamics change. However, some documents may be outdated or may have been changed without family members’ knowledge. Any recent changes made to an elderly…
Lee County Probate Court Lee County lies in beautiful southwest Florida along the Gulf Coast. The population exceeds 760,000 and is expected to grow. As a result, courts remain very busy. In particular, the Lee County Probate Division of the 20th Division Judicial Circuit Court must handle numerous cases. This article discusses various aspects of…
In Florida, estate plans often contain trust documents. Two common types are revocable and irrevocable trusts. The person who creates the trust is known as the “settlor” or “grantor.” The person responsible for managing the trust is the “trustee.” The trustee may be a relative or another trusted person, bank, or trust company. Of course,…
A deed is a written legal document used to transfer property ownership. Florida recognizes various types of deeds including warranty deed, quitclaim deed, life estate deed, special warranty deed, personal representative’s deed, guardian’s deed, trustee’s deed, and others. To be valid, each deed must follow Florida law. For example, a deed must clearly identify the…