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Yearly Archives: 2013

When An Ex Spouse Dies in Florida: Florida probate collides with Florida divorce law

Uncategorized Oct 25, 2013

Did your ex husband or ex wife die in Florida?   Do you, an ex wife or ex husband, have inheritance rights to your ex’s estate in Florida?  Palm Beach probate lawyers know that the worlds of divorce law and Florida estate law can overlap or even collide.  Just when you thought you did not have to deal with your ex husband or ex wife anymore, he or she dies and there is a probate in Broward County or in Delray Beach.  Florida estate lawyers know to first confirm if you were really divorced.  Did the judge issue an order or judgment dissolving the marriage?

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Florida Residents Giving Their Mansion Away?: a look at Florida personal residence trusts

Uncategorized Oct 24, 2013

Why in the world would a wealthy Florida resident give away their million dollar Florida house right now?   Why are Florida probate lawyers and Florida estate lawyers recommending you do that with your beautiful mansion in Palm Beach, Manalapan or Hypoluxo?  Are you willing to give up ownership and control of your house for the benefit of your children or grandchildren?  The truth is that Florida trusts set up to hold and receive your Florida mansion and Florida residence –during YOUR LIFE (right now, not after you die) — have been around for a while.

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Rights of a Florida Spouse: five things a Florida widow (widower) needs to know about Florida probate & estates

Uncategorized Oct 24, 2013

Are you a Palm Beach or Broward County widow or widower who just lost your spouse in Florida?  Losing a Florida spouse is taxing in all regards: personally, emotionally and otherwise.  While finances, money and Florida inheritance rights may be the last things you want to talk about, the truth is, for Florida spouses who survive (widows and widowers), you have probate rights, estate rights, and inheritance rights that are unique to Florida and to you.

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PANKAUSKI ADDRESSES PENNSYLVANIA BAR ON FLORIDA PROBATE LAW

Uncategorized Oct 24, 2013

Florida probate litigator John Pankauski speaks today in Philadelphia for the Pennsylvania Bar Institute from noon to 4:15.   John will address probate lawyers and estate planning lawyers, and those who write wills and trusts at a continuing legal education course titled: “What Every Estate Planning Attorney Needs to Know About Florida Law.”  John is a West Palm Beach, Florida probate lawyer whose practice is limited to litigation and administration of wills, trusts and estates.

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Are Charitable Trusts Imploding in Florida? what a probate lawyer or a beneficiary can do

Uncategorized Oct 23, 2013

Is your charitable trust imploding?  Is the annuity or unitrust amount (%) so high that it is eating away at principal?  If you are the lifetime beneficiary, what can you do?  Estate planning lawyers and probate lawyers who prepare or write wills and trusts have offered charitable remainder trusts to wealthy clients.  In the ’90s, when the stock market and tech boom were on fire, many brokers and other “financial planners” or “wealth consultants” sold their clients who had millions in a company’s stock on placing shares in a charitable remainder trust.  

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PANKAUSKI ATTENDS SOUTHERN FEDERAL TAX INSTITUTE

Uncategorized Oct 23, 2013

The annual Southern Federal Tax Institute is being held in Atlanta, Georgia.  John Pankauski, who holds a masters of law (LLM) from the University of Miami School of Law Graduate Program in Estate Planning attended today.  The Institute offers detailed, in-depth and cutting edge analyses and lectures on important tax matters.  

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Winning at a Trust Trial : Palm Beach Probate Court Issues Final Judgment in Favor of Pankauski Trustee Clients

Uncategorized Oct 22, 2013

Victory at trial.  The Pankauski Law Firm PLLC won a major victory at a fraud and conspiracy trial on October 11th.  The firm trial team was led by John Pankauski and Allison Sabocik who prepared for and tried the case.   On October 15, the probate court judge who oversaw the trial issued a final judgment in favor the firm’s trustee clients.  The two successful clients who won at trial were an individual trustee of West Palm Beach, and a corporate trustee from Palm Beach Gardens. 

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