A case from West Palm Beach’s appeals court issued yesterday, October 22 2014, deals with the issue of how to insert an arbitration clause in a Florida contract: so called “incorporation by reference.”  Why should probate litigation firms Palm Beach care about this? 

5 Most Common Legal-Financial Mistakes for Women ? Are financial, legal and estate planning errors gender based? Who knows, but there are some recurring themes which some experts say may affect women more than men, particularly in the worlds of divorce and inheritances. While we are still waiting for equal pay for equal work, perhaps it should also be recognized that there may be some more work to do when counting dollars in divorces and deaths.  Yes, the worlds of finance orestate planning reveal how the unsuspecting and trusting can get short changed.  As a veteran litigator who represents spouses and ex-spouses and family members in probate and property disputes, I’ve seen this happen.   Here are 5 common legal – financial mistakes to avoid or 5 issues to be aware of:

So, you heard about this revocable living trust thing that your parents had and now that they are gone, you get this letter from their Probate Attorney Palm Beach.

Now that Melissa Rivers has inherited $100 Million from Joan Rivers’ estate, according to US Weekly, it might be a good time to stop and reflect, say some experts. Even those with lots of money who inherit even more wealth can tend to spend and over spend. Witness reports of financial challenges by Robin Williams and Michael Jackson. If you spend more than you take in, then the base of your wealth will shrink. If your assets or investments do poorly, your base of wealth will shrink.  Take steps MAINTAIN or GROW your wealth and don’t fall into the traps that so many do with newfound wealth or “found money.”  So what should someone who hits the lottery know?

Wondering about the difference between a revocable trust and a Palm Beach probate?  Or a Delray Beach trustee versus the executor of the will?   There is a new, free, online video on this frequently asked question:  how does a revocable trust work with a Florida estate?  If you are a beneficiary of a trust, or the trustee of a Boynton Beach trust, or maybe the Florida Personal Representative of a probate going on in Delray Beach, Florida courthouse, you may want to read this and watch this probate video.

Do you know how the duties of a Co-Trustee of a Florida trust differ from a sole trustee?  If you are a co trustee of a family trust, or if you are the beneficiary of an irrevocable trust and are having trouble with your co-trustees, consider watching this free, online video on co-trustees.

Many Florida probate lawyers recommend the use of family limited partnerships to hold family money and pass it along to heirs & beneficiaries.  Family limited partnerships can take advantage of “discounts” for estate tax and gift tax purposes.  Additionally, some people invest in private investments which use the limited partnership structure to manage the investment. Many times Estate Lawyers Palm Beach suggest that one’s living trust, also called a revocable trust, be the limited partner. If you are involved in a limited partnership with a senior citizen, you may want to read this October 16, 2014 legal opinion from the Court of Appeal, 2nd District, Division 2 in California, which deals with the issue of elder abuse, living trusts and partnerships.  This trustee lawsuit or partnership lawsuit dealt with a $50 Million partnership.

It’s National Estate Planning Awareness Week.   Autumn is a great time of year to plan your estate.  Here’s 5 reasons why you should not let time slip away.  Review your existing estate plan for your family and chosen beneficiaries NOW! Time is ticking away to provide certainty and security to those that mean the most to you.

In a probate case with millions and millions of $$ on the line that went before the Alabama Supreme Court, the adult children won their father’s coffee empire.  The adult children of coffee baron Leroy Hill sued their dad’s former girlfriend, who later became his 2nd wife, over the estate and family business he created.  Anyone involved in probate litigation or family disputes, or will contests with family businesses may wish to look for the published opinion from the Alabama Supreme Court on the Leroy Hill estate.

If you are involved in a Palm Beach guardianship, you may have questions. After all, when most people think of a guardianship, they may think of minor children.  Not so, as most guardianship lawyers Palm Beach will tell you.  Florida Guardianship Law, or what some estate lawyers refer to as “elder law” is a robust, almost sub-speciality in Palm Beach probate circles.