Let me guess, you are involved in a Florida probate for the first time and don’t know where to turn, right?
- Maybe you are a hairdresser in Des Moines and you just learned that your aunt, who lived in Boca Raton, has just passed away.
- And there’s 2 huge surprises.
- your Boca Raton aunt was RICH ! and
- she left you in charge of her Florida estate.
Q: What do you do?
A Guide to Choosing a Florida Probate Lawyer
- If you are not used to running a Florida probate, or administering a Palm Beach Estate, don’t feel bad: most people aren’t
- Good news: there are many fine Florida Probate Lawyers from Boca Raton to West Palm Beach to assist you
- Now, I don’t want to paint a Florida probate lawyer as superhero, but let’s face it: you are going to need some assistance
Yes, a Florida probate lawyer can be your lifeboat: To help you get through the probate process, in a timely way, and can advise you not only on your inheritance rights, but your fiduciary duties under Florida Probate Law. Don’t be intimidated by a Palm Beach probate. There are good Florida probate lawyers to assist. In fact, they can do most of the heavy lifting. What’s important is that you communicate with them and they keep you informed: you need to understand what is going on and stay up to speed with the Florida probate.
What Do I Have to Do With the Florida Probate?
- If your aunt put you in charge of her Boca Raton estate
- You need to find the last will and file it with the clerk
- You also , most likely, need to file a Petition for Administration, asking the local probate court to appoint you to run the probate or the estate
- You’ll probably be in the Delray Beach probate court
- From there, you have to gather your aunt’s assets, pay her last bills, including her income taxes, deal with any issues which come up and then distribute her assets under her will or Florida revocable trust and close the estate
- Find one with at least 10-20 years’ experience
- Find a Florida probate lawyer who limits his or her practice to Florida probate
- Consider a small boutique probate law firm so that your Florida probate lawyer has backup and colleagues who can assist
- Ask if they regularly go to probate court and are familiar with the procedures and guidelines
- Talk to them about fees and what it will cost
In the end, Florida probate does not have to be intimidating , and it does NOT have to go on for years & years. Finding the right legal team can make your sailing much smoother and safer.