Did Jose Fernandez Die Without a Will?

West Palm Beach probate litigators know, and statistics show, that young people tend to pass away without an estate plan. This makes sense since death is the last thing on a healthy, young person’s mind. Unfortunately, however, young lives are sometimes taken away way too soon. Did twenty-four year old Jose Fernandez die without a will? If he did, what will happen to his Miami estate? Will his pregnant girlfriend inherit from his Florida estate?

• CBS News reported on September 25,2016 about the tragic death of Jose Fernandez.
• He was killed in a boat crash along with two of his friends.
• Fernandez was a renowned athlete and pitcher for the Miami Marlins in Miami Beach, Florida.
• Who will inherit from the athlete’s Miami Beach estate?
• As of right now, the media does not mention whether or not he died without a will.
• However, an April 27, 2016 Forbes article states that ,”according to a 2015 Rocket Lawyer survey, 64% of Americans don’t have a will.”
• Estate planning lawyers in West Palm Beach could probably guess that more elderly people have wills than younger people.
• The Forbes article confirms this.
• At only twenty-four years old, did Fernandez have a Florida will?
• The probate process will most likely occur in a Florida probate court.
• Estate planning attorneys and probate litigators encourage clients to create some sort of estate plan, as it can prove to be very beneficial even while you are still alive.
• For example, if you become incapacitated, a good estate planning attorney may be able to help you avoid a Florida guardianship and protect your wealth that you are no longer able to manage.
• Probate lawyers know that it is not very expensive to create a Florida will, revocable trust, or living trust and they can be completed quickly.
• Therefore, many people do not have an excuse.
• Why should I bother to have an estate plan?
• Because, if you don’t, your estate will pass by a state law that controls who inherits property when someone dies without a will.
• In most states, this is called intestacy law or dying intestate.
• Florida litigators know that, when you die intestate in Florida, heirs inherit.
• Who are Fernandez’s heirs?
• What will his pregnant girlfriend inherit?
• To read about Fernandez’s unfortunate death, click here.