If you are inheriting from a Palm Beach probate or a Florida estate, here’s a word of advice from a Florida probate lawyer: don’t be disgruntled.
Why Do Estate Beneficiaries Get Angry?
- As family members from Stuart, Florida to Palm Beach Gardens to Ft. Lauderdale “deal” with inheriting from a Palm Beach probate, some are not happy
- Some are downright rude and angry
- Why?
Estate Beneficiaries May Not Understand Florida Probate
- Well, sometimes heirs and family members who inherit just don’t understand the Florida probate process
- There are duties, procedures and timeframes under the Florida Probate Code
- Things don’t have to drag on and on, but some things do take time, especially if the estate is filing a federal estate tax return Form 709, which means it’s going to take time before it is “blessed by the IRS“
- Translation: the estate is not going to be closed before then, and you won’t get your full inheritance before then, although you may get a partial distribution or advance on your inheritance
Best Advice for Estate Beneficiaries
- If you don’t trust the Florida executor or personal representative, or his or her Palm Beach probate lawyer, then hire your own
- Hire a probate lawyer who limits his or her practice to Florida estate administration
- Ask all your questions of YOUR probate lawyer. Get the straight answers you need. Get objective advice and straight talk.
- Don’t turn into the Yosemite Sam character in Hare to Heir: the Warner Brothers Bugs Bunny animated film
- Google Hare to Heir and check it out. Yosemite Sam inherits $1 Million pounds, but his inheritance gets reduced evertime Sam is not civil or he gets angry.
- Palm Beach beneficiaries and heirs: take note. Although the personal representative in your Palm Beach estate may not have the authority that Bugs did, your outbursts and time consuming tasks can serve to reduce your inheritance by attorneys fees or costs.
- Taking up the estate’s time needlessly? Conducting needless discovery or filing needless motions? You may be assessed fees by the Probate Court judge.
- Be careful.