Losing Your Florida Estate Inheritance: 4 biggest mistakes probate beneficiaries make

So, let me guess: your rich aunt died in Boca Raton with a huge estate. And for years you thought that you would be a beneficiary of her Boca Raton estate. Million$ ! And now your time has come !  Where’s your Florida inheritance?  Well, many times nephews, children, heirs and prior beneficiaries are disappointed that they don’t receive a Florida inheritance. Why? There could be dozens of reasons why, like, you didn’t call or visit enough. But in many probate cases West Palm Beach, there is often a sibling rivalry or a disagreement between family members, heirs or beneficiaries to wills, revocable trusts and Florida estates.  Many times, people get dis-inherited.  You used to be a 35% beneficiary of that revocable trust Boynton Beach, but no more !  You got disinherited. So, what do you do if you don’t know if you are a beneficiary of a Florida estate, probate or trust, or if you don’t trust someone who was put in charge as executor of the will, personal representative of the Delray Beach probate, or as trustee of the Palm Beach Gardens irrevocable family trust? Well, here are 4 common or perhaps the “biggest” mistakes that family members, heirs, beneficiaries make regarding Florida estates,Palm Beach probates, wills and trusts.

1. Waiting.  So, your rich aunt died, what, 6 months ago? 1 year ago?  2 years ago? What are you waiting for? That big inheritance check in the mail or a knock on the door with an apology from an estate lawyer Boca Raton who apologizes for not getting you a $1 Million inheritance sooner?  No, one of the biggest mistakes that you make is waiting and inaction.  Are you lazy? Are you not prone to action?  Whatever it is, re-consider it.  Time is not on your side, whether you want to file a will contest or object to the will in the Palm Beach probate or just learn about the nature and extent of  your aunt’s property.   The probate laws do not help those who sit idly by.  The estate laws of Florida assist those who ask questions, go to probate court and exercise their rights.  There are the right ways to get answers and the wrong ways.  Choose wisely, but don’t delay. Someone is spending your inheritance.
2. “Write a letter”  Writing a letter rarely gets you your inheritance.  One of the silliest things you can do is to believe that if have some smart, aggressive probate litigator Florida just write a letter, all will be revealed.  Action is often required. What action? Open a Palm Beach probate and find out where all of your rich Aunt’s money is.  Did your rich aunt die with a $2 Million bank account and your cousin is driving a new Mercedes? Coincidence?  Find out what happened to that joint bank account in Boca Raton. Use the Florida Probate Code to get answers. Conduct discovery and use the rules of Florida evidence and the Florida Probate Rules.  Don’t write a letter.
3. Ignoring Court Filed Probate Documents.  If a bunch of 8 1/2″ x 11″ papers come to your house with legal stuff on them; don’t ignore them !  If those papers are filed in the probate court Delray Beach, you better read them, understand them and take action, which can also be an affirmative decision that no action is required.  But, if you do anything, don’t ignore those probate court documents Palm Beach Gardens. Those court documents have time frames, 20 days, 3 months, maybe 6 months.  Those documents are affecting property, money and rights.  Maybe your money and rights !
4. Playing Estate Lawyer.  Most people can’t do it alone. Don’t pretend that you understand exactly what’s going on in the probate or, let alone, if there is a will contest or estate lawsuit.   So, when those probate court documents in # 3 above start arriving at your door, don’t put them down and reach for the TV Guide or your iPad.  Read them.  Better  yet, don’t play estate lawyer.  It could be very costly to you and your Florida inheritance.  Would you have your neighbor or cousin or best friend or companion perform foot surgery on you? Of course not. Well, the probate process in Florida is like an operation.  You need an estate lawyer who handles this stuff regularly, who is familiar with the Probate Rules of Florida, the rules of civil procedure and the Florida Probate Code.  Most people can not perform surgery alone.  Should you?  So, lawyer up.   Or watch your inheritance go down the drain. Define the scope of your probate lawyer’s representation.  It might be less expensive that you initially think and there are some West Palm Beach probate law firms who will take your  Palm Beach estate case on a contingency fee or will wait to get paid later for legal fees when you get your Florida probate inheritance.