A Cleveland judge recently sentenced Kevin Purcell, an elder law attorney and professional guardian, after hearing howthe attorney stole the money from the estate of John Kane, an Army veteran who suffered from schizophrenia.

“Power of attorney” is a term heard quite frequently in the realm of estate planning and administration in Florida.  But many do not know the exact meaning of the phrase.

We live in an era of technology, and, as a result, more and more of our belongings, possessions, and safekeepings are taking the “digital” form. Why, then, are so many people forgetting to include their “digital assets” as part of their estate planning in Florida?

When planning your Florida estate, one of the things you must consider is if and how other jurisdictions andforeign countries might become involved in your estate administration. In this 2012 Florida estate planning case, the battle over the estate of a man, who was aFlorida resident but also a citizen of Spain, becomes complicated when the Florida courtsbegin to interpret rulings decided by a Spanish court, and the parties argue a lack of jurisdiction.

At this point in time, most people understand the importance of wills in Florda and the difference a properly executed will can make when administering your Florida estate. 

The revocable, or “living,” trust in Florida is often promoted as a means of avoiding probate and saving taxes at death. It is governed by Chapter 736 of the Florida Trust Code (Florida Statutes). As any Florida Probate litigation attorney West Palm Beach will tell you, the revocable trust in Florida has certain advantages over a traditional will. However, there are many factors to consider before you decide if a revocable trust is best suited to your overall estate plan:

Dr. Robert Schwartz is the son of the late DC Comics founder Jake Leibowitz and his wife Shirley.  When Shirley passed away, Schwartz, being her only son, expected to inherit the majority of his mother’s $50 million estate.  However, in actually, he will only see approximately $3 million of that estate.

Many West Palm Beach Probabe attorneys and estate planners describe Qualified Personal Residence Trusts (QPRTs) as a “must have” estate planning opportunity in Florida.

Our firm is currently handling what has become a lengthy probate litigation over the estate of a man who passed away “intestate” in Florida, that is, without a will.  When a loved one dies without a will, many of the wishes of the decedent remain unknown, and the inheritance of their estate usually ends up being decided by a court.  That is why having a will in Florida Probate Law is so important.

A guardian is an individual or institution (such as a nonprofit corporation or bank trust department) appointed by the court to care for an incapacitated person – called a “ward” in Florida.