Want more information about your mom or dad’s Florida probate proceeding? Has a probate even been opened for your mom or dad’s estate? What about your inheritance? How can you find out about your inheritance? How do you determine if you even inherit from a decedent?
Who can open an estate in Florida? Who can begin the probate process when someone passes away in West Palm Beach or Orlando? Who can begin the estate administration process? If my mom dies, can I open up a probate for her Palm Beach estate?
On September 17, 2018 , the SunSentinel reported about an elderly man who was taken advantage of by a financial adviser at a local bank. Unfortunately, financial exploitation of the elderly has become a big issue throughout Florida. West Palm Beach guardianship lawyers frequently receive calls from concerned family members regarding their elderly relative being financially abused. Do you know what financial exploitation is? How can you protect your beloved mom or dad from being financially exploited? What should you do if you believe your elderly relative is being financially exploited? How can an experienced Florida guardianship lawyer assist you?
When do I have to pay federal estate taxes? What are inheritance taxes? What is the federal exempt amount? If I inherit a million dollars from my grandmother, will I have to pay estate tax? Does Florida have an estate tax? West Palm Beach probate lawyers know that Florida does not have independent estate or inheritance taxes. However, you should ask your estate planning attorney whether you will still have to pay federal taxes.
West Palm Beach trust lawyers know that, in probate trials, witness testimony and video evidence can be very important. But what happens if the witness testimony contradicts what a video shows? Can a Florida probate judge choose to believe the witness over a video that literally shows opposite facts? What if a witness testifies that a decedent did not sign her own will, while a video shows that the decedent, in fact, DID sign her will? What if a Florida notary states that she witnessed the decedent signing a deed, when a video shows that the decedent’s sister forged the decedent’s signature on the deed? You may want to read a January 31, 2017 opinion from The Supreme Court of Florida, Wiggins v. Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. Although this is not a Palm Beach probate or Florida trust case, it is a very important opinion, as probate litigators frequently rely on both witness testimony and video evidence.
Do you think that your mom’s will may be invalid? Was your dad’s will executed properly? What should my Palm Beach probate lawyer know about executing Florida wills and trusts? How many signatures are required? How many witnesses? Florida Statute 732.502 lists the requirements that must be followed in order to properly execute a will in Florida. If a will is not executed properly, you should speak to a trust and estates attorney about contesting the will. For a FREE consultation with Pankauski Hauser’s managing partner, John Pankauski, call (561) 514-0900 Ext.101.
What is Florida Probate Rule 5.270? Why should my probate litigator West Palm Beach be very familiar with this rule? What is a petition to revoke probate? You may wish to read Hall v. Hall, an April 27,2016 Third District Court of Appeal opinion.
What is undue influence in Florida trust and estates litigation? What factors need to be considered in regards to undue influence in an inheritance dispute? When do undue influence claims arise in Palm Beach or Delray Beach probate courts?
Will electronic wills replace traditional wills in Florida? What is different about an electronic will from a written one? Governor Rick Scott, our Florida Governor, has just vetoed the Florida Electronic Wills Act.
What is Florida’s dangerous instrumentality doctrine? What should probate litigators and trust attorneys know about this doctrine? What does it have to do with Florida trust and estate litigation? A February 21, 2017 First District Court of Appeal opinion discusses this doctrine and a Milton, Florida estate.