As we all know, Rockstar Prince passed away last year. His estate is currently being probated. With such a large estate, there has been a good amount of litigation, especially since Prince died intestate. What does dying intestate mean? This means that Prince died without a will. Therefore, heirs had to be identified, inheritances will need to be distributed, business decisions need to be made, and more! Could all of this money spent on litigation have been saved if Prince would have died with a detailed estate plan? Hiring an estate planning lawyer before you pass away is definitely a good idea, especially when your estate is worth millions. A February 2, 2017 article by CMU discusses Prince estate’s disputes with various entity’s and people. To read the entire article and learn about some of the litigation currently happening, click here.

Exploitation of the elderly has become a growing issue. Unfortunately, probate lawyers know that people can be greedy and choose money over love. Frequently, elderly victims are taken advantage of by someone they trust, or even a close family member. In Florida, there are both civil and criminal remedies for financial exploitation of the elderly. You may want to read this news article about a Florida deputy sheriff who financially exploited an elderly woman and even attempted to arrange her murder.

Do you have a Florida estate plan?  Did you know that meeting with an estate planning attorney can help you to avoid a Palm Beach guardianship that you do not desire? We recently blogged about a former army ranger who says his parents forced him into an unnecessary guardianship. He said he was not mentally incompetent and was able to care for himself. Could you imagine not being allowed to make decisions for yourself?

On January 25,2017, The New York Times reported that actress Mary Tyler Moore had passed away. She was best known for her role in the popular CBS sitcom, The Mary Tyler Moore Show. She also had roles in a number of films. At the time of her death, Moore was 80 years old. According to The Richest, Mary Tyler Moore’s estate is worth around $60 million. This may or may not be accurate. At this time, the media has not released information regarding Moore’s estate plan. Hopefully, she had one in place! Did she have a will? Did she have a trust?

Rockstar Prince passed away without a will. A probate proceeding is in progress. Now that there is a good idea as to who the heirs are, it is important that the right person is appointed to help the heirs manage the massive estate. According to a January 24, 2017 Reuters article, Prince’s six siblings, who are the heirs, disagree about who should be the estate lawyer. Furthermore, the probate judge has held off in appointing one. What is a personal representative? When will the probate judge make a final decision as to who the new Personal Representative will be? Who is “competing” for the position?

As we know, on April 21, 2016, Prince passed away without a will. This means that he died intestate. Therefore, his fortune will be inherited by his heirs. Florida trust lawyers know that there is a probate case open regarding his estate. Although Prince didn’t die in Florida, and this is not a West Palm Beach probate matter, Prince’s estate problems are very common. For example, sibling rivalry is frequent throughout the probate process, despite which state it takes place in. The heirs of his estate need to be represented by a lawyer who can help them to manage what he has left behind. Who will this lawyer be? According to a January 24, 2017 Reuters article, Prince’s siblings, who are the heirs, disagree on who should be the estate lawyer. Furthermore, the probate judge has held off in appointing one.

When I die, who gets to access my Facebook? What Florida laws govern this? Can you gain access to your deceased mother’s Facebook account? What if my deceased husband and my shared Facebook account was in his name only and I forgot the password? Will the personal representative of my Florida estate be able to access my social media accounts? When I die, does Florida probate law protect my social media accounts?

On January 1, 2017, the New York Times reports that Amber Lightfoot Walker’s estate gifted millions of dollars to various cultural institutions including Lincoln Center Theater, the Morgan Library & Museum and the 92nd Street Y. According to the article, Amber Lightfoot Walker was a socialite with a passion for arts. What did her will say? What will these institutions do with the very generous donations? How can you insure that the person or charity you want to inherit from your estate actually does?

On January 17, 2017, CNN reported that Eugene Cernan has passed away. Cernan is best known for being the last astronaut to step foot on the moon. Did this renowned astronaut have a proper estate plan in place before he passed away? He was 82 at the time of his death. Did he have a will? Did he leave behind a trust? Who will inherit from his estate? What if he died without a will?

What is a writ of mandamus? What does it do?  Florida guardianship lawyers know that a writ of mandamus is an order that is requested from an appellate court. When a petition for writ of mandamus is granted, the appellate court tells another court  what to do in your West Palm Beach probate or guardianship lawsuit. In other words, a writ of mandamus provides relief by instructing the circuit court to do something. For example, in Cason v. Ross, a January 10,2017 First DCA opinion, the petition for writ of mandamus seeks to compel the circuit court to render a decision and issue letters of guardianship.