Super Lawyer’s 2016 Annual Directory (Business Edition) includes Pankauski Hauser PLLC partner and appellate specialist Robert J. Hauser. This directory consists of the nation’s top attorneys in business practice areas from the Super Lawyers list. Mr.Hauser is recognized as a “Super Lawyer” in Appellate Practice. He has been practicing in West Palm Beach since 1997, and has been board certified by the Florida Bar in appellate practice since 2009.
An inheritance/estate battle in France has been reported about by many media sources. Sandrine Devillard, the widow of Marcel Amphoux, challenged a will that was written on an envelope. This will said that she would not inherit from her wealthy husband’s estate. The Daily Mail reports that Amphoux was a French hermit who lived in a hut with no electricity and no teeth. When beautiful Devillard from Paris, who was 25 years younger than Amphoux, married him, rumors stirred questioning whether it was legitimate or whether Devillard was after his wealth. When the will appeared ,which kept Amphoux’s fortune from his widow, Devillard tried to argue that it wasn’t her husbands hand writing. However, the court decided that it WAS valid. Although this inheritance dispute was not a Florida probate matter, Palm Beach trust and estates lawyers frequently encounter similar cases. What makes a will valid? In Florida, would this will have been a valid will?
On December 18,2016, Zsa Zsa Gabor passed away. She was married nine times, divorced seven, and one marriage was annulled. Will any of her ex-husbands inherit from her estate? How can you ” disinherit” a former spouse?
On December 18,2016, Zsa Zsa Gabor passed away of heart failure. She was best known for her life in the spotlight, especially during the 1950’s, 60’s, and 70’s. Although she began her celebrity “career” as a performer, she seemed to maintain her celebrity status by simply being an American icon and socialite. Who will inherit from her presumably large estate? Did she have a solid estate plan in place? Planning her estate may not have been simple. It probably required assistance from an experience estate planning attorney. CNN reports that she was married nine times, divorced seven , and had one marriage annulled. How could this affect her estate and who inherits? What do prenuptial agreements(prenups) and divorce a have to do with inheritance disputes? Did she have a spouse at the time of her death?
Fox News reports about a jeopardy contestant, Cindy Stowell, who, unfortunately, died of cancer before her episodes aired. She won $80,002 so far and will compete again on the episode tonight, December 20,2016. Her winnings were kept a secret because the show hadn’t aired. Will her friends and family inherit this money? Will it go to her estate?
Fidel Castro, best known as Cuba’s former president and communist dictator, died on November 26, 2016. Forbes reported that Fidel Castro’s net worth could have been $900 million. However, when the original article stating this figure was published in 2006, Castro denied that he had this wealth. In fact, he claimed that he was living off around $50.00 per week. What was he really worth? Who will inherit from his estate? Will they inherit nothing or $900 million? Who are his heirs?
Join us TODAY, December 15, 2016 for a FREE webinar hosted by John Pankauski, managing partner at Pankauski Hauser PLLC. This course, Ethics for Probate Lawyers, is a one-hour ethics course worth 1 ETHICS CLE CREDIT. To join this webinar, click here. If you are unable to attend live, you will be able to watch it at www.phflorida.com until June 2017 to obtain credit.
On December 13, 2016, Alan Thicke died of a heart attack. He is best known for his role as the father on the very popular TV show “Growing Pains”. Who will inherit Alan Thicket’s wealth? How much was the popular actor worth? After learning of this unexpected death, it is hard not to wonder where his fortune is headed. The media has not yet reported whether or not he has died without a will. What does this mean for his family?
Every so often our probate judges in West Palm Beach rotate with other judges from other divisions in the Court. Typically these rotations or transfers happen in mid-January (although from time to time, there are mid-year changes and rotations, which are more of the “exception” to the standard practice).
What is Florida’s Slayer Statute? What does it have to do with Florida probate litigation? If I murder my spouse, can I still inherit from him or her? If I murder my girlfriend in Palm Beach, will I inherit her millions of dollars? What do Florida inheritance laws have to do with murder? If Dalia Dippolito had actually murdered her husband, would she have been able to inherit from her state as she allegedly intended?