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In the world of Florida estate planning, few tools generate as much buzz as the Enhanced Life Estate Deed, affectionately known as the “Lady Bird Deed.” Clients often ask me if this deed is a “magic bullet” that solves every estate problem. The answer, as with most legal matters, is: It depends. While it is…
When someone dies with an ex-spouse still named as the beneficiary on their life insurance policy, families are often shocked by what actually happens. Many assume divorce wipes out the ex-spouse’s rights automatically—but that isn’t always true. In fact, in some situations the ex-spouse still receives the full payout. Here’s a clear explanation of how…
If you are reading this from your lanai in Sarasota or Bradenton, enjoying the mild winter breeze while your friends back north are shoveling snow, congratulations. You are living the Florida dream. But for many “Snowbirds,” this dream property can turn into a complex legal burden for their heirs. There is a common misconception among…
If your New Year’s resolution involves starting a new venture in Sarasota or Manatee County, congratulations. Our region continues to grow, offering fantastic opportunities for entrepreneurs. But before you print business cards or sign a lease, you face one of the most critical decisions in the life of your company: choosing your legal structure. The…
When you’re dealing with the loss of a loved one, the last thing you want is added frustration with your probate attorney. But sometimes, changing attorneys is the right decision. Whether communication has broken down, progress has stalled, or you simply feel uncomfortable with how things are handled, Florida law allows you to replace your…
As the calendar turns to a new year, you are likely setting resolutions for financial health, personal growth, and professional success in 2026. However, as an estate planning attorney serving Sarasota and the surrounding area, I encourage you to add a crucial, proactive legal goal to that list: reviewing and strengthening your estate plan. Most…
It’s common for Florida parents to place their home into a revocable trust to “avoid probate.” Unfortunately, when that home is their Florida homestead and they have minor children, doing so can actually create more problems than it solves. Florida’s Constitution gives strong protections to the family home, and those protections can override even the…
The death of a loved one is always a distressing time, but the stress can be compounded exponentially when the deceased owned real estate jointly with another person and left no Will. In Florida, what happens to the deceased co-owner’s share of the property is not a matter of simple assumption; it is dictated entirely…
Leaving money to a child or grandchild may seem straightforward—but in Florida, things get more complicated when a minor is involved. The state has clear rules about how much a minor can inherit before court involvement is required, and those rules impact both estate planning and estate administration. Here’s what you need to know—whether you’re…
In today’s world, our lives are increasingly tied to the digital world. From bank accounts and cloud storage to social media profiles and email accounts, digital assets now make up a significant portion of a person’s legacy. But what happens to those digital accounts when you die? And how can you plan ahead so your…
Few names are more recognizable in professional wrestling than Hulk Hogan. From his days headlining WrestleMania to his reality TV appearances, Hogan has lived much of his life in the spotlight. Off stage, he has also been through a highly publicized divorce, financial ups and downs, and ongoing questions about his wealth and property. When…
When a loved one dies, grieving families are often faced with more than just emotional heartbreak—they’re thrust into a complicated legal process known as probate. While probate serves an important legal function by overseeing the distribution of a deceased person’s assets, the emotional toll it takes on families is frequently underestimated. In this article, we’ll…
Written by a Florida Bar-licensed estate planning attorney serving Sarasota and surrounding area When someone passes away owning real property in Florida but resides in another state, their estate may need to go through ancillary probate to legally transfer or sell that property. Unfortunately, delays in this process can create significant complications, especially for heirs…
Serving as the Personal Representative (PR) of an estate in Florida comes with many responsibilities—including paying debts, taxes, and administration expenses. But what if the estate’s primary asset is real estate? Can a PR sell estate property to cover costs? Yes, but with specific requirements and limitations. Here’s what Florida law allows. Authority to Sell…
When music legend Jimmy Buffett passed away in 2023, he left behind a legacy of island escapism—and a substantial estate reportedly worth over $275 million. But even the most carefully laid estate plans can run into turbulence. A year after his death, Buffett’s widow, Jane Slagsvol, is embroiled in litigation with one of the trustees…
Sonny Bono was known for his success as a singer, actor, and politician—but when he tragically died in a 1998 skiing accident, he left behind something that shocked the legal world: no will. While Bono’s life was colorful and high-profile, his lack of basic estate planning led to complications that could have easily been avoided….
Guidance from a Florida Bar-Licensed Estate Planning Attorney Estate planning is intended to provide peace of mind, not conflict. Yet too often, disputes among family members arise after a loved one’s passing, turning what should be a time of remembrance into legal and emotional turmoil. If you’re concerned about preventing family conflict over your will,…
When preparing an estate plan or administering a probate estate, one of the first questions an attorney must answer is: Where was the decedent domiciled? This simple question can have significant legal consequences. Domicile affects everything from which state’s probate laws apply to whether certain tax benefits or exemptions are available. What Is Domicile? Domicile…
Many Florida residents make “avoiding probate” a top priority in their estate planning—but is it always necessary? Probate is the court-supervised process of distributing a deceased person’s assets. In Florida, this process can be public, time-consuming, and costly. However, depending on your assets and family situation, avoiding probate might not be essential—or might be critical….
What Happened? When Aretha Franklin died in 2018, her family believed she had no will. Later, multiple handwritten wills were discovered, each with different instructions for her $80 million estate. The conflicting wills sparked confusion and disputes among her four sons, leading to prolonged probate litigation. The estate also faced challenges in managing her music…