Florida Probate Attorneys Save You Time, Money and Stress After a Loved One’s Passing
After a loved one dies, families may have many questions about what comes next financially and legally. You may have heard horror stories about the probate process dragging on for many months or even years. However, probate in Florida doesn’t have to be a hassle if you have the right legal assistance and experienced attorneys in your corner.
What Is Probate?
Probate is the legal/judicial process where a person’s Last Will and Testament (will) is proved and accepted in a county court as the valid and true intentions of the person who died (the decedent). It’s also how a person’s estate is settled according to the “laws of intestacy” in the state where the decedent lived at the time of death in the absence of a legal will. Also, during the probate proceeding, the probate court recognizes a person to manage the decedent’s estate (usually the decedent’s spouse or adult child or sibling if one is not named in the will).
When there is a dispute during the probate process, perhaps between family members about certain aspects of the will or inheritance, if there were multiple marriages involved, if there wasn’t a basic estate plan or legal will created by the decedent, if there are complex or unclear elements of a will, or if there appeared to be undue influence over the decedent, that’s when a probate attorney is needed.
In Florida, a beneficiary, personal representative/executor, trustee or administrator can bring a probate lawsuit with a probate attorney for a variety of reasons, including undue influence or if the decedent lacked capacity to make legal decisions, if the trust accountings are contested by a beneficiary, if spousal rights were ignored or omitted from the will, or if an inheritance is contested.
In addition, a probate lawyer can assist a client in Florida by identifying and securing estate assets, obtaining appraisals for the decedent’s real estate and property, paying debts and determining if any inheritance or estate taxes are due, collecting proceeds from life insurance policies, preparing and filing all documents required by a probate court and more.
Ready to Assist You with Probate
Sometimes dealing with a probate court can be quite challenging but RTRLAW’s experienced and qualified probate attorneys stand ready to assist clients and their families throughout the probate process, making it as painless as possible for all involved.
For more information about probate in Florida or to schedule a consultation with one of our probate attorneys, please contact us, email [email protected] or call or text us toll free at 1-833-HIRE-RTR (1-833-447-3787). RTRLAW’s experienced and qualified estate planning lawyers can meet with you at one of our six office locations in Florida, including Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, Tampa, Lake Worth, or by appointment in Miami or Jacksonville.
