Estate planning, probate & elder law in Fort Lauderdale
Estate planning, probate & elder law in Fort Lauderdale
Summary administration can be an efficient way to transfer a parent's Florida probate assets, but it is not simply a cheaper form of formal probate. The right choice depends on the assets, the creditor picture, family agreement, and whether anyone needs the authority of a personal representative.
Read moreA Florida probate has two price categories: out-of-pocket case costs and professional fees. For a straightforward South Florida formal administration, a practical planning range is often about $4,500 to $13,500 before any personal-representative commission. There is no mandatory 3% fee; the statutory schedule is a negotiable presumption.
Read moreFlorida law allows caregivers to recover compensation from estates through written agreements, quantum meruit, or unjust enrichment claims.
Read moreFlorida law provides procedures for managing missing persons' property and obtaining judicial declarations of death after prolonged absence.
Read moreHB 1337 modernizes Florida probate law with expanded summary administration, increased financial thresholds, and enhanced personal representative authority.
Read moreFlorida's 2020 law allows heirs to purchase other heirs' property shares through court-supervised sales rather than forced partition.
Read moreFlorida's slayer statute prevents anyone who intentionally kills another from inheriting the victim's estate.
Read moreThe legal grounds for challenging a Florida will — lack of capacity, undue influence, fraud, forgery, and improper execution — plus who may contest and the burden of proof.
Read moreReal estate can be sold during Florida probate depending on property type, will provisions, and court approval requirements.
Read moreFlorida probate timelines vary from one to three months for summary administration to six months to one year for formal administration.
Read moreProbate can often be avoided through proper estate planning using tools like Lady Bird deeds, beneficiary designations, and revocable living trusts.
Read moreProbate is time-consuming and expensive; Florida law offers several low-cost alternatives to avoid it.
Read moreWhen someone dies without a will in Florida, state law determines who inherits the estate and how property is distributed through intestacy rules.
Read moreJohn is happy to talk through how this applies to you. Your first consultation is free, with no obligation.
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