In Florida, inheritance laws are based on whether there was a valid, enforceable last will and testament for the person who passed. If they had executed and signed a will, their remaining assets would typically be distributed according to the wishes outlined in the document. However, if someone passes away without a will, their assets …
Tortious interference is when a third party to a contract intentionally acts to harm the financial potential of the relationship. While it is usually associated with business contracts, wills and trusts can be subject to tortious interference in Florida. An inheritance can be a significant financial event in your life. If someone improperly interfered to …
A breach of fiduciary duty occurs when a “fiduciary,” such as the personal representative of an estate, a trustee, or a guardian, fails to comply with the duties created by the nature of their relationship with another person. A fiduciary relationship exists whenever one person places confidence and trust in and is at some level …
Florida Probate Code Section 733.814 allows the personal representative or a beneficiary of an estate to initiate a “partition action” to split property between beneficiaries. It reads as follows: “When two or more beneficiaries are entitled to distribution of undivided interests in any property, the personal representative or any beneficiary may petition the court before …
An enhanced life estate, also known as a “lady bird deed,” is a type of real property interest. It grants ownership rights to one person ( the “life tenant”) during their lifetime and confers a future interest in the property to another person (the “remainderman”). A traditional life estate cannot be revoked or otherwise changed …
When someone passes away, all of the real estate and personal property that they currently own individually becomes “estate property.” This means that, until the property is distributed to the deceased’s heirs and beneficiaries, their assets are simply considered to belong to the estate. Estate property includes personal property like cash, stocks, vehicles, clothing, furniture, …
An objection to a probate petition is a legal document that an interested party can file to contest the validity of a will or object to the appointment of the proposed executor. When someone passes away and leaves behind a will, any interested party can initiate proceedings for the administration of the estate by filing …
Inheriting real estate with other people can be challenging, particularly when one of the beneficiaries is living in the house. This scenario commonly occurs when siblings jointly inherit their parent’s home, which can lead to increased family tensions during an already emotional time. It is always preferable for siblings to work out an arrangement that …
What Happens When a Beneficiary Is Living In an Inherited House? Read More »
When a beneficiary or heir is either left out of a probate petition or believes they should be entitled to receive some benefit from an estate, they can file a Petition for Determination of Descent and request that the court issue an order that they are entitled to receive a distribution from the estate. California …
What Is a Petition for Determination of Descent? Read More »
If an executor is not communicating with beneficiaries, it can lead to trouble. An executor owes the beneficiaries of the estate they are administering a “fiduciary duty.” This means that the executor must exercise reasonable care and act in the best interests of those beneficiaries. As part of that fiduciary duty, an executor has a …
What To Do If an Executor Is Not Communicating With Beneficiaries? Read More »
If your adult siblings refuse to leave your deceased parents’ house, there are legal actions you can take. The appropriate course of action for your situation will depend largely on who inherited the home. For instance, if the sibling did not inherit the home, whoever received ownership can pursue an eviction. However, under Texas law, …
How Do I Get My Siblings Out of Our Deceased Parents’ House? Read More »
In Texas, while an executor of an estate does have to file an inventory, appraisement, and list of claims with the probate court, they are not necessarily required to show accountings to beneficiaries. A personal representative must file an inventory of the estate assets within 90 days of qualification. After that, in a dependent administration, …
Does an Executor Have to Show Accountings to Beneficiaries? Read More »