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A Living Trust Can't Avoid Probate for Assets Left Outside It Signing a living trust document can feel like the hard part is over. It isn't. For a trust to control particular property during your lifetime and distribute that property according to its terms later, the assets generally need to be transferred into the trust...

Florida Raised the Summary Administration Limit to $150,000 in 2026 Florida probate doesn't always require a full formal administration. Some estates can use summary administration, a shorter court process that generally avoids appointing a personal representative to administer the estate over an extended period. The eligibility rules changed significantly this year. Effective July 1, 2026,...

Preserving SSI And Medicaid While Protecting An Inheritance Parents want to leave their children enough financial security to handle whatever the future brings. But when a child with a disability relies on Supplemental Security Income, Medicaid, or other means-tested benefits, leaving money directly to them can create an unexpected problem. SSI generally limits an individual...

Probate Administration And Probate Litigation Are Not The Same Process When a loved one passes away, most families find themselves navigating a court process they’ve never encountered before. Many Florida estates go through probate, a court-supervised procedure designed to settle the deceased's debts and transfer assets to the rightful beneficiaries. But not all probate cases...

Estate Plans Need Regular Reviews To Keep Up With Life Changes Many people treat estate planning like a one-time task. They sign a will or trust, put the documents in a drawer, and assume everything is taken care of forever. But life rarely stays the same for long. Families grow, relationships change, assets increase or...

Why a Pour-Over Will Acts as a Safety Net in an Estate Plan A will is still one of the most important estate planning documents a person can have in Florida. It can name who should receive property, who should handle the estate, and who should step in for minor children. But not every will...

The Right Florida Estate Plan Can Protect Your Family From Court Intervention Losing the ability to manage your own affairs can happen gradually or all at once after a stroke, fall, or other medical emergency. When it does, families are often left trying to manage bills, medical decisions, and property issues, only to learn that...

Why This Florida Distinction Can Change Who Inherits When someone dies, the family often assumes the “next of kin” automatically receives everything. Then a life insurance payout goes to someone unexpected, a retirement account bypasses the will, or a bank account transfers to a name no one has thought of in years. That surprise usually...

How Irrevocable Trusts Fit Into Florida Medicaid Planning Estate planning in Florida often involves more than deciding who inherits assets. For many families, it also includes planning for Medicaid eligibility and long-term care without sacrificing everything they intend to pass on. Medicaid’s strict income and asset limits make that planning especially important, particularly when significant...

Family homes carry memories, milestones, and meaning For many Florida residents, applying for Medicaid brings a mix of relief and anxiety. Relief because Medicaid may cover long-term care costs that private insurance often will not. Anxiety because of a persistent fear that everything worked for, especially the family home, could be taken away. In Boca...