Recent Blog Posts
Common Misconceptions about How Probate Works in Florida
It’s understandable that you may not know much about how the probate process works in Florida. Unless you’ve had someone close to you die or have been named as the Personal Representative in someone else’s estate, there is very little chance you’ve dealt with this legal process before. However, it’s still important that you… Read More »
What Does a Personal Representative Do During the Probate of an Estate?
Personal Representatives are individuals named in a Will to carry out the terms of the Will, subject to the requirements of Florida law. In certain circumstances, the can also be appointed by the Probate Court. This individual owes a fiduciary duty to the beneficiaries and creditors to manage the estate properly. This is similar… Read More »
Florida Now Allows Electronic Wills
Florida recently passed the Electronic Documents Act (HB 409) that will take effect January 1, 2020. This law allows for electronic signatures, witnessing, and notarization of estate planning documents, including wills. Before the law goes into effective and questions arise, the Florida Department of State is working on specific procedures for the rollout and… Read More »
What Happens if There are Multiple Florida Wills in Probate?
Wills are an important Florida estate planning tool. If you pass away, your will will help speed the probate process along by advising the court how you want your assets to be distributed. In most cases, this can be a smooth process. However, there are circumstances that make this more challenging. Children, deaths, multiple… Read More »
What Happens When You Don’t Have a Will in Florida?
American families are busier than ever. Between work, taking care of kids and extracurricular activities, it can be hard to find time to sit down and think about estate planning. Parents with young kids especially have a hard time finding the time to discuss estate planning. Perhaps you don’t believe you have enough monetary… Read More »
Tips for Resolving Inheritance Decisions With a Blended Family
Blended families are more common than ever. A blended family is a family made up of a couple and their children from their previous marriage(s). Currently, 3 out of every 4 Americans who become divorced remarry, and 65% of all remarriages in the United States involve blended families in which a spouse brings in… Read More »
Heiress Gloria Vanderbilt Passes Away at Age 95
Nobody likes to think about their end of life. We are so busy with our day to day lives that it’s difficult to anticipate what we’d like to happen once we are no longer here. It is essential, however, to have an estate plan so that your wishes come to pass after your passing…. Read More »
Tips for Conducting Estate Planning Under The New Tax Laws
Many are relieved that the tax season is over for the year. However, just because it’s over and you’ve filed your taxes doesn’t mean that now isn’t a good time to review your tax and estate-based planning. President Donald Trump signed a tax bill into law on December 2017 that changes things up in… Read More »
Moving to Florida? You May Need To Update Your Estate Planning Documents
The sun, sand, and surf are drawing more people than ever to the Sunshine State, and the data bears this out. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Florida came in second next to Texas for having the most numeric growth from 2016-2017. Between the summer of 2016 to the summer of 2017, almost 900… Read More »
Aretha Franklin’s Estate Sues Over Contested Holographic Will
On August 16, 2018, world-renowned soul singer Aretha Franklin passed away as a result of advanced pancreatic cancer. Known for her powerful vocals and title as the Queen of Soul, President Barack Obama stated that Franklin ”helped define the American experience” and that “in her voice, we could feel our history, all of it… Read More »
Mark R. Manceri, P.A. is a boutique law firm that specializes in Estate, Trust and Guardianship litigation. These matters include Will and Trust contests involving lack of capacity, undue influence, forgery, improper execution and tortious interference...