Recent Blog Posts
I Have An Out Of State Vacation Home – What Should I Know About Probate When Estate Planning?
For many, it is the highest echelon of the American Dream: not only do you own a home in the state where you live and work, but you have also successfully financed your dream out-of-state property. Whether it’s a house on the beach or a secluded cabin on the chilled lakes of Maine –… Read More »
How To Protect Against “Lost Heirs” In Probate
You have worked your whole life to build up your estate. Regardless of whether your legacy is a vast and sprawling estate or a modest balance in a bank account, you deserve to have the final say in how your estate will be divided and inherited. This may become particularly important to you if… Read More »
How Can Your Business Benefit From A Non-Compete, Non-Solicitation, Or Non-Disclosure Agreement?
All businesses have a “secret sauce” that allows them to be competitive in the market. This could be an actual product like the secret 23 spices making up the classic flavoring for KFC, or something more conventional such as a small business’s pricing strategies or other proprietary data or trade secrets. To remain competitive… Read More »
How A Revocable Living Trust Can Help You Avoid The Florida Probate Process
The Florida probate laws and processes are notorious for their tendency to cause long, drawn-out, cumbersome estate settlement issues for the heirs/beneficiaries that are left behind. Naturally, this has stirred up interest in what estate planning options or strategies exist to lessen the burden of the probate process (or, hopefully, to exclude as many… Read More »
Summary Administration: A Florida Shortcut To Regular Probate
Probate: a long, drawn out, largely public ordeal that many estates must trod through to some extent in Florida. However, Florida offers an alternative route – a “shortcut” to the formal probate administrative process, if you will – in certain circumstances. Pursuing the simplified probate process may make it easier, less time consuming and… Read More »
Why You Need To Take Florida HOA Disputes Seriously
Most Florida homeowners have had to deal with an HOA dispute at one time or another. Oftentimes, these situations are quickly resolved without anyone needing to call a lawyer. But when things escalate, a homeowner must be prepared to assert their rights in court. Disagreement Over Unkempt Lawn Leads to Years of Litigation One… Read More »
Do You Need A Florida Revocable Living Trust?
Although the word “trust” are often associated with very wealthy individuals, the truth is that anyone can use a trust as part of their own estate planning. In particular, the revocable living trust is a popular tool for helping to distribute your assets without the need for formal probate after your death. While living… Read More »
How “Factoring Companies” Can Take Advantage Of Personal Injury Victims
Personal injury cases are often resolved with the plaintiff–i.e., the person harmed by the defendant’s conduct–agreeing to what is known as a structured settlement. Basically, this means the defendant purchases an annuity contract that makes periodic payments to the plaintiff. The annuity is managed by a separate company from the defendant (or their insurer)…. Read More »
Does An Erroneous Mortgage Statement Violate Consumer Protection Laws?
The federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) and its state counterpart, the Florida Consumer Collection Practices Act (FCCPA) both prohibit creditors from making false, deceptive, or misleading statements “in connection with the collection of a [] debt.” For example, if a creditor sends you a bill falsely claiming that you owe them money,… Read More »
Is A Written Contract Required To Purchase Real Estate In Florida?
As a general rule, it is always a good idea to put any contract or business agreement in writing. It is possible to enforce a purely oral contract in many cases, but it is rarely advisable. For one thing, it is often difficult–if not impossible–to prove two parties agreed to an oral contract in… Read More »