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Motions to Disqualify and Florida Bar Rule 4-3.7

Uncategorized Oct 22, 2018
post about Motions to Disqualify and Florida Bar Rule 4-3.7

What does Rule 4-3.7 have to do with a motion to disqualify? What should West Palm Beach probate lawyers know about motions to disqualify? When should a motion to disqualify be granted? Under what circumstances should a West Palm Beach lawyer be disqualified? You should read a January 5, 2018 Second DCA opinion, Furman v. Furman.

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What are General Duties that a Florida Trustee Must Do?

Uncategorized Oct 18, 2018
post about What are General Duties that a Florida Trustee Must Do?

What are some general duties that a Florida trustee MUST do? What should your trust litigator in West Palm Beach know about these duties? If a trustee in Florida fails to fulfill their duties you may have an action for breach of fiduciary duty of the trustee, and be entitled to cash damages. 

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Florida Probate Litigation & Trust Protectors

Uncategorized Oct 18, 2018
post about Florida Probate Litigation & Trust Protectors

What is a trust protector? What should West Palm Beach estate lawyers know about trust protectors? Can a trust protector amend an Orlando trust? When are trust protectors present in trust lawsuits? A “trust protector” acts to restrain and guide a trustee of a trust in its administration. How do trust protectors change trust litigation and trust administration in West Palm Beach?

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Interpreting a Florida Will: What Was the Decedent’s Intent?

Uncategorized Oct 18, 2018
post about Interpreting a Florida Will: What Was the Decedent’s Intent?

If you ask any estate litigation attorney, they will tell you that Florida probate court judges focus repeatedly on one thing: the intent of the decedent. What was the intent of the person who died, and how was that intent expressed in their Palm Beach or Delray Beach will? What if the intent of the decedent is not clear in the Florida will? Can evidence be used to prove what the testator, or person who wrote the will, wanted? Can the Palm Beach estate planning attorney who drafted the will testify in probate court? Can your estate or trust lawyer depose the witnesses who watched the testator sign his or her will?

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Changing Your Florida Estate Plan Can Lead to Litigation

Uncategorized Oct 18, 2018
post about Changing Your Florida Estate Plan Can Lead to Litigation

Is changing your estate plan appropriate? Did your sibling unduly influence your parents to change their estate plan? Do you need a probate litigator? A brother sues his sisters in a June 6, 2017 opinion from the Court of Appeals of Georgia, Slosberg v. Giller. This case, although it is not a Florida probate case, is a great example of a trust and estates lawsuit involving undue influence, sibling rivalry, and an aggressive family dispute. It shows just how quickly loved ones can turn against each other when money comes into play.

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Florida Surviving Spouse Inheritance Rights: What do Surviving Spouses Inherit in Florida?

Uncategorized Oct 18, 2018
post about Florida Surviving Spouse Inheritance Rights: What do Surviving Spouses Inherit in Florida?

If my husband dies, am I entitled to any of his Florida property or money? Can my wife leave her Florida home to someone else in her will or trust? Does a surviving spouse have rights according to Florida probate law? Can my husband leave me and our minor children nothing? What rights do I have as a spouse in Florida? How do I prove that I am the surviving spouse of the decedent? What if I am recognized as married to the decedent  in a foreign country but not here in Florida? If you believe you are entitled as a surviving spouse to a Florida estate, you may want to read a March 2017 Second DCA opinion, Cohen v. Shushan. You should especially read this opinion if the marriage between you and the decedent is only recognized in a foreign country.

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Florida Probate Lawyers and the Rule of a Limited Appearance

Uncategorized Oct 17, 2018
post about Florida Probate Lawyers and the Rule of a Limited Appearance

What is a “Notice of Limited Appearance”? When do West Palm Beach probate lawyers file these notices? What do they mean? What should trust and estates attorneys know about rule 5.030 (b)? What does it mean if a Florida attorney has a limited appearance in a guardianship case? When are notices of limited appearance filed in probate or trust litigation?

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733.6175 Trial on Personal Representative’s Attorneys Fees

Uncategorized Oct 16, 2018
post about 733.6175 Trial on Personal Representative’s Attorneys Fees

On March 1st, 2017, Pankauski Hauser partner John Pankauski completed a trial on the issue of reasonable compensation for a personal representative’s attorney whose work ended prior to complete estate administration. The trial took place in the Delray Beach Probate Court, before the Honorable Howard Coates. 

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What should I know about Florida’s lawyer-client privilege?

Uncategorized Oct 16, 2018
post about What should I know about Florida’s lawyer-client privilege?

What should I know about Florida’s lawyer-client privilege? Does my West Palm Beach probate litigator have to keep the details of my case private? What duties does an Orlando lawyer owe to his or her client? What is Florida Statute 90.502? Why is this an important part of Florida’s Evidence Code? What are the exception to attorney-client privilege according to this Florida Statute? If you are involve in a probate matter, you will want to familiarize yourself with Florida Statute 90.502.

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Inheriting From a Palm Beach Estate

Uncategorized Oct 16, 2018
post about Inheriting From a Palm Beach Estate

Are you looking at a large Palm Beach inheritance? Do you think it’s big enough to satisfy the whole family? How can an estate planning attorney help prevent inheritance disputes? Once a trust and estates litigator helps you to inherit a large amount of money, what should you do with it?

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