On August 16, 2018, CNN reported that renowned singer Aretha Franklin had passed away. She was 76 years old, and she passed away at her home in Detroit. The cause of death is reported to be cancer. Who will inherit from her estate? Who are her heirs? Did she die with or without a will? Are her assets in a trust? What is in her estate? These are all questions that probate lawyers around the country want to get answers to.

On August 16, 2018, CNN reported that renowned singer Aretha Franklin had passed away. She was 76 years old, and she passed away at her home in Detroit. The cause of death is reported to be cancer. Did she have a will or a proper estate plan in place? Which probate litigation or estate law firm will handle the probate process for her estate? Who will inherit from her estate?  Because Franklin did not die in Florida, her estate will probably not be handled by a Florida probate lawyer. Instead, Detroit estate attorneys will be hired to get the beneficiaries of her estate their inheritances. 

How do I get my inheritance in Florida?  What should I know about the probate process in Florida? If my mom died in West Palm Beach leaving behind a house for me, how do I get ownership of it? Here are three things that John Pankauski, managing partner at Pankauski Hauser, believes you should know about getting your inheritance in Florida:

In Palm Beach probate litigation, what is summary administration? When is summary administration available? Is summary administration the best option? If you are the beneficiary of a small Florida estate, you will want to know about summary administration. Your West Palm Beach trust and estate law firm can discuss the pros and cons of summary administration with you.  Summary Administration Florida probate lawyers know that summary administration is a type of probate in Florida. How is it different than the formal Palm Beach probate process? A summary administration does not require that a personal representative, known as an executor in other states, be appointed.In addition, trust and estates lawyers will tell you that summary administration may be less expensive and time consuming than a formal probate proceeding. Can I simply choose summary administration in Florida over a formal probate process?The estate in question has to qualify for summary administration. What does this mean?The decedent must have been dead for more than two years, or the estate must be worth less than $75,000. Is summary administration an available option if the decedent had a Florida will that specifies for a formal probate? No! Want to know more specifics?Click here to read the relevant Florida Statutes regarding small Florida estates.In addition, you should talk to a Florida probate lawyer.

A February 8, 2017 New York Times article states that only 42% of American adults have a will. This data was taken from a  survey that was published on Caring.com. Why do less than half of American adults have an estate plan?

In today’s world, nearly everyone has social media accounts and email accounts. Florida trust and estates lawyers know that, via these accounts, pictures are shared, memories are made, and personal information is discussed. How do I keep my email and social media accounts private once I pass away? Who will have access to my accounts? How do I provide my husband with access so that he can cherish my pictures? Do I need a probate lawyer? Google, for example, has set up a convenient way to insure that the people you intend to have access to these accounts do.

There are many great estate lawyers in Florida. Palm Beach estate attorneys can help you get through the probate process in Florida, in a timely way. They can advise you not only on your inheritance rights, but on your fiduciary duties. You should be willing and ready to communicate with the estate attorney you choose and they should keep you informed. How do I choose the best trust and estates lawyer? What factors should I consider? How do I choose a Florida estate attorney? What questions should I ask when I interview probate law firms?

What do Florida trust and estates lawyers need to know about adoption? What do Delray Beach estate planning attorneys need to know about adoption? In Florida, do adopted children inherit from the parents who adopted them? What about foster children? Do foster children in Florida have the same rights as adopted children? If I am adopted, can I still inherit from my biological father? If I’m adopted do I get to inherit from both my natural parents and my adoptive parents? A January 4, 2017  Court of Appeals of Texas opinion discusses adoption and a trust.

What does dying without a will mean in Florida? In Palm Beach, if you die without a will, you are dying intestate. This means that your wealth will pass to your heirs. Who are heirs according to Florida intestacy laws? If you have a spouse and children, they will probably inherit. But what if you do NOT have children or a spouse?

What do litigators in West Palm Beach need to know about the doctrine of res judicata? How can res judicata help you in your probate litigation matter? When can res judicata be applied? What claims can be barred through res judicata? You may want to check out this recent Second District Court of Appeal(DCA) case to learn more.