FLorida Estate and Trust Blog

Beginning July 1, 2026, Florida significantly expands eligibility for summary administration by increasing the estate value threshold from $75,000 to $150,000. Learn how this important probate law change may benefit your family and why estate planning remains just as important.

Many Florida families worry that nursing home costs will force them to sell the family home. While Florida offers strong homestead protections, Medicaid eligibility and estate recovery rules can still create confusion. Learn when your home may be protected, when it may be at risk, and why early planning matters.

Receiving an inheritance can significantly improve your financial future, but it can also increase your exposure to creditors if you are sued. Learn when inherited assets are protected in Florida, what mistakes can place your inheritance at risk, and how proactive asset protection planning can help preserve your legacy.

Can you still protect your assets after a lawsuit has been filed? The answer depends on timing, the type of assets you own, and Florida law. Learn what options may still exist, what mistakes to avoid, and why early planning offers the strongest protection.

Professionals and business owners often face greater lawsuit exposure than the average person. Learn the asset protection strategies commonly used by doctors, lawyers, entrepreneurs, and investors to help preserve wealth and reduce liability risks before legal problems arise.

Many Florida residents assume their bank accounts are automatically protected from creditors. Unfortunately, that is not always the case. Learn when creditors may access bank accounts, which funds may be exempt, and how proactive asset protection planning can help preserve your wealth.

Many Florida business owners form an LLC believing it creates complete protection from lawsuits and creditors. While LLCs can be powerful asset protection tools, they are not bulletproof. Understanding what an LLC protects—and what it does not—can help you build a stronger asset protection strategy.

Many Florida homeowners worry about losing their home if they are sued. Florida offers some of the strongest homestead protections in the country, but those protections are not unlimited. Learn when your home may be protected, exceptions to homestead protection, and how proactive asset protection planning can help preserve your family's wealth.

Many people assume asset protection planning is only for the ultra-wealthy. In reality, Florida business owners, professionals, real estate investors, retirees, and families with modest wealth can all benefit from proactive planning. Learn when asset protection planning makes sense and which assets may need protection.

Family disagreements over who should serve as a guardian are more common than many people realize. This article explains how Florida courts handle contested guardianship cases, what factors judges consider when selecting a guardian, and how proper planning can help families avoid costly disputes.

Inheriting a Florida home with siblings or other family members can create unexpected legal and financial challenges. Learn what happens when multiple heirs inherit a Florida home, their rights and responsibilities, and the options available for managing or selling inherited property.

Many Florida residents worry that if they die without a will, the state will inherit their assets. In reality, Florida law provides a detailed order of inheritance for surviving spouses, children, parents, siblings, and other relatives. However, in rare situations where no heirs can be located, assets may eventually pass to the state. Learn how Florida intestate succession works and why creating an estate plan is the best way to protect your family's future.

Many families wonder whether they can handle probate on their own after the death of a loved one. Learn when Florida law requires a probate attorney, the limited exceptions, and why professional guidance can help simplify the probate process.

Many famous celebrities died without a valid will, leaving behind costly probate disputes and family conflicts. This article explores the estates of Prince, Chadwick Boseman, and Aretha Franklin while explaining why every Florida family should have a comprehensive estate plan.

Owning a boat in Florida is a significant investment. Learn how trusts, LLCs, and proper estate planning can help your boat avoid probate while providing valuable asset protection for you and your family.

Once your child turns 18, you no longer have automatic legal authority to make medical or financial decisions on their behalf. Learn why a healthcare surrogate and power of attorney are essential documents for every Florida family.

Many families want certain belongings to pass to specific loved ones. Learn how Florida estate planning allows you to properly distribute heirlooms, jewelry, collectibles, real estate, and digital assets while minimizing probate disputes.

Handwritten wills, also known as holographic wills, are generally not valid under Florida law. Learn why Florida requires strict will formalities and how improper estate planning can create probate disputes.

Memorial Day reminds us to honor those who came before us and protect the people we love most. Learn why estate planning is one of the most important ways to preserve your family’s legacy in Florida.

Florida homestead property receives unique legal protections, but it may still need probate proceedings before it can be sold. Learn how Florida homestead law impacts probate real estate sales.

A Lady Bird Deed can help avoid probate in Florida, but does it protect against creditors? Learn the benefits, limitations, and probate warning signs families should understand before using one.

Florida homestead law creates unique restrictions when a homeowner is survived by a minor child. Learn how trusts interact with homestead property and the probate issues families should never ignore.

Probate disputes can delay inheritance and create costly litigation. Learn the warning signs families should never ignore and how mediation can help resolve contested probate matters efficiently.

Contested probate can significantly delay estate administration in Florida. Learn how long probate takes and why mediation is often the best solution for resolving disputes efficiently.

A lost original will can create major probate complications. Learn how Florida courts handle lost wills and what evidence is needed to admit a copy to probate.