Some people in Florida might have assumed that when heiress and fashion icon Gloria Vanderbilt died, she left an enormous estate behind. There was speculation that it might be worth as much as $200 million. However, based on probate documents, her estate was valued at...
Estate Administration & Probate
How can you lower your risk of dementia?
A diagnosis of dementia limits your ability to make an estate plan in Florida. Your estate planning documents are likely to face a challenge if there is a question of whether or not you were of sound mind at the time that you drafted them. For this reason, it is a...
Why should I plan my own funeral?
If you have a favorite outfit you want to be buried in, a specific phrase in mind for your headstone or you do not want to be buried at all, it is a good idea to state these wishes in your will. Like many Florida residents, you may balk at the thought of planning your...
Avoiding family conflict over an estate plan
Residents in Florida might want to believe that their family members would not become embroiled in an all-out battle over their inheritances but that is not a safe assumption. The more effectively a person can outline their wishes in a solid estate plan, the better....
Should my loved ones know my passwords in case I die?
Like most people, you may have heard the joke about erasing one’s online search history if one were to die. However, the information stored in your computer and cellphone is no laughing matter if you have important financial data that could potentially affect...
Which 5 questions do executors ask most often?
If you have become the executor of someone’s Florida estate, you likely have many questions. The probate process can be intimidating and challenging, especially if it represents your first court experience.The American Bar Association has put together...
What happens to my debt after I die?
Perhaps you have a great deal of credit card debt or you are still making regular mortgage payments. In your later years, you may also have accrued significant medical debt. You know that you will not be able to repay all of your debt before you die. Like other...
Tom Petty’s heirs file lawsuits over estate
Some Florida fans of the late musician Tom Petty may have heard that his family is in a dispute over his estate. In Petty's will, he created an LLC, Petty Unlimited. He also set up a trust and made his widow the directing trustee. She was supposed to fund the LLC with...
Right and wrong ways to avoid probate
We at the Law Offices of Frye & Vazquez understand why it is desirable to avoid probate if possible. The probate process in Florida can be complicated, expensive and much more public than most families would prefer. There are a number of available options to help...
Court rules on possession of Farrah Fawcett portrait
Florida fans of actress Farrah Fawcett may be aware that there was litigation concerning her estate. The litigation was focused on one of the two portraits that artist Andy Warhol painted of the actress in 1980. Fawcett's last will and testament left her art...
