Florida Family and Probate Lawyers

A significant number of cases that fall under family law have to do with some form of disagreement between currently or formerly married partners. On the most basic level, guidance from a Florida family law attorney would be a big help during every stage of the divorce process. They could assist with filing the correct documents, as well as solving any conflicts that often come up when dissolving a marriage.

A family lawyer is critical to addressing matters like child custody rights, spousal support or alimony, child support obligations, and even division of jointly owned property. They can also help someone avoid conflicts by drafting prenuptial or postnuptial agreements so that there is not a prolonged fight later on.

Accepting and adjusting to the death of a family member can be difficult. Not only do these events have a profound emotional and economic impact on your life, but they may also raise important legal questions. Most important among these is figuring out what parties have the right to inherit the decedent’s property under the law. The process for answering these questions is known as probate. One of our probate lawyers in Florida can help you understand this type of legal procedure and what to expect. Our trusted attorneys can submit formal petitions, evaluate the legitimacy of wills, investigate the actions of administrators, and protect the rights of legal heirs to receive the maximum value of your inheritance.

Formal Administration

Formal administration is the default process of administering the assets of the deceased person through probate court. A personal representative will be established to oversee this process. A probate lawyer can guide that representative through their duties, or, alternatively, make the case that an established representative is not fulfilling their duties properly.

Summary Administration

A lawyer can also assist with summary administration, which differs from formal administration in that it does not require a representative to oversee the process, and it also applies to estates worth less than $75,000 or if the person has been deceased for over two years.

Estate Litigation

While many probate cases go off without a hitch, there are times when a person may need to challenge the contents of a will or the actions of a personal representative/executor. A Florida probate attorney can represent an individual in court to make these assertions – or defend someone against them.