Florida Probate Lawyers & Trust Administration Attorneys
Proudly serving residents of Palm Beach Gardens, Boynton Beach, Port St. Lucie, and the Surrounding Communities
As Florida probate lawyers and trust administration lawyers with decades of experience, we understand the trauma of losing a loved one. Dealing with probate or trust administration issues can be overwhelming for a grieving family. Be assured that our probate attorneys and staff treat each client with the same sensitivity and patience we would want for ourselves in similar circumstances. Our goal is to alleviate as much of the burden as possible from families in these difficult circumstances.
If you have recently lost a loved one, we offer our sincerest condolences. We also invite you to call our office to schedule a consultation with an experienced probate attorney and trust administration attorney to learn about your options for seeking to ensure a smooth transfer of estate property to the right beneficiaries.
How Can a Florida Probate Lawyer and Estate and Trust Administration Attorney Help Me?
When an individual passes away, their assets must be distributed in a manner consistent with Florida state laws and the directions memorialized when they were alive (such as in a will or trust). As Florida probate attorneys, we help the personal representative of a will (also called an executor) or estate beneficiaries navigate through the Florida probate process, from identifying and accounting for estate assets and settling debts to ensuring property is properly transferred to loved ones. We also help trustees administer trust distributions and answer trust questions.
At The Karp Law Firm, we assist clients with:
Probate: Probate is the legal procedure in which the probate court assumes jurisdiction over the probatable assets of someone who has died. (Jointly owned assets and beneficiary-designated assets are not probate assets.) The court supervises the payment of debts, taxes, and probate fees, then supervises the distribution of the remainder to the persons named in a Will, or to the heirs if there is no Will. As experienced Florida probate attorneys serving Port St. Lucie, Boynton Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, and the surrounding communities, we are well-equipped to handle all probate matters.
Trust Administration: Probate may not be necessary if a deceased person had a properly drafted and funded Trust, although trust administration is still necessary.
Post-mortem planning: Family members commonly believe that their deceased loved one properly planned because the decedent had a Last Will, created and funded a Trust, or designated certain individuals as beneficiaries. In fact, sometimes, the decedent’s plans can actually have a negative impact on the family with regard to estate taxes, and/or Florida Medicaid planning strategies for the surviving spouse. If this occurs, our estate attorneys can advise you about post-mortem planning techniques that may rectify the situation and create more favorable tax consequences for surviving family members. Seeking the advice of an experienced Florida Probate and Trust Administration lawyer before receiving these assets is always wise.
We Urge You To Schedule A Consultation With A Florida Probate Lawyer and Estate Administration Attorney To Learn How You Can Protect Yourself During Life And Your Loved Ones After Death.
For years, The Karp Law Firm has assisted personal representatives (also known as executors) and beneficiaries in complex probate and estate administration matters. The following are some of the common tasks that our dedicated probate attorneys handle:
- Identifying life insurance policies and obtaining proceeds
- Identifying estate assets
- Obtaining valuations of real property
- Obtaining valuations of any business assets
- Determining what creditors exist
- Assist in the payment of debts
- Preparing and filing all probate court documents
- Evaluating tax issues and working with a CPA to ensure that a final income tax return for the decedent is filed, and to determine if an estate tax return must be filed.
- Managing an estate checking account
- Transferring assets to appropriate beneficiaries
- Making final distributions (after all bills and taxes are paid)
- Making sure that the personal representative or trustee does everything required, to shield them from any liability that could occur as a result of their inexperience in handling these matters
Don’t try to tackle probate alone. Do not tackle trust administration alone. Instead, we invite you to call our office to learn how our attorneys and dedicated staff can help make the process smooth and efficient. Call today to get started!
Serving Palm Beach, Martin, St. Lucie, Broward & Okeechobee Counties,
the Surrounding Communities
Learn more about our Florida probate lawyer services and trust administration services:
Client Review
When we moved from New York to Florida we had to find an attorney to redo legal documents since Florida laws are different from NY. We had gone to a presentation about trusts in NY and they recommended The Karp Attorneys. We found them very professional and answered all our questions and took care of our legal documents for Florida. Price was reasonable too. When we went back to pick up all our papers, I couldn’t get over how professional it was. Everything was explained to us and answered any questions we had and put all our legal documents in a binder. Also we could call them if the future with any questions we might have. They specialize in elder law. I would highly recommend them for your legal documents.
5 Star Review – Mildred
