Practical perspectives on Florida law.
Short, useful articles on the estate planning, probate, real estate, business, construction, HOA, elder law, and injury questions Florida families, owners, and businesses ask most.
What to Do After a Car Accident in Florida
The right moves after a Florida crash โ from the scene to the 14-day PIP medical deadline โ and how to protect an injury claim.
Read more โFlorida Personal Injury Deadline: The 2-Year Statute of Limitations
Florida's 2023 reform cut the injury deadline to two years. The statute of limitations, key exceptions, and why delay is costly.
Read more โFlorida Comparative Negligence: How Fault Affects Your Claim
Florida's 2023 rule: damages drop with your share of fault, and over 50% fault means no recovery. How shared blame works now.
Read more โFlorida No-Fault & PIP Insurance: What It Covers After a Crash
Florida's no-fault system: how PIP's $10,000 works, the 14-day rule, and when a serious injury lets you sue the at-fault driver.
Read more โSlip and Fall Claims in Florida: Premises Liability Explained
A Florida slip-and-fall isn't automatic. The notice rule under F.S. ยง 768.0755, what you must prove, and why evidence vanishes fast.
Read more โFlorida Wrongful Death Claims: Who Can File and What's Recoverable
Florida's Wrongful Death Act: who can file, what survivors can recover, and the strict two-year deadline after a fatal accident.
Read more โFlorida Dog Bite Law: When the Owner Is Liable
Florida holds dog owners strictly liable for bites (F.S. ยง 767.04) โ no "one free bite." When owners are liable and what can reduce recovery.
Read more โWhat Affects the Value of a Florida Personal Injury Claim
No tool can promise a number. The real drivers of a Florida injury claim's value โ damages, injury severity, fault, and insurance limits.
Read more โOnline Estate Planning vs. a Traditional Attorney in Florida
Online service, traditional attorney, or both? A side-by-side comparison of cost, Florida-law accuracy, and risk โ and the attorney-reviewed middle path most families actually want.
Read more โThe Florida Estate Kit: Estate Planning Online
Create a complete, attorney-reviewed Florida estate plan online โ revocable trust, will, powers of attorney, and health care documents โ without the traditional price tag.
Read more โHow Much Does Estate Planning Cost in Florida?
From a few hundred dollars for a DIY form to $5,000+ at a traditional firm โ here's what Florida estate planning actually costs, and what you get at each level.
Read more โFlorida Probate: What It Costs and How to Avoid It
Florida probate runs 3โ5% of the gross estate and 6โ18 months. Here's what it really costs, how long it takes, and three reliable ways to avoid it.
Read more โWhat Happens If You Die Without a Will in Florida?
Die without a will and Florida's intestacy statute decides who inherits โ not you. See who gets your home and assets, and why even a simple will matters.
Read more โThe Florida Irrevocable Trust
Irrevocable trusts offer asset protection, Medicaid planning, and tax control a revocable trust can't. Here's when a Florida family actually needs one.
Read more โFlorida Special Needs Trusts
Leaving money directly to a disabled loved one can cost them SSI and Medicaid. A special needs trust preserves the inheritance without ending their benefits.
Read more โHealth Care Surrogate & Living Will in Florida
A health care surrogate names who makes medical decisions if you can't; a living will states your end-of-life wishes. Here's how each works under Florida law.
Read more โEstate Planning for Married Couples in Florida
Joint trust or separate trusts? Florida's elective share and homestead rules shape every married couple's plan. Here's how to protect each other and your heirs.
Read more โDigital Assets in Your Florida Estate Plan
Crypto, online accounts, and digital files can be lost forever without a plan. Here's how Florida's RUFADAA law lets you pass on your digital life.
Read more โFlorida Estate Planning Checklist: Where to Start
Estate planning feels overwhelming until you break it into steps. Here are the five core documents every Florida resident needs, what each does, and a clear order to tackle them.
Read more โProbate vs. Trust Administration in Florida
After death, an estate is settled one of two ways: public probate court or private trust administration. Compare the cost, timeline, and steps โ and see what your family will actually face.
Read more โEstate Planning for Blended Families in Florida
Second marriages and stepchildren make planning complex โ and Florida's elective share and homestead law can override your wishes. Here's how a QTIP trust protects both your spouse and your children.
Read more โFlorida Pet Trusts: Providing for Your Pet
A verbal promise to care for your pet isn't enforceable in Florida โ but a pet trust under F.S. 736.0408 is. Here's how to set money aside and legally guarantee your companion is cared for.
Read more โThe Florida Revocable Living Trust
For most Florida homeowners, the revocable living trust is the centerpiece โ it avoids probate, stays private, and plans for incapacity. Here's how it works, what it costs, and the one step everyone gets wrong.
Read more โHow to Make a Will in Florida
A valid Florida will requires two witnesses โ and getting it wrong can void the entire document. Here are the exact steps, the witness rules, and how online wills work in Florida.
Read more โIs Your Florida Will Actually Valid?
Florida throws out wills that miss the formalities โ and a handwritten will usually fails. Here's what the statute requires and the grounds on which a will can be contested.
Read more โAre Online Wills Legal in Florida?
Yes โ Florida recognizes fully electronic wills, signed and witnessed by remote notarization. Here's how the law works, and where do-it-yourself forms still go wrong.
Read more โPOD, TOD & Beneficiary Designations in Florida
Some accounts pass to your heirs without probate โ and without a trust. But beneficiary forms override your will, and used alone they quietly defeat plans. Here's how they really work.
Read more โHow to Change or Revoke a Will in Florida
Life changes, and your will should keep up โ but crossing out a line can do real damage. Codicils, new wills, revocation, and what divorce does automatically in Florida.
Read more โThe Florida Personal Representative (Executor)
Florida limits who is even allowed to serve as executor โ most out-of-state friends can't. Here's the role, the residency rule, and how to choose the right person.
Read more โHow Should I Title My Florida Home?
Trust, joint tenancy, tenancy by the entireties, lady bird deed โ Florida gives property owners more options than most states. Here's how to think through the decision.
Read more โI Moved to Florida. Do I Need to Redo My Estate Plan?
Almost always yes. Florida's homestead protections, spousal rights, and probate rules are unlike any other state โ and an out-of-state plan often produces results Florida families didn't intend.
Read more โWhen Should I Start Medicaid Planning?
The five-year lookback period is the most important concept in Florida Medicaid planning โ and the most misunderstood. Here's what it means and why it rewards early action.
Read more โWhat Is a Lady Bird Deed โ and Is It Right for You?
Florida is one of only a handful of states that recognizes the enhanced life estate deed. It can be a clean probate-avoidance tool โ but it's not right for every situation.
Read more โThe Binder Problem: Why Most Estate Plans Don't Work
Most Florida families sign their documents, take home a binder, and never open it again. The plan looks complete. It usually isn't. Here's what's almost always missing.
Read more โWill Medicaid Take My Home?
The two most common answers โ "yes, Medicaid takes everything" and "no, your home is protected" โ are both usually wrong. Florida homestead rules are nuanced and worth understanding.
Read more โShould My Trust Own My Florida Real Estate?
Putting real estate into a revocable trust avoids probate and simplifies transfer โ but it can affect homestead protection, property tax, and creditor exposure. Here's how to think through the tradeoffs.
Read more โDo I Need a Will, a Trust, or Both?
The answer depends on what you own, how it's titled, and what you're trying to accomplish. For most Florida families with real estate, the trust is the centerpiece โ but it's not universal.
Read more โPower of Attorney vs. Guardianship: What's the Difference?
A durable power of attorney is created in advance, by someone who still has capacity. Guardianship is what happens when that planning didn't happen. One costs hundreds. The other costs tens of thousands.
Read more โHow Long Does Probate Take in Florida?
Most Florida estates settle in 6 to 12 months โ but summary administration can finish in weeks, and a 2026 law just doubled the threshold. Here's the full process, timeline, and cost, step by step.
Read more โCan You Disinherit a Spouse in Florida?
No matter what your will says, a Florida spouse can claim 30% of a broad pool of your assets. Here's how the elective share works, what counts, and the only reliable way to plan around it.
Read more โFlorida Guardianship โ and How to Avoid It
Guardianship is what happens when incapacity strikes and no planning was done โ a court takes over and the family pays for years. Four documents, signed in advance, almost always prevent it.
Read more โQuitclaim vs. Warranty Deed in Florida
The wrong deed can leave a buyer with no protection โ or expose a seller to claims they never meant to make. Here's the plain-English difference, and when each one is the right tool.
Read more โDoes Florida Have an Estate or Inheritance Tax?
No state estate tax, no inheritance tax, no state income tax โ Florida is one of the most tax-friendly states for passing on wealth. Here's what that means for your heirs, and the taxes that still apply.
Read more โTenancy by the Entireties: Protection for Married Couples
How married Florida couples title their home and accounts can mean the difference between protected and exposed. Built-in creditor protection and automatic survivorship โ with important limits.
Read more โFlorida Ancillary Probate for Non-Residents & Foreign Owners
When someone who lived in another state or country dies owning Florida real estate, the property usually must pass through Florida ancillary probate (Fla.
Read more โFlorida Summary Administration: The Fast-Track Probate
Florida summary administration is a streamlined probate for estates of $150,000 or less, or when the person died more than two years ago
Read more โHow Much Does Summary Administration Cost in Florida?
Florida summary administration costs, itemized for 2026: attorney fees ($1,500โ$3,500+ at most firms;
Read more โFlorida Summary Administration Forms: The Complete Document Checklist
Every document a Florida summary administration requires: the verified petition under Rule 5.530 (all 12 required elements), certified death certificate,โฆ
Read more โFlorida Summary Administration With a House: Homestead, Title, and the $150,000 Question
Can you use Florida summary administration when the estate includes a home? Usually yes โ protected homestead doesn't count toward the $150,000 limit.
Read more โFlorida Doubled the Summary Administration Limit to $150,000: Who Qualifies Now
Effective July 1, 2026, Florida raised the summary administration threshold from $75,000 to $150,000 of non-exempt probate assets.
Read more โHow Long Does Summary Administration Take in Florida? (Realistic 2026 Timeline)
A realistic Florida summary administration timeline: 3โ8 weeks from filing to signed orders in most uncontested cases, with some counties faster and busyโฆ
Read more โFlorida's Two-Year Probate Rule: Settling an Estate Years After Death
When someone died more than two years ago, Florida summary administration is available at ANY estate size โ creditor claims are barred by ยง 733.710.
Read more โHow to Avoid Probate in Florida
Six proven ways to avoid probate in Florida โ living trusts, beneficiary designations, lady bird deeds, joint ownership, and more.
Read more โWhat Happens to Your Debt When You Die in Florida?
Does your family inherit your debt in Florida? A Florida attorney explains how debts, credit cards, and mortgages are handled at death
Read more โEstate Planning for Florida Retirees
A Florida attorney's estate planning guide for retirees โ living trusts, avoiding probate, homestead, powers of attorney, and protecting your home and savings.
Read more โEstate Planning for New Parents in Florida
New parents in Florida: how to name a guardian for your children, set up a will, and protect your family. A Florida attorney's plain-English guide.
Read more โEstate Planning for Unmarried Couples in Florida
In Florida, an unmarried partner has no automatic inheritance or medical decision rights.
Read more โThe 4 Legal Documents Every Florida 18-Year-Old Needs
When your child turns 18, you lose legal access to their medical, financial, and school information. The four documents that fix it in Florida
Read more โCross-Border Estate Planning for Florida Property
A non-U.S. citizen who dies owning Florida real estate directly gets just a $60,000 U.S. estate-tax exemption โ not $13.99M โ with rates to 40%.
Read more โ10 Florida Estate Planning Mistakes to Avoid
The most common estate planning mistakes Florida families make โ from unfunded trusts to outdated beneficiaries โ and how to avoid them.
Read more โHow Much Does a Living Trust Cost in Florida?
What a revocable living trust costs in Florida in 2026 โ attorney fees vs. flat-fee online options, what's included, and how to decide.
Read more โWhat Is a Pour-Over Will in Florida?
A pour-over will is the safety net for your living trust. A Florida attorney explains what it does, why you need one with a trust, and how it works in Florida.
Read more โHow Much Does a Will Cost in Florida?
What a will costs in Florida in 2026 โ attorney fees vs. flat-fee online options, what's included, and whether a cheap online will is valid.
Read more โHow to Fund a Living Trust in Florida (Step by Step)
An unfunded trust avoids nothing. A Florida attorney's step-by-step guide to funding your living trust โ real estate, accounts, and beneficiary designations.
Read more โMoving to Florida? Your Estate Planning Checklist
New to Florida? A Florida attorney's checklist for updating your will, trust, powers of attorney, and homestead after a move
Read more โDoes Medicaid Take Your House in Florida?
Your Florida home is usually safe from Medicaid while you're alive โ homestead is an exempt asset.
Read more โFlorida Medicaid Asset Protection: How to Qualify Without Losing Everything
Florida Medicaid for nursing home care has a $2,000 asset limit and a 5-year lookback
Read more โFlorida Nursing Home Costs & Who Pays (2026): Medicare vs. Medicaid
Florida nursing-home care runs about $10,000โ$12,000 a month, and Medicare only covers short-term rehab โ not long-term care.
Read more โWhen Do You Need an Elder Law Attorney in Florida?
An elder law attorney handles the legal side of aging โ long-term care, Medicaid, incapacity, and guardianship.
Read more โEstate Planning for Business Owners in Florida
A Florida attorney's guide to estate planning for business owners โ succession, buy-sell agreements, trusts, and keeping your company out of probate.
Read more โBuy-Sell Agreements & Business Succession in Florida
A buy-sell agreement decides what happens to a Florida business when an owner dies, divorces, becomes disabled, or exits โ and life insurance funds the buyout.
Read more โFlorida LLC Operating Agreement: What It Must Cover
Florida doesn't require an LLC operating agreement โ but running without one is a costly risk.
Read more โForeign-Investor Holding Structures for Florida Real Estate
Should a foreign investor buy Florida real estate in their own name, a U.S.
Read more โHow to Form an LLC in Florida: Step-by-Step
How to start a Florida LLC: file Articles of Organization on Sunbiz under Chapter 605, name a registered agent, pay the $125 fee, adopt an operating agreement,โฆ
Read more โFlorida Construction Defect Claims & Chapter 558
Defective construction in Florida? Before you sue, Chapter 558 generally requires a pre-suit notice giving the contractor a chance to inspect and cure.
Read more โFlorida Construction Liens & Notice to Owner: The 2026 Guide
Florida construction liens run on strict deadlines: 45 days for a Notice to Owner, 90 days to record the lien, one year to enforce it.
Read more โFlorida Contractor Disputes: Homeowner & Contractor Remedies
Non-payment, abandonment, bad work, change-order fights, and unlicensed contractors
Read more โFlorida Condo Milestone Inspections & SIRS: The 2026 Deadlines Explained
Florida's milestone inspection (F.S.
Read more โDo I Need a Real Estate Attorney to Buy a House in Florida?
Florida doesn't legally require a real estate attorney to close
Read more โEB-5 & Florida Real Estate: How Foreign Investors Get a Green Card
How the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program works through Florida real estate
Read more โFIRPTA Explained: Selling Florida Property as a Foreign Owner
FIRPTA requires the buyer to withhold up to 15% of the gross sale price when a foreign person sells U.S. real estate.
Read more โFlorida 1031 Exchange: A Property Owner's Guide
A 1031 exchange lets you defer capital gains tax when you sell Florida investment property and reinvest in like-kind real estate. Here are the rules
Read more โCan a Foreigner Buy Property in Florida?
Foreign nationals can buy most Florida real estate with no citizenship or residency requirement
Read more โWhat Does a Real Estate Attorney Do at a Florida Closing?
In Florida a title company can close, but a real estate attorney does what a closing agent can't
Read more โDo I Need a Personal Injury Lawyer in Florida?
Not every Florida injury needs a lawyer โ but many do, and the 2023 law changes raised the stakes.
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Florida law, when it matters.
Occasional articles on personal injury, real estate, estate planning, and elder law. No marketing, no noise โ just useful perspectives when the law changes or a question comes up often enough to write about.
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