Bradenton Probate - Probate in Florida
Christopher Q. Wintter Florida Probate Lawyer of Wintter & Associates, P.A.
Contact information: 2239 Hollywood Blvd. Hollywood, FL 33020 - Hollywood: 954-920-7014
Miami-Dade: 305-948-6788 - Boca Raton: 561-470-3448 - Fax: 954-920-7080
Wintter & Associates, P.A. is a Florida trust and estate law firm focusing its practice in the areas of probate administration, trust administration, guardianship administration, probate litigation, trust litigation, guardianship litigation, and estate planning. The firm's professionals are devoted to the representation of clients in estate, trust, probate, and guardianship proceedings. The firm is well known and is well respected by its colleagues, competitors, adversaries, and judges.
Christopher Q. Wintter has over 23 years of experience as a practicing attorney and is a recognized expert in Trust and Estate matters by the Florida Bar. Mr. Wintter earned his Juris Doctor from Duke University School of Law (1987) and earned his Bachelor of Science in Accounting with High Honors from the University of Florida (1982).
Our attorneys have a thorough understanding of the legal, tax and financial issues that come into play with complex Trusts and Estates. Mr. Wintter holds the prestigious Board Certification by the Florida Bar in Wills, Trusts, and Estates, a credential held by fewer than 350 attorneys out of the more than 90,000 attorneys licensed to practice law in Florida. Mr. Wintter has been Board Certified since 1999. Prior to becoming an attorney, Mr. Wintter was a CPA and maintained his license as a Certified Public Accountant from 1984-2002.
To learn more about Wintter and Associates, P.A., please visit our web-site www.WintterLaw.com.
In Florida, the lifestyle is all about relaxation, fun, and a healthy lifestyle, and Bradenton is no different. When a resident of Florida dies, however, the estate must be put into probate, which is a complicated and confusing process that can take anywhere from six months to two years depending on things like the taxability of the estate. This is why (except under very limited circumstances), Florida state law requires the estate's probate process to be handled by a personal representative with the assistance of a probate lawyer.
This does not mean that you are any less the personal representative of the estate if you were so named; however, your Florida probate lawyer will be there beside you during the entire process to help you through the probate procedures and to ensure that every legal process is followed correctly. These Floridian laws do not mandate that the lawyer that you hire must normally operate within the city or county of the deceased; however, hiring a Bradenton probate lawyer helps to ensure that all of the processes of the local courts are followed, especially if there are any unsolved issues. A Bradenton probate lawyer is much more likely to personally know and have previously interacted with the court officials that you will need to deal with, and will be well prepared to interact with these people on your behalf. An out of area attorney will be able to handle the estate is all is agreed to and there are no issues. It is recommended that you hire a Bradenton County probate lawyer if there is contested litigation that needs to be held in the Bradenton County courthouse because you will have an attorney familiar with the local rules, judges, etc.
When a loved one dies, it is a terrible and difficult time. Things can be made more difficult if you are named as the personal representative of the Will of the deceased, since you will have to learn how to probate the Will and what steps to follow to ensure that you are compliant with all relevant laws and regulations. Things are much simpler with the aid of a good lawyer to walk you through the process.
Your Probate lawyer usually will charge for his or her services pursuant to Florida Statutes Section 733.6171, which states:
733.6171 Compensation of attorney for the personal representative -
(1) Attorneys for personal representatives shall be entitled to reasonable compensation payable from the estate assets without court order.
(2) The attorney, the personal representative, and persona bearing the impact of the compensation may agree to compensation determined in a different manner than provided in this section if the manner is disclosed to the parties bearing the impact of the compensation and if no objection is made as provided for in the Florida Probate Rules.
(3) Compensation for ordinary services of attorneys in formal estate administration is presumed to be reasonable if based on the compensable value of the estate, which is the inventory value of the probate estate assets and the income earned by the estate during the administration as provided in the following schedule:
(a) One thousand five hundred dollars for estates having a value of $40,000 or less
(b) An additional $750 for estates having a value of more than $40,000, but not exceeding $70,000.
(c) An additional $750 for estates having a value of more than $70,000 and not exceeding $100,000.
(d) For estates having a value in excess of $100,000, at the rate of 3 percent on the next $900,000.
(e) At the rate of 2.5 percent for all above $1 million and not exceeding $3 million.
(f) At the rate of 2 percent for all above $3 million and not exceeding $5 million.
(g) At the rate of 1.5 percent for all above $5 million and not exceeding $10 million
(h) At a rate of 1 percent for all above $10 million.
Don't be foolish, and get a Bradenton Probate Lawyer to help you during this difficult time!
