Port St Lucie 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.
While the aim of probate is always the same, there are several different types of probate proceedings under Florida law. Probate law is laid out under the Florida Probate Code, and has some unique requirements in Florida. For instance, Florida is one of the few states that requires legal representation for personal representatives of wills. If you are concerned about probate in or around Port St. Lucie, a Port St. Lucie probate lawyer can discuss your options and needs with you. In the meantime, there are some general guidelines that can help you work out your discussion points for meeting with a Port St. Lucie probate lawyer.
Formal Administration of Probate
Formal administration generally takes from six to twelve months, though tax concerns may make the procedure even longer. Most estates admitted to probate will have to undergo a formal administration. The procedure begins when the Last Will and Testament is admitted to probate. A judge will make a formal appointment of personal representative. There are notifications to be made, and the creditors of the deceased will be given a chance to make claims against the estate. The personal representative must have the assistance of a licensed Florida attorney.
You may choose any probate attorney in the state of Florida who is of convenience to you; however, if there are issues in your probate being contested and that would require court appearances, then it would be wise to have a Port St. Lucie Probate lawyer because an Port St. Lucie probate attorney would be more familiar with the local Judges and Court system, and that would prove very helpful.
Summary Administration
Summary administration is a shortened probate proceeding that is allowed when one of the following conditions is met:
The deceased has been dead for two or more years
Or
The estate totals less than $75,000 and the person who petitions for summary administration swears that there no creditors, or that provisions have been made to satisfy all creditors.
If the estate meets these criteria, a judge will issue an Order of Summary Administration that orders all assets to be distributed to the beneficiaries.
If you have questions concerning probate, or are considering your will and estate planning, a Florida probate lawyer can offer valuable advice. Don't risk mishandling the estate that you have been appointed to protect. You must be certain that all creditors and governmental agencies are properly paid to avoid future liability or financial problems in the future. Speak to a Port St Lucie Probate Lawyer today!
