If you specify a transfer of LLC membership interest upon death but promise the same property to someone else in your revocable trust, who wins? In the case of Blechman v. Estate of Blechman, Bertram Blechman and his sister formed Laura Investments, LLC, a limited Read More

The death of a child is unimaginable for a parent.  Any loving parent would try their best to hold onto every belonging to keep their loved one present in our mind and heart.  In the recent case of Wilson v. Wilson, the tragic death of Read More

What do you do when probate courts in two different states have equal jurisdictional authority over an estate?  This is one of many issues arising from the administration of the estate of Ruth Perelmen.   Petitions Filed in Two Courts In 2010, Mrs. Perelmen executed a Read More

“Oh what a tangled web we weave when we first practice to deceive.”  This quote from Sir Walter Scott was the first line in the opinion of a Florida appellate court finding that a former husband’s legal maneuvering under the trust code was insufficient to Read More

Estate planning is a personal decision and every client has the right to choose how their own assets will be devised. Aside from certain legal protections for a surviving spouse and minor children, there are very few limitations.  However, for clients who have decided to Read More

Two recent decisions in Florida have addressed the issue of adult adoption and how it may affect the laws of inheritance. In the case of Goodman v. Goodman, multi-millionaire John Goodman adopted his 42 year old girlfriend in a scheme designed to get her a Read More

The answer to this question invokes the important distinction between a “right” and an “expectation.”  Most people expect to inherit from their parents, but generally speaking no one has the right to inherit from their parents. A recent Florida case discussed the purported right to Read More

Florida has long been a popular spot for retirees to spend their later years.  Many are married, but some come after the death of a spouse.  And while Florida takes elderly issues seriously, the state has never had a law that addressed the issue of Read More