15.10.2018 Views

101818 SWB DIGITAL EDITION

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.

www.SouthwestOrlandoBulletin.com x October 18 — 31, 2018 x 7<br />

Don’t Be A Probate Statistic<br />

by: Kristen M. Jackson / Attorney<br />

Most people believe that<br />

when they die, their spouse<br />

or children will automatically<br />

inherit their assets.<br />

If they have no children,<br />

they believe their assets will pass immediately to their closest living relatives<br />

so that having a Last Will or other form of estate planning is simply<br />

unnecessary.<br />

Nothing Could Be Farther From The Truth.<br />

In Florida, like most states, whether you have a Will or not, in order for<br />

your assets to be given to your heirs, such as children or others you wish to<br />

receive an inheritance, a probate court proceeding is usually required.<br />

What are Assets? They include everything you own of value, such as<br />

real estate, personal items, bank accounts, investments, cash, cars and boats.<br />

What is a Probate Court Proceeding? Probate is a legal process, also<br />

known as estate administration that takes place after you die. The court<br />

oversees the payment of your debts and distribution of your assets, whether<br />

or not you have prepared a Will.<br />

Unfortunately, in most cases, an attorney must be hired to request<br />

approval from the probate court to distribute your assets according to your<br />

Will, or by state law if you have no Will. At least by preparing a Will you<br />

give the court and attorney a road map of how you want your assets to be<br />

distributed. Without a Will, the court and the attorney must follow state law<br />

to distribute your assets.<br />

Before receiving any inheritance at all, your heirs must pay for<br />

attorney fees, court costs, publication fees, and more. These costs could<br />

be as much as 6% of the total sum of your assets, or higher. Will your<br />

loved ones be able to afford these costs? Often they cannot resulting<br />

in loss of properties to foreclosure, and assets such as bank account<br />

funds and insurance inheritances that end up in the repository of the<br />

state of Florida.<br />

And the probate process takes time: It may take 6 months to<br />

2 years, or even longer, for your heirs to receive their inheritance.<br />

Wouldn’t it be fantastic if your assets could be distributed immediately<br />

after you die without the need for courts or attorneys? It is possible. A<br />

Revocable Trust is one way.<br />

What is a Revocable Trust? Unlike having a Last Will or having<br />

no will at all, a Revocable Trust can eliminate the need for probate.<br />

Your assets can be distributed immediately without any need for courts<br />

or attorneys.<br />

Statistically, 55% of people don’t prepare a Will and of the other<br />

45% that do, only 1 out of 10 prepares a Trust.<br />

Don’t become a statistic and leave your family or loved ones<br />

facing the high cost of attorneys and court fees for probate after you<br />

die.<br />

Wait no longer. Contact an estate<br />

planning attorney today and avoid becoming<br />

a probate statistic.<br />

Legal Areas of Practice<br />

By our Team of<br />

Attorneys<br />

Administrative<br />

Advance Directives<br />

Bankruptcy<br />

Business<br />

Buy / Sell Contracts<br />

Commercial<br />

Contracts<br />

Corporation<br />

Criminal<br />

Employment<br />

Estate Planning<br />

Family Law<br />

Guardianship<br />

Litigation<br />

Last Wills<br />

Medicaid<br />

Powers Of Attorney<br />

Pre-Nuptials<br />

Probate<br />

Real Estate<br />

Special Needs<br />

Title & Closings<br />

Trusts<br />

Trademark<br />

Estate Planning<br />

Wills, Trusts, Probate, Living Wills, Powers of Attorney, Health Care Directives,<br />

Pre-Need Guardians, Trust Administration, Pet (Animal) Trusts<br />

Probate<br />

With or without a Last Will, in order to obtain assets, pay debts and taxes<br />

and distribute remaining assets to the heirs or beneficiaries, the deceased’s<br />

estate requires the assistance of an attorney to manage the court supervised<br />

administration.<br />

Corporation & Business Law<br />

Contracts, Start-ups, Purchase or Sales, Corporations (Inc.), Limited Liability<br />

Companies (LLC’s), Trademarks, Copyrights, Franchise Agreements<br />

Real Estate<br />

Closings, Title Insurance, Sales & Purchases, Leases, Contract<br />

Review, Contract Preparation<br />

(407)363-9020<br />

www.JacksonLawPA.com<br />

Offices: Orlando<br />

Credit Cards Accepted<br />

Kristen Jackson<br />

Attorney At Law

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!