Wow! That's a pretty bold statement for an estate planning attorney to make. Yet it's true. Have you ever heard someone say about a person who died, "Boy, if they only knew what was going on they'd be rolling over in their grave?" Have you ever said that yourself? I have.
The truth is - a lot of things can go wrong after a person dies. It doesn't mean their estate plan wasn't legally or technically correct (that is, if they had one). But it can mean that events have occurred that were unexpected. Some of those events might include a probate or trust administration, the payment of estate taxes, the ongoing operation of a business, estate creditors, family feuds - well, you get the idea. There's no such thing as a simple estate administration.
And, what most people don't realize is that when someone dies, there's stuff to do. Essentially it's three distinct steps: 1. Gather, inventory and value the estate assets, 2. Identify and pay the estate creditors including the Internal Revenue Service, and 3. Distribute the remaining estate assets to the beneficiaries (either individuals or ongoing trusts). It's interesting to note that most people want to start with step 3 - How much do I get and when do I get it?
If you are a Florida lawyer who wants to provide probate and trust administration services to your clients but you don't want to take the time to learn everything you need to know, build your back office support team along with its processes and procedures, then we are here to help.
Thanks to the suggestion of my good friend and colleague, Debbie Roser, the idea for Florida Probate Professionals was born. She is a an experienced solo lawyer practicing in Sarasota, Florida. Her practice is centered around wills, trusts and estates and elder law. She wants to provide a wide range of legal services to her clients but is only one person. There just aren't enough hours in the day. One day, she had a request from a client for probate services. She doesn't want to say no and disappoint her client. She doesn't want to say yes and make herself crazy. Instead, she called me and asked whether The Law Offices of Hoyt & Bryan, my law firm with partner Randy Bryan, would be willing to provide the necessary back office support.
Obviously we said yes - and Florida Probate Professionals became a reality. We are now pleased to offer the same experience and support to you. Call us today for more information 407-977-8080. We're there to help!
