Wills, Trusts & Probate

Will, Trust, and Probate Matters Begin with Organized Information

The Law Office of Morrie I. Levine assists South Florida clients with probate administration, trust-related matters, wills presented in probate, beneficiary issues, estate assets, creditor claims, real estate interests, business interests, and related court proceedings.

Each matter begins with identifying the relevant people, property, accounts, governing documents, ownership arrangements, beneficiary designations, and any court papers or deadlines that may affect the administration or dispute.

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Probate and Trust Background

Review Informed by Legal and Financial Considerations

Morrie I. Levine studied estate planning during law school, providing an early foundation for later work involving wills, trusts, probate administration, and the legal transfer of property after death.

Will, trust, and probate matters often require attention to more than one document. Real estate ownership, business interests, beneficiary designations, account ownership, trust provisions, and court records may all affect the appropriate course of action.

The firm’s approach begins with organized information and document review before determining what administration, interpretation, court filing, or other legal action may be required.

Common Will, Trust, and Probate Matters

The issues involved depend on the governing documents, ownership arrangements, beneficiaries, assets, debts, and procedural history of the matter.

Wills in Probate

A Last Will and Testament may identify beneficiaries of probate assets and nominate a Personal Representative. Questions may arise concerning the original Will, competing versions, interpretation, execution, validity, or its treatment in a probate proceeding.

Trust Administration

Trust-related matters may involve reviewing the trust instrument, identifying trustees and beneficiaries, administering trust property, interpreting provisions, addressing requests for information, and resolving questions concerning distributions or fiduciary responsibilities.

Beneficiary and Heir Issues

Questions may arise concerning who is entitled to receive property, whether an interest passes under a Will, trust, beneficiary designation, ownership arrangement, or Florida intestacy law.

Personal Representative and Trustee Responsibilities

A Personal Representative or trustee may have duties involving asset identification, recordkeeping, notices, expenses, claims, distributions, and communication with interested persons.

Probate and Trust Disputes

Disputes may involve the validity or interpretation of a Will or trust, fiduciary conduct, beneficiary rights, asset ownership, accountings, distributions, or other administration issues.

Estate and Trust Assets

Real estate, financial accounts, business interests, personal property, debts, liens, and beneficiary designations may require review to determine how an asset should be administered or transferred.

Note: The office does not provide estate-planning, will-drafting, power-of-attorney, health-care-directive, or lifetime asset-planning services.

OWNERSHIP & BENEFICIARY DESIGNATIONS

How Assets May Pass

The treatment of an asset depends on its legal title, beneficiary designations, joint ownership, trust ownership, applicable probate law, and the governing documents that determine how the asset is administered or transferred.

Real Estate Title

How real estate is titled can affect whether an ownership interest becomes part of the probate estate or passes to a surviving owner.

Financial Accounts & Beneficiary Designations

Beneficiary designations may affect the transfer of certain financial accounts, retirement assets, annuities, insurance proceeds, and similar assets.

Trusts & Joint Ownership

Assets properly held in trust or under certain survivorship ownership arrangements may pass outside probate, depending upon the governing documents, applicable law, and the particular form of ownership.

Business & Corporate Services →Real Estate Transactions →

PROBATE ADMINISTRATION

Probate Guidance & Administration Information

Probate is the legal process of administering a deceased person's estate under Florida law. Depending on the circumstances, administration may involve identifying probate assets, reviewing governing documents, addressing creditor claims, completing required court filings, and distributing estate assets in accordance with the Will or applicable law.

The Role of the Personal Representative

In Florida, the Personal Representative is appointed to administer the probate estate. The Law Office of Morrie I. Levine assists Personal Representatives, beneficiaries, trustees, and interested persons in matters involving probate administration.

Responsibilities May Include

Identifying and safeguarding probate assets

Reviewing financial and property records

Preparing inventories

Addressing creditor claims

Paying authorized estate expenses

Completing required notices and court filings

Communicating with beneficiaries and other interested persons

Distributing probate assets when authorized

Completing the steps necessary to close the estate

The specific responsibilities depend upon the governing documents, the nature of the estate, applicable Florida law, and court orders.

THE NEXT STEP

Begin by Organizing the Matter

Existing estate documents, ownership records, beneficiary designations, relevant financial and property information, and any probate or court papers already received can help make the initial consultation more focused and productive.