By Ramona S. Chaplin, P.A. October is a good time for Florida families to review their estate planning documents before the holiday season begins. Whether you have experienced a marriage, divorce, new child, or loss in the family, your documents may need attention. At Ramona S. Chaplin, P.A., our work in Florida probate and guardianship
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Is Probate Required in Florida? The Answer Depends on the Asset
A practical guide to probate assets, nonprobate transfers, and the first steps after a loved one dies. By Ramona S. Chaplin, Esq. One of the first questions families ask after a death is, “Do we have to open probate?” The answer is not based only on whether the person had a will. In Florida, the
READ MOREFlorida Guardian Advocacy: Helping a Young Adult While Preserving Independence
What parents and caregivers should know as a child with a developmental disability approaches age 18. By Ramona S. Chaplin, Esq. A child’s eighteenth birthday is a major legal transition. Even when a young adult relies on a parent for medical, educational, or daily-living decisions, the parent does not automatically continue to have legal authority
READ MOREFlorida’s New Small-Estate Rules: What Families Should Know in 2026
A new Florida probate law may make a simplified estate process available to more families. By Ramona S. Chaplin, Esq. When a loved one dies, families often assume that every estate must go through a lengthy formal probate. That is not always true. Beginning July 1, 2026, Florida law expands several procedures intended to simplify
READ MOREWhat Happens If Someone Dies Without a Will in Florida?
When a person passes away without a will, they are considered to have died intestate. Florida law then determines how their assets are distributed. Who Inherits? Under Florida’s intestacy laws: ● If there is a spouse and no children → the spouse inherits everything ● If there is a spouse and children → assets are
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