Okaloosa County, FL Wills & Probate Lawyers

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Includes: Estate Administration, Living Wills, Wills

Byron E. Cotton Lawyer

Byron E. Cotton

VERIFIED
Criminal, Wills & Probate, Felony, DUI-DWI, Misdemeanor

The law firm of Cotton & Gates, Attorneys at Law, has provided high-quality service and representation to people in Okaloosa County and Northwest Flor... (more)

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800-938-5401

Parker Bentley Smith

Transportation & Shipping, Wills & Probate, Family Law, Medical Malpractice
Status:  In Good Standing           

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J. Mark Fisher

Wills & Probate, Wills, Trusts, Estate Planning
Status:  In Good Standing           

Michael R. Gates

Construction, Wills & Probate, Family Law, Bad Faith Insurance
Status:  In Good Standing           

Daniel C. Perri

Tax, Wills & Probate, Trusts, Estate
Status:  In Good Standing           

Michael R. Leininger

Pharmaceutical Product, Wills & Probate, Family Law, Banking & Finance
Status:  In Good Standing           Licensed:  22 Years

Gregory Dale Crosslin

Litigation, Health Care, Wills & Probate, Insurance
Status:  In Good Standing           Licensed:  36 Years

Gregory Dale Crosslin

Litigation, Health Care, Wills & Probate, Insurance
Status:  In Good Standing           Licensed:  36 Years

Kenneth M. Mitchell

Real Estate, Tax, Wills & Probate, Personal Injury
Status:  In Good Standing           Licensed:  59 Years

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LEGAL TERMS

PRETERMITTED HEIR

A child or spouse who is not mentioned in a will and whom the court believes was accidentally overlooked by the person who made the will. For example, a child b... (more...)
A child or spouse who is not mentioned in a will and whom the court believes was accidentally overlooked by the person who made the will. For example, a child born or adopted after the will is made may be deemed a pretermitted heir. If the court determines that an heir was accidentally omitted, that heir is entitled to receive the same share of the estate as she would have if the deceased had died without a will. A pretermitted heir is sometimes called an 'omitted heir.'

BEQUEATH

A legal term sometimes used in wills that means 'leave' -- for example, 'I bequeath my garden tools to my brother-in-law, Buster Jenkins.'

ACCUMULATION TRUST

A trust in which the income is retained and not paid out to beneficiaries until certain conditions are met. For example, if Uncle Pierre creates a trust for Nic... (more...)
A trust in which the income is retained and not paid out to beneficiaries until certain conditions are met. For example, if Uncle Pierre creates a trust for Nick's benefit but stipulates that Nick will not get a penny until he gets a Ph.D. in French; Nick is the beneficiary of an accumulation trust.

IN TERROREM

Latin meaning 'in fear.' This phrase is used to describe provisions in contracts or wills meant to scare a person into complying with the terms of the agreement... (more...)
Latin meaning 'in fear.' This phrase is used to describe provisions in contracts or wills meant to scare a person into complying with the terms of the agreement. For example, a will might state that an heir will forfeit her inheritance if she challenges the validity of the will. Of course, if the will is challenged and found to be invalid, then the clause itself is also invalid and the heir takes whatever she would have inherited if there were no will.

RESIDUARY BENEFICIARY

A person who receives any property by a will or trust that is not specifically left to another designated beneficiary. For example, if Antonio makes a will leav... (more...)
A person who receives any property by a will or trust that is not specifically left to another designated beneficiary. For example, if Antonio makes a will leaving his home to Edwina and the remainder of his property to Elmo, then Elmo is the residuary beneficiary.

PROBATE

The court process following a person's death that includes proving the authenticity of the deceased person's will appointing someone to handle the deceased pers... (more...)
The court process following a person's death that includes proving the authenticity of the deceased person's will appointing someone to handle the deceased person's affairs identifying and inventorying the deceased person's property paying debts and taxes identifying heirs, and distributing the deceased person's property according to the will or, if there is no will, according to state law. Formal court-supervised probate is a costly, time-consuming process -- a windfall for lawyers -- which is best avoided if possible.

SURVIVING SPOUSE'S TRUST

If a couple has created an AB trust, the revocable living trust (Trust B) of the surviving spouse, after the first spouse has died.

BANKRUPTCY ESTATE

All of the property you own when you file for bankruptcy, except for most pensions and educational trusts. The trustee technically takes control of your bankrup... (more...)
All of the property you own when you file for bankruptcy, except for most pensions and educational trusts. The trustee technically takes control of your bankruptcy estate for the duration of your case.

ESTATE TAXES

Taxes imposed by the state or federal government on property as it passes from the dead to the living. All property you own, whatever the form of ownership, and... (more...)
Taxes imposed by the state or federal government on property as it passes from the dead to the living. All property you own, whatever the form of ownership, and whether or not it goes through probate after your death, is subject to federal estate tax. Currently, however, federal estate tax is due only if your property is worth at least $2 million when you die. The estate tax is scheduled to be repealed for one year, in 2010, but Congress will probably make the repeal (or a very high exempt amount) permanent. Any property left to a surviving spouse (if he or she is a U.S. citizen) or a tax-exempt charity is exempt from federal estate taxes. Many states now also impose their own estate taxes or inheritance taxes.

SAMPLE LEGAL CASES

IN RE AMEND. TO THE FLORIDA PROBATE RULES

After considering the Committee's proposals and reviewing the relevant legislation, we adopt all the Committee's proposals except the proposed amendment to subdivision (b) of rule 5.260. Consistent with statutory changes made by chapter 2010-132, section 3, Laws of ...

McCormick v. McCormick

... We have for review an order admitting to probate the Last Will and Testament of decedent Ferral Lee McCormick, Sr., but denying letters of administration to appellant Ferral Lee McCormick, Jr., whom the testate decedent had duly nominated as personal representative. ...

In re Guardianship of Shell

... VILLANTI, Judge. Lutheran Services Florida, Inc., the guardian of Bertha Shell, appeals from the probate court's order denying its objections to an earlier order that awarded Lutheran Services guardian's fees in an amount less than it requested. ...