A Florida court has rejected estate litigation challenging a $40 million charitable gift made by the estate of a deceased female philanthropist. She indicated in wills and trusts that this amount from her accumulated fortune should be given after her death to the Community Foundation of Broward to add to its existing $100 million endowment. The foundation will use $7 million of the funds each year to award grants to Read More

A private lawyer and a nursing home are locked in a probate litigation battle surrounding the estate of an 84-year-old patient who died in 2010. Attorneys for the family are accusing the nursing home of coercing the woman into donating her estate to the establishment instead of leaving her assets to beloved family members. Information released in connection with the case show that the woman had not updated her will Read More

A unique probate litigation case has prompted controversy among advocates for same-sex unions. A gay man and his partner decided to become parents using a surrogate, but the man's father has stipulated in his will that the 2-year-old boy will not receive an inheritance unless the father marries the child's mother. That man is a criminal court judge, and he has decided to contest the will left behind by his wealthy Read More

The continuing probate litigation involving former Monkees frontman Davy Jones's estate has resulted in the proceedings being shrouded in mystery, as legal experts throughout the nation postulate why the family chose to seal the musician's will away from the probing eyes of the public. Controversy has arisen in the execution of the man's will because his now-widowed younger wife is not named in any of the estate Read More

The $4.2 million estate of a man and his mother is in limbo now that the man's wife has been convicted of murdering the two. The convicted murderer went through a nine-week trial before being convicted, and now the family is battling over control of the will, which exemplifies how difficult probate law can be. Now, the civil work begins with family members far and wide seeking their share as part of the complicated Read More

A contentious and long-debated estate litigation case related to businessman Wilson Lucom's will has finally been settled, according to federal documents. The man had left most of his $50 million fortune to a charitable foundation designed to assist poor Panamanian children. The executor of the estate had filed claims against the man's widow in relation to the estate distribution decision. Even though he had Read More

Elderly Florida residents are no doubt aware of the challenges that estate planning can present when deciding who gets what. Tempers have been known to flare amongst jealous relatives, but it's important that everyone act calmly. A man has been accused of assaulting his elderly uncle after a contentious custody and probate hearing. The incident occurred when the two men were leaving a hearing was related to the Read More

A South Florida court has decided to allow Davy Jones' will and other estate documents to remain confidential and sealed, per requests from the performer's family. Jones, who died in late February from a heart attack, had been a public figure for more than 40 years, known throughout the world as the face of a band called The Monkees. The judge's decision to seal the records is extremely unusual in a state that has Read More

The question of what happens to someone's debt when he or she dies has become increasingly salient during the recession and sluggish recovery, according to legal and financial advisers. More and more heirs in Florida and elsewhere are finding themselves saddled with debt from devalued properties, credit card bills and other sources. Probate litigation experts have become valuable resources for this group, helping Read More

A Florida woman has been granted accelerated rehabilitation instead of jail time for spiriting her 81-year-old mother away from her home. The woman's family has been legally disputing the elderly woman's care agreement for some time in a continued probate litigation case, according to official documents. Police found the older woman at her daughter's friend's home after a three-week search. The woman was charged Read More