Probate and Estate/Trust Settlement

Floridian fiduciaries trust the CPA and board certified attorneys of Doane and Doane, P.A. to administer and manage their trusts and estates

The attorneys at Doane and Doane, P.A. are both board certified attorneys and certified public accountants.  We have the perfect combination of skills and experience to settle, administer and manage our clients' trusts and estates, including—

• Probate administration—Doane and Doane, P.A. provides this service to our clients, including—
  • Proving in court that a deceased person’s will is valid
  • Identifying and inventorying the deceased person’s property
  • Property appraisal
  • Paying debts and taxes
  • Distributing property as directed by a will
  • Transferring title and ownership of assets to the proper beneficiaries
• Trust administration—Managing and investing the assets of a trust for the benefit of one or more third-party beneficiaries.
• Personal representative guidance—The personal representative, executor or executrix must follow Florida law to conclude the decedent’s affairs, including—
  • Giving the proper notices to proper parties
  • Collecting the decedent’s property
  • Receiving claims against the estate
  • Paying valid claims and disputing others
  • Distributing estate property according to the will or state law
  • Selling estate property to cover debts or allow for proper distribution, if necessary
• Fiduciary accounting—Regularly communicating financial information about a trust to the trustee, principal and other interested parties, such as the IRS and the courts.  Because such accountings are carefully scrutinized, precision and accuracy are essential.
• Fiduciary tax compliance—Preparation and filing of tax returns for trusts and estates in compliance with federal and state law.
• Investment research and due diligence—Doane and Doane, P.A. researches the financial and legal aspects of potential investments and provides thorough analytical guidance to fiduciaries of trusts and estates.

Residency and domicile issues

• IRS change of address notice—To ensure its clients get their tax refunds and other IRS correspondence, Doane and Doane, P.A. can file IRS Form 8822 for its clients who move.
• Homestead Exemption issues—A Florida homeowner's principal residence provides a substantial property tax exemption.  However restrictions on the property's transfer at death, intended by the government to protect the homestead owner's family, could have a detrimental effect on the estate plan that was intended to benefit the family.  The attorneys at Doane and Doane, P.A. are fully aware of all homestead restrictions and can avoid detrimental effects with comprehensive estate planning.
• Declaration of domicile—To be eligible for the Homestead Exemption and other benefits of being a resident of Florida, clients, particularly those with alternate residences in New York or other states, must establish Florida domicile and abandon their prior domiciles.

Contact us

Schedule a complimentary initial consultation with a Doane and Doane, P.A. attorney by calling 561-656-0200 or contacting us online.  With offices in North Palm Beach, West Palm Beach and Stuart, our law firm serves clients in the communities along Florida's Gold Coast and Treasure Coast, including Palm Beach, Broward, Miami-Dade, Indian River, St. Lucie and Martin counties.