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Questions Answered by Phillip William Gunthert
2 Answers | Asked in Real Estate Law for Florida on
Q: When there are 4 people on deed to house can a person now sue for there money back if no contract was signed
Phillip William Gunthert
Phillip William Gunthert
answered on May 30, 2024

Yes, and you should try to avoid this outcome as it will take time and cost money to pursue what is called a Partition Action (Partition of Real Property), see Florida Statute 64 for specifics. I would encourage you to find amicable resolution outside of forced partition, if possible, in order to... View More

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2 Answers | Asked in Family Law, Estate Planning and Elder Law for Florida on
Q: My father signed a new will several times. We were unable to have it. notarized or witnessed. He is dying. Thank you.

We live in Florida. The previous will was made 40 years ago and he did not read or understand it. The second will is fair to his children. I greatly appreciate your advice.

Phillip William Gunthert
Phillip William Gunthert
answered on May 27, 2024

I am very sorry for father's illness and his health struggles ongoing. There will be a serious issue with such a Will in Florida, it will not be a valid Will as it does not meet the Florida Statutory requirements of F.S. 732.502 (you can look it up online), what you have described without any... View More

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1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning for Florida on
Q: Can my Aunt put her house in a trust for me even though she has been diagnosed with early on stage dementia?
Phillip William Gunthert
Phillip William Gunthert
answered on May 16, 2024

She should definitely speak with and work close with an estate planning attorney, the answer to your question is maybe/it depends. If your aunt has mental capacity according to her doctor and has times of mental lucidity/comprehension and understanding of what she is doing, then it potentially will... View More

2 Answers | Asked in Estate Planning for Florida on
Q: I need to assist my elderly Aunt in finding a lawyer that can write up a new will for her.

She cannot afford the prices that most seem to charge in her area. $1000.00 up to $8000.00. Any pro bono help or less expensive assistance would be appreciated. She lives in Columbia County, but can travel to Gainesville if need be.

Phillip William Gunthert
Phillip William Gunthert
answered on May 14, 2024

Some law offices will work with her based on her circumstances and needs, anyone quoting $8000 for a Will should be crossed off your list for everything forever. Reasonable law offices will try to work with you based on your needs financially and otherwise. I would encourage you to call and or... View More

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1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning, Real Estate Law and Elder Law for Florida on
Q: Both my name and my mother's name are on the deed to her house. Also, her will directs the house to pass to me.

However, her boyfriend lives with her and has made his intentions for the house known to me. Although he pays her rent every month, he does so in cash so no trace exists. What am I looking at here in the future? Will he have a claim to the house because he lives there?

Phillip William Gunthert
Phillip William Gunthert
answered on May 4, 2024

Since they are not married and he pays monthly rent to your Mom to rent part of the house as a tenant, it sounds like he is a month to month renter, since he is not married he has no rights, since he is not on the deed he has no rights. The house should pass to you via the deed (this needs to be... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Probate for Florida on
Q: Is there a difference between 1)Waiver Comments: & consent - ( name of person) 2) Waiver Comments:/ (name )

My Grandmother had a revocable trust.

And the FIRST information I received a letter

waiver to sign . ( I can go into detail , if it Is private)

I question why only he the trustee and his kids only say waiver comment / (name )

And his sister and her kids say... View More

Phillip William Gunthert
Phillip William Gunthert
answered on May 1, 2024

The documents would need to be reviewed by an estate planning and probate attorney because there are a lot of things that can be waived and consented to and done so for various reasons. One of the big things is the naming of a new trustee and or accounting and so forth, in addition, there may a... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Probate for Florida on
Q: Explain "any person entitled to exempt property is required to a file a petition for determination of exempt property

My mother had property that was going to be auctioned off in 2021. She did a quit deed to me. She died in 2023. This property should not be part of the estate. Wondering if I have to declare this in any way. Is this exempt property?

Phillip William Gunthert
Phillip William Gunthert
answered on Apr 19, 2024

You really need to work with and speak with a Florida Probate Attorney, but generally, the laws related to exempt property you can find in Florida Statute 732.402 (in part below):

(2) Exempt property shall consist of:

(a) Household furniture, furnishings, and appliances in the...
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4 Answers | Asked in Estate Planning, Family Law and Probate for Florida on
Q: My husband of 30yrs died and the bank says I have no right to the money in his bank accounts. We live in Jacksonville.

My husband was sick in Jacksonville so I came back from Colombia where I was visiting my family. He just died. But I'm not the Beneficiary on his bank account or any accounts. The bank says I cannot access any of the money in our account since my name isn't on. It. What rights do I have?... View More

Phillip William Gunthert
Phillip William Gunthert
answered on Apr 16, 2024

I am very sorry for your loss on the passing of your husband, please accept my condolences for you and your family at this difficult and sad time. You will need to speak with a Florida Probate Attorney, based on the type of assets and their value will determine the type of probate that is needed,... View More

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1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning for Florida on
Q: How can I obtain an affidavit that states the estate is not indebted. I have a will leaving everything to me.

I need it to get the car title put into my name

Phillip William Gunthert
Phillip William Gunthert
answered on Apr 9, 2024

It depends on the type of assets that will be part of the estate and what their overall value is which will determine the type of probate, if any, is needed and applicable. The Will may need to be probated and in order to do a probate you likely will need a probate attorney based on the type of... View More

2 Answers | Asked in Real Estate Law for Florida on
Q: How can I transfer ownership of my deceased parents property in Lehigh, Florida ?

My father predeceased my mother and she was the inheritor of his estate. My mother passed away in 2022, and I am the Executor and sole beneficiary of her estate. Can you tell me how to change the property into my name, as I would like to sell it. I have their wills and death certificates and have... View More

Phillip William Gunthert
Phillip William Gunthert
answered on Apr 6, 2024

I am very sorry that you have lost both of your parents. The answer to your question is that it depends, you will want to have the property deed reviewed by a probate attorney and it is possible and even likely that you will need at least one probate done and possibly two if your dad's probate... View More

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1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning for Florida on
Q: How easy/ quick is it to ADD a beneficiary to a WILL & TRUST?
Phillip William Gunthert
Phillip William Gunthert
answered on Mar 18, 2024

You will need to have a Florida Estate Planning Attorney look at and review the Will and or Trust and see what can be done and under what circumstances. Hopefully the grantors of any Trust or any other estate planning documents are alive and have proper mental capacity, in addition, they will need... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning and Probate for Florida on
Q: Father passes wife alive with 3 adult children but one passed away leaving 2 adult children & husband. Division? No will

PR LAW... Each child was granted property while father was alive now 3 rental properties remain. Heard there is a new law. Can you say what percentage to each?

Phillip William Gunthert
Phillip William Gunthert
answered on Mar 4, 2024

I am very sorry for your loss and please accept my condolences for you and your family. When there is no Will, then the Florida Intestate Statutes (without a Will) will apply. If all the children are from this marriage, then the surviving spouse inherits everything. You will need to speak with a... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Real Estate Law for Florida on
Q: My home deed has a different last name than my Florida drivers license license is in birth name addresses match ss numbe

Numbers match how can they deny my homestead application

Phillip William Gunthert
Phillip William Gunthert
answered on Mar 2, 2024

You will need to get your driver license updated to match the name on the deed, your current legal name, both need to be in your current and correct legal name, obviously, the easiest and fastest is to update your license if you can and this should solve your problem. The same would go for any deed... View More

2 Answers | Asked in Estate Planning for Florida on
Q: DOES SOMEONE WHO MOVED TO FLORIDA BUT ONLY HAS ASSETS IN PUERTO RICO NEED TO ABIDE BY FLORIDA INHERITANCE LAWS OR ONLY P
Phillip William Gunthert
Phillip William Gunthert
answered on Feb 24, 2024

Generally, any assets and real estate in Florida will be handled in accordance with Florida Law and any assets in Puerto Rico will be handled in accordance with Puerto Laws if a probate ever becomes necessary at some point. The main probate will be done in the state where the person is a resident... View More

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2 Answers | Asked in Real Estate Law for Florida on
Q: Can my attorney threaten me with fees for asking questions about the case?

When I asked for a few minutes of his time to go over his last update on the case, he replied with a time and a statement that my retainer amount expired (which I paid two weeks prior) and that fees have accrued (although no event occurred between the payment time and the email sent). I asked what... View More

Phillip William Gunthert
Phillip William Gunthert
answered on Feb 19, 2024

Every attorney is different and every fee structure is different, it also depends on the type of legal help you are getting, probate, civil matter and litigation, real estate, etc., so it depends, the engagement contract should be clear on what is and what is not included as well as the hourly or... View More

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1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning and Real Estate Law for Florida on
Q: If I have a living revocable trust and my husband passed away and I'm on the warranty deed as as well as a quit claim

I have a warranty deed with my name and my husband's name on it he has passed then I also have a living trust revocable that has a quick claim deed in it to me with me and my husband and on another page of the special directive it says for the step kids that I may live here until I moved or... View More

Phillip William Gunthert
Phillip William Gunthert
answered on Feb 14, 2024

I am very sorry for your loss on the passing of your husband, please accept my condolences for you and your family at this difficult and sad time. You will need to speak with and consult with a Florida Probate Attorney, based on when the deeds were done and precisely what they say will have some... View More

2 Answers | Asked in Estate Planning and Real Estate Law for Florida on
Q: I am on the Warranty deed a and a quit claim deed in a revocable trust and the husband passes away do I have sole owner

Even though it says I may live here till I Die, Marry or move then it goes to his children or am I the sole owner because he quit claim deeded the property to me in the trust?

Phillip William Gunthert
Phillip William Gunthert
answered on Feb 13, 2024

You would have to have both the Trust and the Deed reviewed by an estate planning/probate attorney. Generally, it sounds like you only have a life estate, that said, unless you signed a pre or post-nuptial agreement, you would have substantial rights related to your Homestead Property no matter... View More

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2 Answers | Asked in Probate for Florida on
Q: Should I get a fl attorney during probate in Missouri.?

I am bio daughter living in FL and mother passed 4 days ago. Brother in Missouri has taken executor roll from my Aunt whom was named by mother 1st. I am getting very minimal information except that her estate is larger amd more complex than thought. Several ins policies and banks ect. Should I get... View More

Phillip William Gunthert
Phillip William Gunthert
answered on Feb 6, 2024

I am very sorry for your loss on the passing of your mom, please accept my condolences at this difficult and sad time for you and your family. 4 days is not a very long time, and it will take some time to get the probate going and find an attorney. You should not expect much information within this... View More

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1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning, Family Law and Probate for Florida on
Q: If someone listed in a Will has passed, does their portion go to their son or split between the remaining beficiaries.

My Grandfather recently passed, my grandmother several years ago. I'm helping my father with this question. My father and his 4 brothers are listed in the Will as splitting everything equally. One of his brothers passed before my grandmother passed but the Will was never updated. Should my... View More

Phillip William Gunthert
Phillip William Gunthert
answered on Feb 5, 2024

I am sorry for your loss on the passing of your grandfather, please accept my condolences. You will have to review the Will in order to determine what happens to the share, it can go either way based on how the Will was drafted. Often, the share goes to the children of the deceased beneficiary... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning for Florida on
Q: My question is about will versus trust estate planning. Trust planning is much more expensive than a will.

But trusts do help avoid probate costs. If nearly all my assets (property, bank/retirement accounts) are already set to beneficiaries I chose - except my car, do I really need a costly trust instead of a less costly will? Is a trust really for a person that has assets that are not already secured... View More

Phillip William Gunthert
Phillip William Gunthert
answered on Feb 4, 2024

A Trust and related estate planning allows you to indeed avoid probate and save a substantial amount of time, headaches and money if a probate is eventually needed. Even if you have a Trust and you do not timely draft, execute and update it you may find yourself in probate anyway. In addition, I... View More

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