Estate Administration in Lakeland, Florida

Find the right Estate Administration attorney in Lakeland, FL

Estate administration, in basic terms, is the process of maintenance and distribution of a person's assets after they die.

If the decedent wrote a will before his or her death in Lakeland, Florida, the process will be carried out according to the directives contained in the will, assuming they are valid and enforceable.

Normally, wills appoint an executor who is responsible for overseeing the administration of the estate, and seeing that its provisions are carried out, to the extent possible.

The executor is normally the person who stands to inherit the most money or property from the will, since this personn will have the greatest incentive to see the probate and administration process to completion.

What if The Will Does Not Name an Executor?

If a Lakeland, Florida will does not appoint anyone to serve as executor, or there is no will, the court has to choose someone to fill that role.

This is most commonly the person who would inherit most under the will, or under the intestacy scheme of Florida. Intestacy is when a person dies without having made a will, or if a will turns out to be invalid. The intestacy laws of each state govern how property is distributed in such a situation. In most states, it simply goes to the closest living relative.

In cases where the will doesn't name an executor, or the person named is unable to take on that role for whatever reason, any person who has some direct stake in the decedent's estate (either because they're named in the will or stand to inherit by intestacy) can petition a Lakeland, Florida court to be appointed executor.

When the executor is chosen, they serve as a sort of incarnation of the decedent's estate - the estate's legal interests become the executor's interests, and the executor is expected to protect the estate's interests as they would their own.

Can a Lakeland, Florida Estate Administration Attorney Help?

Some people are surprised when they find out they've been named the executor of a relative's estate. The responsibilities can seem daunting, but with the help of a brilliant Lakeland, Florida attorney, the process almost always goes pretty smoothly.

Talk to a Wills, Trusts & Estates Law Attorney now!

Life in Lakeland

Lakeland is located in Polk County, Florida. It is between the popular cities of Tampa and Orlando alongside Interstate 4.

The economy of Lakeland prospers from the citrus, cattle, and phosphate mining industries. The largest employer is Publix Supermarkets. Other top employers include FedEx Freight FedEx Services, Saddle Creek Corporation, GEICO, Summit Consulting, and Rooms To Go.

Lakeland is a place filled with history. Some popular historic attractions are Dixieland, Biltmore-Cumberland, Beacon Hill-Alta Vista, and Munn Park.

Being so near Tampa and Orlando, Lakeland residents can take their complex legal programs to the mid to large size firms located in these two large cities. For any small legal issues, Lakeland is filled with small law offices that are owned by excellent, competent attorneys.

Overall, Lakeland is a wonderful area to live in. It has the small town feel but is surrounded by two of Florida's largest, metropolitan cities. Lakeland residents have the best of both worlds!

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