Stepping Up
A Florida attorney explains what to do when money and aging collide. Credit freezes after a scam, powers of attorney, probate, Medicaid, and the paperwork nobody tells families about until it is urgent. Short episodes, plain English, no sales pitch.
Every episode has a full transcript on this site, so you can read it instead of listening.
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Episode 32 · 00:04:43
Can My Mother's Partner Keep Her Furniture After She Died
Her mother died without a will and the partner claims everything. The life insurance, furniture, and house each follow different rules in Florida.
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Episode 33 · 00:06:28
What to Do When Nobody Can Serve as Your Trustee or POA
Your child lives abroad. Your relatives are too far. Who serves as trustee, POA, or health care surrogate when nobody will? Florida law fills some gaps.
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Episode 34 · 00:05:23
Homestead Exemption When Your Spouse Lives Abroad
Your spouse has no Social Security number. Florida homestead exemption is a residency test under § 196.031, not a citizenship requirement. One call to file.
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Episode 31 · 00:04:57
Can You Remove a Remainderman from a Life Estate Deed
A life estate deed creates a vested remainder the moment it records. The life tenant cannot remove the remainderman without consent or a court order.
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Episode 29 · 00:07:14
What a Trust Actually Does for a Florida Family
Is a family trust worth it with $2M in assets and two grown children? A trust does three things no other document does. Here is what they are.
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Episode 28 · 00:03:27
Should You Quitclaim an Inherited House to Your Sibling?
You inherited a house with siblings. One asks you to sign a quitclaim deed. The moment you sign, you own nothing and your share depends on his goodwill.
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Episode 30 · 00:05:14
Can a Trustee Cut Your Distributions for Gambling
A trustee cut distributions after learning the beneficiary gambles. Florida law says the trustee can do exactly that, and this episode explains why.
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Episode 15 · 00:05:38
Does Your Florida Estate Qualify for Summary Administration
Florida summary administration limit rose from $75,000 to $150,000 on July 1, 2026. Find out what counts toward it and the second way in with no cap.
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Episode 21 · 00:06:37
Does a Beneficiary Form Override Your Will?
Does a beneficiary designation override a will? A 1996 Florida Supreme Court case over about $100,000 shows why, and where the divorce rule stops.
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Episode 19 · 00:07:30
Can You Disinherit Your Spouse in Florida?
Can you disinherit your spouse in Florida? A surviving spouse can claim 30 percent of the elective estate, and the claim is due within six months of service.
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Episode 23 · 00:04:25
How Long Does Probate Take in Florida? (2026)
How long does probate take from start to finish in Florida? Three timelines run from a few weeks to 12 months, and summary administration now covers $150,000.
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Episode 25 · 00:05:28
Power of Attorney After Death in Florida. It Ends. Now What?
Does POA end at death in Florida? Yes, even a durable one, the moment the principal dies. Here is who has authority next and the $150,000 summary cap.
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Episode 27 · 00:05:42
Can You Sell a House in Probate in Florida
Can you sell a house that's in probate in Florida? Yes, and who signs depends on whether it was your parent's homestead. Two sets of signatures follow.
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Episode 8 · 00:07:58
No Spouse, No Kids. Leaving an Estate to Charity in Florida
No spouse or kids in Florida? Without a will your estate goes to parents, then siblings, never charity, unless the gift is worded as a percentage.
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Episode 9 · 00:07:04
Are There Downsides to a Living Trust in Florida
A living trust in Florida costs more than a will, but a will alone cannot stop an ex-spouse from becoming your child's guardian over a $15,000 inheritance.
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Episode 10 · 00:07:09
What Florida Requires When an Executor Won't Act
An executor named in a will can sit silent for eight months, no notice, no inventory. Florida gives beneficiaries four ways to force the estate open.
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Episode 11 · 00:07:08
Can a Nursing Home Take Your House in Florida?
Can a nursing home or Medicaid take your parents house in Florida? The house is safe while they live there, but section 409.9101 can claim it after death.
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Episode 1 · 00:07:54
What a Florida Lady Bird Deed Actually Does
A house stuck in Florida probate a year after a parent's death is why a lady bird deed skips court, keeps the step up in basis, and costs nothing now.
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Episode 2 · 00:08:00
Florida Homestead Deed Fails Without Your Spouse's Signature
A Florida closing stalls because the title commitment requires the wife's signature, though she is not on the deed. Article Ten, Section 4(c) explains why.
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Episode 3 · 00:08:53
Why a Lady Bird Deed Fails With a Minor Child in Florida
A lady bird deed named a sister, but the owner left a minor child behind. Florida Statute 732.401 voided the deed and the child inherited instead.
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Episode 4 · 00:08:52
Lady Bird Deed or Living Trust for a Florida Home
A Florida lady bird deed costs about $400 and skips probate, but a wrong legal description or a missing spousal waiver can undo the whole transfer.
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Episode 5 · 00:09:00
Lady Bird Deeds, the Medicaid Look Back, and Estate Recovery
A Medicaid claim can reach $400,000 after a parent's nursing home stay. A lady bird deed keeps the Florida house out of probate, so it stays out of reach.
