Some people in Florida who are preparing an estate plan might prefer to avoid the probate process. It can be time-consuming and expensive, especially for a large and complex estate, and the records are open to the public. One option for people with a smaller estate is to arrange for a simplified probate process. For people with larger estates who prefer to be able to make a private estate plan that will not incur the cost and delay of probate, there are other ways of passing on assets….

Boyes, Farina & Matwiczyk, P.A. announced Attorney Adam Sabocik is a recipient of the prestigious “AV Preeminent” peer review rating from Martindale-Hubbell. The “AV Preeminent” rating is the highest level of professional excellence and ethical standards an attorney can receive from the national attorney peer review rating service. The rating signifies that an attorney’s colleagues and the judiciary perceive him to be at the pinnacle of professional success.

Mr. Sabocik, an associate attorney with Boyes, Farina & Matwiczyk since 2008, focuses his practice in the areas of probate and trust litigation, guardianship litigation and administration, and estate planning and administration….

According to one financial expert, the estate plans of business owners should have three distinct objectives. These include succession plans that let businesses transfer to new owners and help their original owners retain control via stock. Estate master plans should also incorporate retirement arrangements that let people and their spouses keep up their preferred lifestyles for as long as necessary and lifetime plans that transfer wealth while its owners are alive without sacrificing their control over the property.

In one example, a man who died left behind a $10.3 million C corporation overseen by one of his grown children….

Boyes, Farina & Matwiczyk, P.A., announced Attorney Duane L. Pinnock has been selected by the University of Florida Association of Black Alumni (ABA) as an honoree for its 2nd Annual “Gator Greats” networking and recognition reception to be held February 19, 2016 at Tokyo Blue at the Ocean Manor in Fort Lauderdale, FL. The ABA is an affiliate of the University of Florida Alumni Association, Inc., whose mission is to build support, develop programming and create initiatives that help in the personal and professional development of University of Florida (UF) alumni, students, faculty and staff….

While it is a good idea for all adults to have a will, there are certain times in people’s life when having a will becomes essential. If a person in Florida dies without a will, they are considered intestate, and not only will their assets be divided based upon state laws, if a person has children, the state will also determine who will raise them.

Therefore, it’s a good idea for people to update or create a will when they have children….

While some Floridians may have estate plans in place that they feel will make certain their wishes are followed, some fail to pay attention to the beneficiary designations they have made on their life insurance policies, retirement and other accounts. Not paying attention to these beneficiaries can cause significant problems after a person has died, sometimes resulting in the proceeds passing in a manner that was not intended at all.

One problem that sometimes occurs is when people fail to update their designated insurance policy and retirement account beneficiaries after they divorce….

Boyes, Farina & Matwiczyk, P.A., announced Attorney Duane L. Pinnock has been named a “2016 Top Lawyer” in the South Florida Legal Guide’s (“SFLG”) 2016 edition. He will be honored, along with the others selected, on February 4, 2016 at a reception to be held at Sabadell Financial Center in Miami, FL. SFLG’s “Top Lawyers” are selected by peer nominations, which are then reviewed by the publication’s editorial department. Each lawyer’s accomplishments, standing with the Florida Bar and other credentials are taken into consideration during the selection process….

A living trust is a legal document that allows its creator, acting as the trustee, to hold title to assets inside of the trust. This may help those assets avoid probate, which may save thousands in legal fees and allow assets to be transferred much sooner. With a living trust, the grantor has the ability to revise it until he or she passes on. There are several other benefits that individuals may want to consider as well.

For parents with children, it may give them greater control over how and when their children have access to benefits inside of a retirement account or life insurance policy….

Florida music fans have likely heard about David Bowie’s death from liver cancer on Jan. 10. He passed away shortly after he turned 69 and released a new album. Although the details of Bowie’s estate plan have not been made public, it is known that Bowie had been interested in estate planning for some time.

Until the 1990s, Bowie struggled with his finances and nearly went bankrupt. A few years after he married Iman, Bowie pulled out of his financial trouble with the help of an investment banker….

People in Florida who are setting up trusts as part of their estate plan may be surprised to learn that these types of instruments have become much more intricate over the years. For example, there are new roles and positions possible in irrevocable trusts that were largely not used in the past.

In general, trusts used to have just a trustee and perhaps a co-trustee. Now, although laws vary from state to state, there may be many roles associated with a trust including an administrative or general trustee, a distribution committee and a trust protector….