Articles from Yergey & Yergey, P.A.
Practical guidance on Florida probate, estate planning, guardianship, and trust law — written by attorneys who practice it every day in Orange County and the surrounding circuits.
Estate Planning
What Is a Designation of Health Care Surrogate in Florida and Why Every Adult Needs One
When people think about estate planning, they usually focus on who inherits the house, the bank accounts, or the family business. Very few ask a far more urgent question: Who will speak for me if I am in a hospital bed and cannot speak for myself? In Florida, the document that answers that question is called a Designation of Health Care Surrogate.
Guardianship
What Is a Guardian?
When someone you care about can no longer safely manage important parts of their life, the court can appoint a guardian to step in and help protect them. In Florida, a guardian is a person appointed by the court to act on behalf of another person, called the ward, for personal, medical, and financial decisions the ward can no longer handle alone. Guardianship is a protective legal relationship designed to keep a vulnerable person safe.
Estate Planning
Personal Representative vs. Agent Under a Durable Power of Attorney: What's the Difference?
Your agent under a durable power of attorney acts while you are alive. Your personal representative acts after you are gone. The same person can hold both roles — but the roles themselves are legally distinct, and confusing them causes real problems.
Probate
How Long Does Probate Take in Florida?
Florida offers two main probate tracks. Summary administration can close in weeks. Formal administration typically takes six to twelve months. Here is the month-by-month path, what reliably extends it, and how timelines look in Orange County.
Estate Planning
Peaceful Estate Planning: Ensuring Harmony When Dividing Your Assets
Estate planning is crucial to ensure your assets are distributed as you wish and to prevent potential conflicts among your loved ones. A thoughtful, clearly documented estate plan can spare your family from disagreement and provide guidance at an already difficult time.
Estate Planning
How to Avoid Probate in Florida: A Complete Guide
Probate avoidance in Florida is not a single strategy — it is a coordinated set of tools. A revocable trust as the centerpiece, coordinated beneficiary designations, and the right deed structures can keep most of an estate entirely out of the probate process.
Probate
Unveiling the Intriguing World of Probate: Fun and Fascinating Facts
Probate is a word that often carries a sense of mystery and complexity. While it might seem dry and intricate, there are several intriguing — and even entertaining — facts that shed light on this often misunderstood area of law.
Estate Planning
Preparing for the Future: Estate Planning Tips for Minors Turning 18
Turning 18 is a milestone — and a pivotal moment to start thinking about the future. Estate planning isn’t just about wealth or assets; it covers decisions about your health, finances, and more, and it matters even for young adults.
Estate Planning
Estate Planning Gone Wild: Lessons from Florida's Probate Courts
Florida's probate courts see it all — unconventional bequests, digital asset disputes, DIY documents that fail when they matter most, and family conflicts that a better plan would have prevented. Here is what those cases teach.
Guardianship
101 on Florida's Guardianship Process
Guardianship of an adult in Florida is the court procedure required to appoint a guardian for someone who can no longer manage their own property or make their own healthcare decisions. Here is a step-by-step look at how the process works.