The Truth About Life Insurance and Probate
Upon someone’s death, their estate may need to go through probate. Not all property is subject to probate, and families who know their loved one had a life insurance policy may wonder if probate is needed to obtain life insurance proceeds. Entering probate could add more stress to an already difficult situation. It means waiting longer to claim the payment, possibly ending up with much less money than expected, and potentially having a conflict with family members about a distribution.
New Year. New Job. New Child Support.
As your child(ren) grow up and mature, so do their needs. This can result in the necessary modification of court ordered support from one or both parents. When are you able to modify child support? Generally, in Florida, the non-custodial parent must pay child support...
“It’s not always roses and rainbows”: Filing for divorce in the new year
Although Valentine’s Day comes around once a year, divorces are year-round. If you and your spouse are considering or in the middle of filing for divorce it is important to understand what lies ahead for you both. This post aims at summarizing the nuts and bolts of a...
Business Owners: Less Than 15 Employees is Not a Discrimination Free Zone
Some companies assume wrongly that because they have less than 15 employees, they can treat their employees however they wish (including discriminating against them). However, such belief can be an expensive costly mistake. While the Florida Civil Rights Act (“FCRA”)...
Florida’s COVID-19 Shield Law
Late last month, Governor DeSantis signed into law a COVID-19 claim immunity shield, titled Civil Liability for Damages Relating to COVID-19 (Fla. Stat. § 768.38). Under the Act, businesses, educational institutions, governmental entities and religious institutions...
COVID-19 Update
Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, our office has changed its policies to protect both our employees and our clients. At this time, we are not currently open to the public. We are conducting all meetings by phone or Zoom, including intake appointments. If...
Have You Considered Enforcement or Modification?
My name is Beth Miller. I am the newest addition to Thompson, Crawford & Smiley and I am an attorney that works in our family law section. I wanted to remind everyone that we are here for you to help navigate you through any family law matter that you may need...
What Do I Need to File with the State of Florida to Open a Business?
Some business structures require that you file document with the Florida Department of State. Each of the business structures below require an annual registration as well as an annual fee of around $75.00 to $150.00. For Corporations If you chose to use a corporate...
Does your business need employees or independent contractors?
Determining your employee structure is an important part of developing your business. Do you want to have employees or independent contractors? Whether you feel that you will need employees or independent contractors, you will need agreements detailing your...
Fender Bender Protocol
The first thing to do is report the accident to law enforcement. Even if there is minor damage and you feel okay, you are in the heat of the moment and might not notice the extent of the damage. Also, it might take a little bit of time to start feeling your injuries....