Can an Alien be a Personal Representative of an Estate in Florida?
A non-resident of Florida can serve as Personal Representative for a Florida probate estate only if related by blood or legal adoption to the decedent, or married to a lineal blood or legally adopted relation of the decedent. Fla. Stat. §733.304 states that a non...
Thomas (Tom) R. Thompson selected again as Florida Super Lawyer.
Tallahassee, Florida – September 27, 2022 – Thompson, Crawford, Brown & Smiley is pleased to announce that law partner, Thomas R. Thompson, has once again selected by Florida Super Lawyers for his professional achievement. This is Mr. Thompson’s fourth year...
How to Zoom Like a Gen Z-er
At this point, you have probably read more than enough articles about how to use Zoom. But here are some tricks that most may have missed. 1. Background Noise Suppression When you have a long day of Zoom conferences...
Discipline and Termination to Avoid Litigation
While a wrongful termination suit may be inevitable, many lawsuits could be avoided or made much easier with these four tips in mind. 1. Have open conversations about performance issues as they first appear. No...
What to Expect at Your First Deposition
Depositions aren’t fun for anyone. But you’ve got to have a plan going in. Read this article to learn more!
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...
What you need to know about: Divorce
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 blog aims at summarizing the essentials of a...
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...