Delzer, Coulter & Bell, P.A.

Although Probate Court supervision is eliminated when all of a decedent’s assets are registered or held in the Living Trust at time of death, legal notices, accountings and other information is required to be supplied to the trust beneficiaries under the Florida Trust Code. The major distinction between a Probate (Estate) Administration and a Living Trust Administration is that the Living Trust Administration does not require court supervision. Often, when the beneficiaries of the Trust are all well known to each other and willing to waive the formal procedures required under the Florida Trust Code, the Trust settlement can be greatly simplified and the cost of a formal Trust Administration greatly minimized. However, there are often important tax ramifications involved at the time of a Trust Grantor’s death that requires the advice and assistance from an attorney specializing in Trust Administrations. When real estate is owned by the Trust, an attorney will need to prepare a Deed and other documents for recording in the public records. We recommend an appointment with our office soon after the death of a Trust Grantor to review the settlement procedures needed in connection with the settlement of the Trust Grantor’s affairs. There is no charge for the initial consultation to determine the settlement procedures that should be followed.

As a Florida Bar Board Certified Wills, Trusts and Estates attorney, and as a former attorney with the Internal Revenue Service-Estate Tax Division, Wayne R. Coulter is able to provide valuable advice to families. Since our office specializes in estate planning and estate and trust administrations, our office is able to proceed expeditiously with trust administrations and to provide to our clients comprehensive legal and tax advice. If the trust requires the filing of a U.S. Estate Tax Return, Wayne R. Coulter, a former attorney with the Internal Revenue Service Estate Tax Division, is able to provide the advice and assistance needed for filing the U.S. Estate Tax Return.

Our office offers a free consultation to families to provide an evaluation of the trust procedures required.