Practical, factual guides to Florida estate planning, probate, and trust law, written by Florida estate planning attorneys at Bucelo Diaz Law.
Bucelo Diaz Law publishes an ongoing library of explainer articles, cornerstone guides, and practical references for Florida families navigating estate planning and probate. Every guide is written or reviewed by Alexis Bucelo Diaz, Esq., LL.M., who has spent more than fifteen years counseling Florida families on wills, trusts, probate administration, and the tax planning issues that affect both.
The guides below are organized around the questions we hear most often. What does a Florida estate plan actually look like? Is probate avoidable, and at what cost? How does a trust change the answer? Each cornerstone guide builds on the firm's day-to-day work as Florida estate planning attorneys, Florida probate counsel, and Florida real estate counsel for clients in Weston, Ocala, Naples, and across the state. The library is updated as the law changes and as new questions emerge from client work.
Cornerstone Guides for Florida Families
The most comprehensive guides we have published on the questions Florida families ask us most often.
Florida Estate & Inheritance Tax
What Florida families need to know in 2026, including the federal estate tax exemption under the One Big Beautiful Bill.
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Step-Up in Basis at Death
How IRC §1014 works and why revocable and irrevocable trusts treat the step-up differently.
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Florida Lady Bird Deed
Enhanced life estate deeds, homestead transfer, and how the Lady Bird deed protects heirs.
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Florida Probate Cost 2026
County-by-county fee schedule, attorney fee guidance under §733.6171, and what families actually pay.
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Florida Letter of Administration
What it is, who issues it, what it lets a personal representative do, and how to obtain one.
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Florida Intestate Succession Chart
Who inherits when there is no will in Florida, organized by family structure and statute.
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How Long Can an Estate Stay Open in Florida? Deadlines and Limits Explained | Bucelo Diaz Law
Florida law does not set a fixed maximum time for how long an estate can remain open. However, the personal representative has…
Read the article →What Assets Are Exempt from Probate in Florida?
In Florida, many assets pass directly to heirs without going through the probate process. Assets held in a revocable living trust, assets…
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Alexis Bucelo Diaz Named to Super Lawyers Rising Stars List
Founding partner Alexis Bucelo Diaz, Esq., LL.M. has been named to the Florida Super Lawyers Rising Stars list — a distinction reserved…
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Who Can Witness a Will in Florida?
Preparing a will is an important way to help ensure your wishes are honored and your loved ones are protected after you’re…
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Survivorship Life Insurance in Estate Planning
Florida families often face complex decisions when planning how to pass down wealth due to rising property values, blended family dynamics, and…
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Spendthrift Trust: What Is It and What Are the Benefits?
You love your family. But maybe you’re worried about how they’ll handle an inheritance. Whether it’s due to creditor issues, risky spending…
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