I head my firm’s litigation practice, which is limited exclusively to inheritance-related litigation and contested probate and trust proceedings covering all of the following:

[1] Multi-jurisdictional Disputes:

My firm’s litigation group has developed specialized experience in cross-border matters. Although most of our work never makes the headlines, I was lead counsel in the widely-reported burial dispute involving former Venezuelan President Carlos Andrés Pérez (in which our clients prevailed, click here), and served as lead U.S. counsel for the Thomas & Agnes Carvel Foundation in a case we successfully litigated in the London Chancery Division, resulting in a reported opinion: Thomas & Agnes Carvel Foundation v Carvel [2007] EWHC 1314 (Ch). I’m a member of STEP’s Miami branch, and also co-authored the Florida chapter of International Succession, published by Oxford University Press.

In addition to cross-border matters, my firm’s domestic trusts and estates litigation practice covers all aspects of Florida inheritance disputes, which I have written about since 2005 on this blog.

[2] Contested Probate Proceedings:

I represent personal representatives, beneficiaries, creditors, charities and potential heirs in connection with all forms of disputes arising under Florida’s Probate Code, including:

  • Will Contests
  • Breach of Fiduciary Duty
  • Probate Fraud
  • Beneficiary Rights
  • Elective Share Claims
  • Abuse of Power of Attorney
  • Joint Bank Account Litigation
  • Pay on Death Disputes
  • Last Will and Testament Disputes
  • Estate Administration
  • Probate
  • Probate Litigation
  • Undue Influence Claims
  • Lack of Mental Capacity (Testamentary Capacity)
  • Guardianships and Conservatorships
  • Removal of Personal Representative

[3] Contested Trust Proceedings:

I represent trustees, beneficiaries, creditors, charities and potential heirs in connection with all forms of disputes arising under Florida’s Trust Code, including:

  • Failure to make proper and timely distributions
  • Improper investments
  • Self dealing
  • Excessive trustee compensation
  • Interpreting ambiguous trust provisions
  • Trust Litigation
  • Trust Administration
  • Trust Reformation/Construction
  • Trust Contests

[4] Real Property Litigation:

In connection with inheritance disputes, there are certain types of real estate controversies that often arise. As such, I represent parties in connection all such disputes, including:

  • Homestead Determinations
  • Joint Owner Disputes
  • Partition Actions
  • Disputes Between a Life Estate Holder & the Remaindermen