To our clients and friends:

The global COVID-19 public health emergency continues to change the way we live, work and play. For us at Staack, Simms & Reighard, we have adapted our office to enable us to reopen for normal business hours (8:30am – 5pm). While some of us may still be working remotely off and on, we are always available in person – with appropriate safety measures in place, and via telephone, email and Zoom to meet our clients’ needs.

We wish everyone safety and health during this challenging time.

Sincerely,
James A. Staack
Managing Partner, Staack, Simms & Reighard, PLLC

Contact our firm at 727-441-2635

To our clients and friends:

The global COVID-19 public health emergency continues to change the way we live, work and play. For us at Staack, Simms & Reighard, we have adapted our office to enable us to reopen for normal business hours (8:30am – 5pm). While some of us may still be working remotely off and on, we are always available in person – with appropriate safety measures in place, and via telephone, email and Zoom to meet our clients’ needs.

We wish everyone safety and health during this challenging time.

Sincerely,
James A. Staack
Managing Partner, Staack, Simms & Reighard, PLLC

Estate planning affects families in many ways and it is important for people to keep their loved ones in mind while creating or modifying their estate plan. Sometimes, people avoid the probate process by setting up a trust. However, many estates in the U.S. have assets that are subjected to probate and it is pivotal for people to review the ins and outs of what this entails. Furthermore, it is smart for people to discuss these issues with their loved ones to make things easier down the road. 

Issues to discuss 

There are various topics to cover with respect to the probate process. First of all, if you have named one of your family members as an executor, it is especially important to go over their responsibilities with them and ensure that they are aware of their responsibilities and how to distribute the assets of your estate while recognizing the rights of creditors as well. Sometimes, probate disputes arise and these have the potential to tear a family apart. By talking about your estate plan as well as the probate process, people are able to reduce the likelihood of such contentious disagreements. 

Finding more information 

Issues affecting beneficiaries also require careful review and the distribution of certain assets is more complicated, calling for extra attention. To read about many other topics related to probates and estate planning, make sure you visit other parts of our website. Furthermore, it is crucial to have a comprehensive understanding of your circumstances in order to provide your loved ones with answers to their questions and help ensure the probate process moves forward smoothly.