Without proper estate planning, administering real estate and assets in Florida and across the United States can become difficult and sometimes even lead to a legal battle. In order to ensure one's property and wealth is distributed in accordance with one's wishes, it is vital to document one's intentions in a way that is legally binding. This kind of planning now can save a lot of frustration and confusion for families, heirs and beneficiaries in the future.

Recently in the news was the case of the estate of a late industrialist who passed away in Florida. A court of appeals in another state where the man had property awarded one township $3. 8 million from the man's estate. Another city had appealed the decision, claiming that it should have received the money because the industrialist owned a home in the city.

But the appellate court agreed that the man called a mansion in the township home at the time of his death in 2008. According to court documents, the man bought the other home in 1976 and used it for his daughter's wedding in 1995. However, he began living in the mansion from about 2001.

The industrialist owned Warren Fabricating Corporation and a number of other factories in the area. His estate also included properties in another township and two cities, which shared estate taxes of $46,735. Estate taxes of $165,123 went to the city where the man's daughter had her wedding.

It is unclear whether the long legal battle between the two cities is at an end, but conflicting interpretations of how the assets of an estate ought to be managed can lead to lengthy court proceedings such as this one.

Source: The Youngstown Vindicator, "Appeals court affirms decision: Trumbull County gets estate tax," Dec. 14, 2011