Video Summary

How do I determine if a deceased person has life insurance? Well, that’s difficult.  I can only give you some practical suggestions on how to do that. I’m unaware of any database that can be access, in order to find out if someone has a life insurance policy. Of course, the obvious thing to do is to go through whatever personal papers they have in order to see if you can’t find some evidence of it, such as a statement which would say that there’s a premium that’s owed. I don’t guess we have bank statements anymore, but look in the check registry to see if there’s a payment to a insurance company, if it’s a paid up policy. One of the things that we can look at is, or you can look at is, is at the end of the year in January, the insurance companies would send out a 1099 for any accrued interest on a paid up insurance policy, which then would give you some indication as to, that there is in fact, a life insurance policy out there.
But other than the practical approach, I don’t have a have solution. And then the next problem you have once you locate the life insurance policy, well, how do you know who the beneficiary is? That’s another problem. As far as the insurance companies, not wanting to talk to you since you’re not the beneficiary. So you can send in and ask them for a beneficiary claim policy and send them a death certificate with the cause of death to the insurance company. And hopefully they would then let you know whether you’re the beneficiary or not. And  if the beneficiary of the life insurance policies deceased well, then you would need to open up a probate proceeding to recover the death benefit under the life insurance policy. So if you have any questions,  give me a call at 727-847-2288.

Video Summary

Who can serve as a personal representative? A Florida estate proceeding, a person must be related to the decedent. Meaning a blood relative must be a blood relative to be able to serve, or it can be a reasonable state of Florida. Either one can, can be appointed to serve. So if you’re not related and you live outside the state of Florida, even if you’re designated under a will, you are not qualified to serve at as a personal representative in Florida, you must be related or you must be a resident of the state of Florida it’s either of those qualifications. If you have any questions, give me a call at (727) 847-2288.

Video Summary

Can I legally drive a deceased person’s vehicle? The answer to that is probably no. You need to, the person who would be entitled to drive the vehicle or would be the personal representative of the estate. So that means a probate proceeding would have to be commenced in order to have a personal representative or executor appointed. And then they could use the car. Automobiles can be transferred to children and spouses. So, I suggest that do be done soon, rather than later, so that it can be put in their names. They can insure it and drive it. The problem with your driving someone that deceased person’s automobile, is that you need to have insurance. And if you had an accident, well, both the estate would be responsible for were the accident. If it was your fault, as well as you, so you would have liability. So, I guess the short answer to this is, no, you don’t have a right to drive the deceased person’s  vehicle. If you have any questions, give me a call at (720) 784-7228.