Marc J. Soss

For the past three decades I have been providing legal services to individuals in the areas of Estate Planning, Elder Law, Asset Protection, Probate & Trust Administration and Litigation, Probate Avoidance, and Guardianship Administration and Litigation proceedings. I have also represented Florida corporate entities, shareholders, LLC members and partners in business transactions, contract drafting, succession planning, mergers & acquisitions, and business disputes. My clients include opposite-sex and same-sex couples, business owners, individuals looking to protect their assets from creditor claims, retirees, family members needing guidance in the administration of a Florida probate estate or an inheritance dispute, and relatives of individuals who need to have incapacity determined and a guardianship established.

Business Law

Business Contracts, Business Dissolution, Business Finance, Business Formation, Business Litigation, Franchising, Mergers & Acquisitions, Partnership & Shareholder Disputes

Estate Planning

Guardianship & Conservatorship Estate Administration, Health Care Directives, Trusts, Wills

Probate

Probate Administration, Probate Litigation, Will Contests

Elder Law

• Guardianship Law
• Probate Administration and Litigation

• Free Consultation

Connecticut

Since 1992

Florida

Since 1992

Rhode Island

Since 1994

Managing Attorney

Marc J. Soss, Esquire

2008 - Current

Estate Planning, Probate and Business law

Supply Corps Officer

U.S. Navy Reserve

1998 - 2019

ETT - Afghanistan FY06 Kuwait Naval Base FY03

Of Counsel

Akerman Senterfitt

2005 - 2008

Senior Associate

Becker & Poliakoff

2000 - 2005

U.S. Navy Supply Corps School

(1999) Logistics, Materials, and Supply Chain Management Grade O-1

University of Miami School of Law

LL.M. (1992) | Taxation

Cumberland School of Law, Samford University

J.D. (1991) | Law

Tulane University

B.A. (1988) | Economics

National Award of Merit

Association of the US Navy

2010

Pro-Bono Award

Collier County Legal Aid

2009

Morale and Welfare Award

SemperComm Foundation

2007

Clayton B. Burton Award of Excellence

Florida Bar Military Affairs Committee

2006

for the “Demonstration of Character and Leadership in Promoting Legal Services to Military Personnel Serving in Florida"

Literary Award

Naval Reserve Association

2003

Military Officers Association

Member

Current

United States Association of Veterans in Business

Supporting Member

Current

Reserve Officers Association

Member

2004 - Current

Activities: FL - Judge Advocate General 2005 - 2009

Association of the US Navy

Member

2003 - Current

Activities: National VP (2003 - 2015)

Navy League (SRQ / Manatee)

Member

2001 - Current

Activities: Judge Advocate General 2004 - 2018

U.S. Supreme Court Finds North Carolina’s Taxation of a Beneficiaries Undistributed Share of a Trust to Violate the Due Process Clause

Rhode Island Bar

December, 2019

New IRS Private Letter Ruling Provides for 401(k) Student Loan Repayment

Rhode Island Bar

January, 2019

Your Computer May Be Evidence in a Will Contest Case

Leimberg

October, 2018

The U.S. Supreme Court Rules on Divorce and Military Disability Benefits

Rhode Island Bar Journal

December, 2017

Another IRS Win on Personal Liability against the Administrator of an Estate

Leimberg (LISI)

February, 2017

Florida Sales Tax

Lorman Sales Tax Seminar

2005

Guardianship Law

Guardianship Training Program

2006

Estate Planning and Probate

Florida Institute of Certified Public Accountants

2008

Probate and Pumpernickel

Digital Assets

2017

Q. I live in Florida, I have a will, do I still need an Enhanced Life Estate Deed to help beneficiaries avoid proabate?

9 March 2021

A: A deed of that nature would allow you to avoid the administration, through probate, of the property at your death. Some attorneys utilize them while others do not. Please consult with an estate planning attorney when making a decision to utilize a deed of this nature.

Q. How can my Mother-In-Law access her deceased sons bank account?

9 March 2021

A: Under Florida probate law, the matter could be handled in one of three (3) methods. If the value of the bank account is less than or equal to the funeral bill it can be handled through the simplest method. However, a court order will be required for the bank to release the account funds. You can handle this type of probate proceeding without the use of an attorney, however, there will be a filing fee with the county.

Q. If a will reads that proceeds initially go to surviving spouse (in Florida) and then, upon death of surviving spouse,

3 December 2019

A: To answer your question I need to make several assumptions (never a good thing), however, assuming the surviving spouse inherits the probate assets without any restrictions, they are free to dispose of them during their lifetime as they choose. That can include distributing them to just one individual. In contrast, if the inheritance has restrictions, such as only a life estate or income interest, they are not free to distribute all the assets to just one of the beneficiaries.