Jeffrey Skatoff has been an attorney since 1991, practicing in the areas of probate litigation, trust litigation, guardianship litigation, and other types of inheritance litigation. Mr. Skatoff also handles appeals of probate, guardianship, trust, and inheritance disputes.
Mr. Skatoff takes cases throughout the State of Florida, and has handled cases in over one-half of Florida’s 67 counties,including Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach, Martin, Collier, Orange, Hillsborough, St. Lucie, and Indian River.
Mr. Skatoff has built his reputation on personal service, experience, and genuine dedication to providing creative and innovative approaches to complex legal issues and estate planning and trust planning.
Mr. Skatoff has been AV Preeminent rated by Martindale-Hubbell for over 15 years. He is a former United State Department of Justice trial attorney who litigated complex disputes on behalf of the Federal Government and was awarded the Outstanding Attorney Award during his tenure. Mr. Skatoff has been involved in some of the largest probate litigation disputes in Florida, and has handled complex international inheritance and estate disputes. Mr. Skatoff has been a regular commentator with local and national media outlets, such as CNN, the Wall Street Journal and Kiplinger’s, on issues of estate planning, will contests, estate litigation, probate, and power of attorney abuse.
Mr. Skatoff has been a leader in the Florida probate bar in terms of crafting innovative litigation fee structures that allow clients in legal distress to afford top quality legal representation for probate court proceedings. Mr. Skatoff handles cases on a contingency basis throughout the State of Florida.
Mr. Skatoff is also the publisher of Probatestars, the largest free online source of probate and estate planning information in the English speaking world.
Recent Florida Developments
Should You Appeal a Florida Probate Order Because You Disagree With the Court’s Factual Findings?
Cartelli v. Green, a November 24, 2021 opinion from the Florida Fourth District Court of Appeal, offers a quick reminder that disagreeing with the probate judge over factual findings does not make a strong appeal. In this case, the appellant
Can a Probate Estate File for Bankruptcy?
No. An estate is not eligible to file for bankruptcy protection under the United States Bankruptcy Code. As explained in In Re Taplin, 641 B.R. 236 (E.D. Cal. 2022): The Bankruptcy Code provides that only a ‘person’ that resides or
No Requirement to Reveal Lawsuit Brought on Behalf of Trust
In a fact pattern that looks more like a law school exam than real life, the appeals court quickly cut through a complex fact pattern based on elemental Florida law. In Correa v. Marcela Tovar-Restrepo, No. 3D23-1265 (3rd DCA 2025), Mr. Tovar
Guardianship Not Liable For Court Costs Without Court Approval to File Lawsuit
A child was born with severe brain damage. Some money was received and a guardian appointed to receive the funds. Subsequently, the minor’s parents filed a lawsuit against a physician for the brain injury. The jury found in favor of
Updated for 2025: Estate and Gift Tax Chart for Non US Persons (Greencard Holders and NRA’s)
The IRS tax adjustments for tax year 2025 updates the exemptions and exclusions for estate and gift tax for Non US Persons (Greencard holders and NRA’s). United States Gift Tax To: US Citizen To: US Resident (Green Card Holder) To:
2024 Update: Community Property Rights in Florida
Florida is not a community property state. However, community property rights acquired in community property states can be enforced in Florida, including at death. What is Community Property? Community property is everything a married couple acquires during the marriage, while
