Recent Blog Posts
Florida Estate Plans When You Own Out-of-State Property
Florida is well-known as a vacation destination for people from around the world, but it is also increasingly a place in which people want to establish a permanent home. People know about snowbirds and retirees flocking to the state, but the rate of new residents moving to the area every day (more than 900)… Read More »
The Consequences to Your Estate of Selling Property Below Market Value
When people start contemplating how to distribute property as part of an estate plan, giving some of that property to loved ones is a common goal. Wanting to keep property in the family is a laudable intention, and is usually a reflection of the sacrifices required to acquire it. Thus, seeing the asset go… Read More »
Estate Planning for Different Assets
Anyone interested in creating an estate plan does not have to look hard to find a wide variety of do-it-yourself forms and templates that claim to cover all the necessary aspects of this endeavor. The problem with this approach is that placing all assets into a one-size-fits-all box fails to account for how the… Read More »
Protecting Yourself from Estate Planning Scams
The media is full of reminders about how important estate planning is. For those living in Florida, with a large population over 65, this message is even more prevalent. Contemplating the need for estate planning is especially common as one gets older, and individuals begin to consider what will happen when they are gone…. Read More »
Asset Protection Options for Your Business and Personal Wealth
Amassing and maintaining any level of financial security requires planning and sacrifice to ensure that any decisions made do not unnecessarily expose assets to outside risk. People often think that asset protection strategies are only useful to the very wealthy, but anyone with property of value would benefit from review and advice from an… Read More »
Florida Approved to Shorten Retroactive Medicaid Window
Going into a nursing home is a necessary transition for many Florida seniors as their mental and/or physical issues become too complicated to manage at home or another more independent setting. A quick perusal of the terms nursing home facilities expect of their residents reveals how expensive and out of reach this care is… Read More »
When Are Trusts Modifiable?
Trusts are an excellent estate planning vehicle for providing comprehensive and wide control over the use, management, and access beneficiaries have to assets after death. If the right trust is chosen and structured correctly, this arrangement can benefit the financial security of a family for generations. Consequently, working with the right estate planning attorney… Read More »
Do Homesteads Belong in a Living Trust?
Owning a home is a large goal for many Americans, and once home ownership is attained, most want to do everything possible to keep the asset from being lost. Florida’s homestead protection, the law that determines the level of protection the property receives from creditor claims and property taxes, is somewhat unique, in that… Read More »
The Estate Planning Lesson We Can Learn from Aretha Franklin
It is easy to assume the rich and famous have all their affairs in order because they have the time and financial resources to hire the best people and ensure everything is appropriately arranged. Estate planning is one of those things people understand is important, but continually put off because it seems too complicated,… Read More »
Who Is Responsible for Remaining Debts after Death?
Estate planning is primarily about settling two issues: distributing property to surviving heirs and limiting one’s exposure to liability for death-related taxes. In line with the second issue is the question of settling a loved one’s remaining debts after death. All estates which pass through probate, which is a substantial number, must provide notice… Read More »
