Recent Blog Posts
An Overview of Estate Taxes in Florida (Your Guide for 2020)
One of the primary purposes of estate planning is to make sure that you are able to leave as much money, assets, and property as possible for the benefit of your loved ones. You worked hard for life savings. Most likely, you want to find a way to protect your assets from avoidable tax… Read More »
Your Guide to Serving Divorce Papers in Florida
When a civil complaint is filed in a Florida court, a notification must be delivered to the opposing party. This is often referred to as “service of process” or “being served papers”. As a divorce is technically a type of lawsuit, the spouse who files for divorce has an obligation to serve divorce papers… Read More »
Can a Father Get Child Support in Florida?
One of the biggest myths about child support in Florida is that dads are the only ones who have to pay. In reality, the law is neutral—either parent may be entitled to receive (or ordered to pay) child support from their former partner. In this article, our Tampa child support attorney highlights the most… Read More »
Five Common Mistakes in a Do-it-Yourself (DIY) Will
Every adult in Florida should have a valid, well-drafted will in place. If you have a relatively simple estate, you may be wondering: Can I draft my own will? The short answer is ‘yes’—you have the legal right to draft your own will. That being said, in far too many cases, people who write… Read More »
What is a Holographic Will and is it Valid in Florida?
As defined by Investopedia, a holographic will is a handwritten will that is simply signed by the testator. A testator is a legal term that refers to the person who makes the will. In some states, holographic wills are not valid. In other states, holographic wills can be valid—but only if specific criteria are… Read More »
Same Sex Divorce in Florida: What LGBT Parents Should Know About Custody & Visitation
In the 2014 case of Brenner v. Scott, the Florida Supreme Court determined that the state’s ban on gay marriage was unconstitutional. Not taking effect until 2015, the decision helped pave the way to marriage equality in Florida. Of course, true marriage equality means that some same sex couples, just like some heterosexual couples,… Read More »
Pet Trusts in Florida: What You Need to Know
Animals play an important role in many people’s lives. The Insurance Information Institute (III) reports that approximately 85 million American families own at least one pet. Whether it is a dog, cat, or more exotic animal, a pet can become a true member of the family. You may be wondering: Can my pet be… Read More »
Health Care Surrogacy Does Not Require Incapacity: Three Powers You Can Grant Your Surrogate
A health care surrogate is a trusted person who is given the authority to make medical decisions on behalf of another party. If you become incapacitated or otherwise unable to make your own decisions, a health care surrogate has the tools that they need to deal with medical issues on your behalf—making sure that… Read More »
What Does It Mean to have a Florida Domicile?
Your domicile is the state that you intend to make your permanent and primary home. There are significant benefits to establishing a domicile in Florida. For example, there is no state income tax, no capital gains tax, no estate tax, and there are additional asset protection laws. That being said, moving to Florida is… Read More »
Remarriage and Alimony in Florida: What You Need to Know
Following a separation, the financially advantaged spouse may be required to make ongoing alimony payments to their former partner. In some cases, alimony will be permanent. In other cases, it will have a defined duration. You may be wondering: Does remarriage affect alimony in Florida? In this article, our Tampa divorce lawyers answer the… Read More »
