Category Archives: Estate Planning
My Spouse Passed Away—Will Our Assets Go Through Probate?
As described by the Florida Courts, probate is the court supervised process whereby a person’s property/assets are identified, valid creditors are paid, and distributions are eventually made to the rightful heirs. For a number of different reasons, many people want to avoid probate. It can sometimes be a slow and frustrating process. This raises… Read More »
Your Guide to Florida’s Intestacy Laws
With effective estate planning, you can control what happens to your assets and property after you pass away. However, when a person dies without a will, they will lose control over what happens. Their estate will be handled under Florida’s intestacy laws. In other words, Florida law will step in as a default mechanism… Read More »
Do I Have to Go Back to Court to Get a Post-Divorce Modification in Florida?
Following a Florida divorce, the parties may have ongoing obligations to each other. The three most common examples of ongoing obligations are child custody & visitation, child support payments, and alimony payments. These ongoing obligations are subject to modification as long as the obligations remain. If there is a substantial change in circumstances, a… Read More »
How Often Should You Update an Estate Plan?
Estate planning is the process of preparing your affairs for incapacitation or death. While it is not necessarily comfortable to think about, estate planning is important. As noted by the American Bar Association (ABA), an estate plan should protect you and your loved ones. Of course, life brings changes. Your estate planning needs will… Read More »
Who Should I Select as My Power of Attorney?
Power of attorney is an important, foundational estate planning tool. It is a written document that you can use to give a trusted person legal authority to act on your behalf in the event that you are not able to manage your own affairs. This raises an important question: Who should you pick as… Read More »
What Assets are Protected From Creditors in Florida?
An asset is anything that you own that has value. Your personal assets include everything from the money in your savings account to your home. One of the most important aspects of effective estate planning is protecting your assets from claims made by creditors. It is no secret: Creditors can be aggressive. To account… Read More »
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 »
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 »
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 »
