Category Archives: Estate Planning
How To Gift An Early Inheritance
Estate planning is important for adults of all ages. By creating an estate plan, you will have the reassurance that your loved ones will be taken care of when you are gone. You will also have the confidence of knowing that your last wishes will be fulfilled. Sometimes, the person providing an inheritance to… Read More »
The Importance Of Updating Your Estate Plan After Your Spouse Passes Away
Losing your spouse is perhaps the most difficult thing you will ever go through. You are grieving and at the same time, you also have a lot to think about. Reviewing and updating your estate plan may be the last thing on your mind. However, it is important that you review and updated your… Read More »
Planning For Your Pet? Avoid These Two Mistakes
As Americans, we love our pets. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 60 million people throughout the country own pets. Pet owners are also willing to spend a significant amount of money on their furry and feathered friends. Between the years of 2007 and 2017, people spent $5.8 billion on their pets. They are… Read More »
When To Review Your Estate Plan
After creating an estate plan, you may be tempted to leave the paperwork in a drawer or safe and not think of it again. The important documentation becomes easy to forget about. However, good estate planning requires regular review and revision so you can ensure it reflects your current needs and wishes. So, how… Read More »
What Are My Children’s Inheritance Rights If I Die Without A Will?
Adult children have no right to be named as a beneficiary of their parent’s will or trust under Florida law. In other words, if you do have adult children, you do not have to leave them anything in your estate plan. You could also choose to favor one child over another. In the event… Read More »
Five Of The Most Common Estate Planning Mistakes
Making the decision to draft a will and create an estate plan is a very responsible one. Doing so will make sure that your loved ones are less stressed and taken care of during one of the worst times of their lives. Unfortunately, slapping together an estate plan is not enough to ensure your… Read More »
Common Questions About Florida’s Elective Share Rule
An often misunderstood aspect of Florida probate administration is the “elective share” rule. The elective share is essentially a legal protection against one person completely disinheriting their spouse. The elective share basically represents the share that the surviving spouse may legally claim in the deceased spouse’s property, notwithstanding any will or revocable trust to… Read More »
What Are The Different Types Of Beneficiaries Under A Florida Will?
One of the main purposes in making a will is to name one or more beneficiaries who will receive your property after your death. Broadly speaking, there are three types of beneficiaries under a will: primary, alternate, and residuary. Here is a brief explanation of each category. Primary Beneficiaries A primary beneficiary is basically… Read More »
Should I Keep My Original Will In A Safe Deposit Box?
When it comes to probate, original is always best. That is to say, in order to open a probate estate when the decedent left a last will a testament, it is usually necessary to file the signed original document with the court. In most cases, the executor or personal representative named in the will… Read More »
Dealing With “Digital Assets” As Part Of Your Estate Planning
More and more, our personal lives revolve around our smartphone. Whether you use an Apple or Android device, these phones often contain our entire personal financial, medical, and social media histories. So what happens to all of that information after the user dies? How to deal with “digital assets” has become an issue of… Read More »