Monthly Archives: May 2019
Terri Schiavo’s Story of Starving to Death Highlights How Important Designating a Health Care Surrogate Is While You Are Still Healthy
One notorious story here in Florida that occurred years ago is a powerful reminder of just why it is so important for us to designate a healthcare surrogate. The story is that of Terri Schiavo who, at the age of 26, experienced a debilitating severe brain injury and, without a medical directive, was left… Read More »
How Payable On Death Accounts Fit into Florida Estate Planning
A “transfer on death” account (also known as “payable on death” or “in-trust-for” accounts, or “Totten trust”) allows joint account holders (of a bank account, etc.) to dictate who receives the funds or assets once that the second owner dies. These accounts are managed based on state law; for example, Florida does not allow… Read More »
Estate Planning “When You Hate Your Son-In-Law”
As attorneys who regularly practice in the area of estate planning and probate, we frequently assist clients who have concerns about which family members are going to be privy to their estate. Specifically, there are a number of families that have concerns about certain family members—such as in-laws—and they will sometimes seek counsel from… Read More »
The Dangers of Do-It-Yourself Estate Planning
In a society that is obsessed with all things do-it-yourself, it can be enticing to apply the same motto to estate planning. However, “doing it yourself” when it comes to estate planning can be downright hazardous for the reasons we discuss below. Templates First, when it comes to estate planning, “one size” does not… Read More »