Author Archives: Jay Butchko
Getting A Dementia Diagnosis Is A Real Possibility: Can Your Estate Plan Cope With It?
Fans everywhere were shocked and saddened to hear that Bruce Willis is retiring from acting after his diagnosis of aphasia, a neurological disorder involving deficits in the ability to use language. Some types of aphasia are associated with dementia, while other types occur as the result of a stroke; therefore, most patients diagnosed with… Read More »
How Much Can You Get Paid As Personal Representative Of A Family Member’s Estate?
Acting as the personal representative of a family member’s estate is work, and if you think that you deserve to be paid for putting in all the effort to make sure that all the beneficiaries listed in the decedent’s estate get their money, Florida law agrees with you. In Florida, the personal representative of… Read More »
Make Sure That Your Will Does Not Conflict With Your Prenuptial Agreement
Young people are always saying things to which you cannot relate, further reminding you that you are old. “7:30 in the morning is too early to get up.” “What’s a modem?” “Prenuptial agreements kill the romance.” Of course, older people are wiser. Once you get to a certain age, the age when you feel… Read More »
The Courts Will Not Rule On Religious Questions, So Be Clear About Your Wishes In Your Estate Plan
Perhaps a relative of yours was buried in his military uniform, or at another relative’s funeral, everyone sang the decedent’s favorite hymn. It is possible that the surviving family members just knew what the decedent would have wanted at their funeral, but more likely, they let their relatives know, either verbally or in writing. … Read More »
Can Mobile Apps And The Employee Benefits Office Help With Your Estate Plan?
Most people procrastinate getting started on estate planning because they equate making an estate plan with thinking about their mortality, which is very scary, especially for young people. Estate planning lawyers always say that estate planning is about planning to live a long life, but you don’t find that out until you meet with… Read More »
The Geriatric Millennial Pessoptimist’s Guide To Writing A Will
You don’t have to be old or rich to write a will. If you are old enough to have children, you are old enough to know that the world is a terrible place and to feel powerless to make it better. If you need motivation to write a will, think about all the ways… Read More »
How Much Do Your Retirement Plans Resemble Everyone Else’s?
If you are a Baby Boomer or a member of any of the generations that succeeded the Baby Boomers, you probably like to think of yourself as a maverick, a true original. You might have your future all planned out to the last detail, and they are probably details that you think no one… Read More »
How To Avoid Shady Guardians: Choose Someone You Trust
The idea of giving up control of your financial decisions because you are too ill to make these decisions on your own is scary, but no estate plan is complete until you have chosen someone that you wish the court to appoint as your legal guardian if you ever need one. If, while you… Read More »
Beware Of Nuncupative Wills
Florida has long been a popular destination for retirees from other states and other countries to spend their final years, so it is unsurprising that Florida’s probate courts have admitted many wills that were issued elsewhere. Florida law adopts the attitude that, if a will meets the legal requirements of the state or country… Read More »
You Have More Options Than You Think About What Happens To Your Body After You Die
The philosophers have been reminding us for years that eventually, all of us will die, and our bodies will turn to dust. Estate planning lawyers will tell you with a smile that estate planning is about planning for life, not just about planning for death. The truth is, however, that your estate plan is… Read More »