Recent Blog Posts
One Wrong Word in Estate Planning Could Leave Family Member(s) Destitute: Why You Want to Coordinate with Your Attorney On Everything
As estate planning attorneys, one of the most common – but also dangerous – errors that we see people make involves beneficiary designations. Not necessarily understanding how inheritance works and the fact that accounts governed by these designations are separate from assets governed by a will, as well as how the law governs them… Read More »
Using Estate Planning to Save Significant Funds On College Tuition for Loved Ones
For many families, the rising costs of a college education can become daunting and overwhelming. However, what many do not realize is that estate planning can help to address these issues. One way of doing this is through a Section 529 Qualified Tuition Plan, which offers a number of savings and tax benefits over,… Read More »
When Your Beneficiaries May Need Protection from Themselves
We’ve previously discussed the most important mistakes to avoid when it comes to naming beneficiaries who will inherit various assets, such as your 401(k), IRA, life insurance policy, a trust, etc. While there are “special needs” beneficiaries in terms of those who must stay under or within a certain income and/or asset level in… Read More »
Why Estate Planning Is Crucial If You & Your Partner Are Pursuing IVF
As technological advances improve, and more and more couples wait to start a family, more also rely on assisted reproductive technology, such as IVF, to conceive. In fact, according to the US Society of Assisted Reproductive Technology, between 1987 and 2015, approximately one million children were born using assisted reproductive technology, indicating just how… Read More »
How to Protect Your Assets from Creditors in Estate Planning
Many people do not realize that estate planning isn’t just about providing for your loved ones after you’re gone, but also about ensuring that all of you do not face potential legal issues when it comes to creditors and others seeking your assets. This is especially important during an economic crisis like the one… Read More »
What You Need to Know If Your Spouse Has a Terminal Illness and You Are Updating Your Will
Estate planning and ensuring that all of your important documents are updated never becomes more urgent than when a spouse becomes ill, and suddenly you find yourself panicked over whether you will be able to provide for your children, should your spouse pass from that illness. One of the first steps people usually take… Read More »
Successful Family Business Succession Planning: What Makes It Work
We’ve discussed how the pandemic makes the right estate planning essential. There is perhaps no area of estate planning where this is more important than when it comes to family business succession, as many fail to remain a family business past the second generation precisely because family firms fail to properly engage in the… Read More »
What Happens If You Do Not Designate a Guardian for Your Child, And Something Happens to You Both?
Guardianships are more important than many realize. Here in Florida, we hear a lot about them with respect to the elderly, especially concerning the corruption that has been unearthed in connection with some professional guardians and examining committees that judges rely upon in deciding whether individuals are incapacitated and in need of a guardian…. Read More »
Why Setting Up a Grantor Retained Annuity Trust During COVID-19 Could Significantly Maximize Assets You Pass onto Beneficiaries
There is no question that although COVID-19 has brought a tremendous amount of devastation and panic to our country and economy, there are, at the same time, some unique opportunities that it has introduced into estate planning that have to do with instruments that have been put in place precisely to benefit from growing… Read More »
How A Castle Trust Can Help You Manage Long-Term Healthcare Costs
We have frequently discussed forming trusts in order to protect your estate from going through probate and allow you to directly pass your assets onto your heirs. But one particular type of trust that you can use – especially if you are concerned about potential nursing home or other healthcare costs at some point… Read More »