Category Archives: Estate Planning
“If We Have a Handwritten Will, But Haven’t Consulted a Lawyer, Will We Avoid Probate?”
A question that was recently highlighted in a news publication highlights an issue that creates confusion for a number of couples, and that involves uncertainty about when, exactly, enough has been done in terms of estate planning to avoid the probate process. In this case, the couple had their house established (with what is… Read More »
The Most Surprising Things You Might Not Think to Address in Your Will
As estate planning attorneys here in Florida, we find that the new year tends to bring a number of individuals and families into our office to ask about how they should best plan for their future needs. Below, we discuss three surprising issues that clients frequently question us about when it comes to estate… Read More »
The SECURE Act Passed in The Night: What This Means for Your Estate Plan
While everyone was busy with the holidays, legislators effectively passed the SECURE Act’s provisions in the budget bill signed in late December. We have previously discussed the important effects that the legislation will have on stretch IRAs and thus estate planning for non-spouse beneficiaries, however, the changes made via the Consolidated Appropriations Act –… Read More »
Using Estate Planning to Ensure That Your Pet Is Safe While You Are Alive
We’ve previously discussed your ability to make provisions for your pet in your will, but how do you specifically do that? What if you become incapacitated and can no longer care for them while you are alive? As estate planning attorneys here in Florida, we regularly encounter questions from clients concerning how to best… Read More »
Using Life Insurance to Strategically Plan Your Estate Post-Divorce
As estate planning attorneys here in Florida, we frequently encounter clients who are going through or contemplating divorce, we regularly receive questions regarding whether or not there are particular estate planning choices that can help protect families and divorcees. For some clients, life insurance can help address some of these concerns, and you can… Read More »
Distinguishing Between Probate and Non-Probate Assets
The process of administering and probating a last will and testament involves figuring out what assets are estate versus non-estate (or probate versus non-probate) assets. And executor must make this distinction in order to properly address with estate taxes. Probate/Estate Assets The general rule is that all probate assets are assets that must pass… Read More »
What’s The Difference Between a Trust and A Trust Fund?
Trust funds sometimes get a bad rap because they are often associated with the wealthiest of the wealthy, however, there truly isn’t a huge difference between the kind of trust that most families establish during estate planning in order to ensure that their assets pass onto their heirs without having to go through probate… Read More »
Make Sure That Your Beneficiary Designations Do Not Mess Up Your Estate Plan
Unfortunately, even though beneficiary designations are an important part of estate planning, they are frequently overlooked. And yet, an estate plan is not simply a will and a trust; you have to make sure that your beneficiary designations go along with the rest of your plan, because if they do not, these designations can… Read More »
Estate Planning for The “Modern,” Non-Traditional Family
Given that only approximately 35 percent of today’s families are “traditional,” making the nontraditional family the “norm” when it comes to estate planning, there are a number of things that you may want to do differently when it comes to approaching estate planning if you do not have a traditional family. Below, we describe… Read More »
What Financial Advisors May Not Know to Advise You On for Estate Planning
While financial advisors have been overseeing asset management and estate planning for clients for many years, in recent years, new asset types and laws have made it important for clients to consult estate planning attorneys primarily because international law is changing things at such a rapid pace. In fact, some finance professionals may very… Read More »