As a parent of school age kids, keeping track of everyone’s schedules and to-do lists could be a full-time job. Besides lists, there are planners, and random sticky notes of tasks because yellow notes are a higher priority (right?) Get the kids to school, go grocery shopping, and… and…there’s something else on the list and one day I’ll figure out …
Commit to your Estate Plan Before Your Spring Break Trip
With March right around the corner, the most common question I get from my kids is “What are we doing for spring break?” This is one of the most popular questions being asked here in South Florida, not only by all school kids but by their busy parents who are in dire need of a vacation. Luckily, South Florida’s weather …
7 Events That Trigger a Review of Your Estate Plan
How long is my estate plan good for? This is one of the most frequently asked questions if you’ve already created an estate plan. From one point of view, your plan is good until you either revoke or decide to change it. A different point of view treats your estate plan as a living document that should be adjusted and …
Estate Planning For Equestrians: Creating a Plan for Horse Owners
Many people consider a prized possession to be jewelry passed down from previous generations, a collectible automobile, or fine art that decorates their home. For some people, their most prized possession is their four-legged companion and riding partner, their horse. We never want to face the inevitable question of what will happen to our possessions and loved ones if we …
Where Are We With Safe Sport Regulations?
The horrible sexual abuse that young athletes endured have resulted in new regulations that seek to prevent such tragedies from happening. It seems there had been cultures of silence, or at least confused quiet, in the USA Gymnastics, USA Swimming, and the US Olympic Committee. As part of the response, Congress mandated that the U.S. Center for SafeSport (“Safesport”) become …
To Halve or to Hold: Estate Planning for Married Couples
For better, for worse, for richer, for poorer. These wedding vows are the foundation of most marriages, but they also represent how we as estate planners create strategies for married couples. Each personal situation drives the type of tools used for the estate planning. There is no one size fits all approach and when it comes to a married couple, …
A Will Isn’t the Way: Vital Documents All Floridians Should Have in Their Estate Plans
If you have begun creating your estate plan, you may feel as if a weight has been lifted from your shoulders. Many people who have been avoiding making a will find that completing the task gives them great peace of mind. However, what you may not realize is that a will isn’t the end of your estate plan—it’s just the beginning. …
They Grow Up Fast: Making an Estate Plan for a Child Who Is Coming of Age
Parents feel many conflicting emotions on their children’s 18th birthdays. The young people you raised will be moving on—out of the house, on to college, or even raising children of their own. As they navigate young adulthood, your children will still need your advice and assistance—but without certain documents, you may not legally be able to give it to them. …
How to Prevent Your Kids From Blowing Their Inheritances When They Turn 18
If you have already begun the estate planning process, you know how important it is to choose the right agents to be in control of your assets and healthcare decisions. Unfortunately, you may not have the same faith when it comes to your children—especially if minor children have shown signs of poor money management. Even if the assets you leave to minors are …
Why a Living Trust Should Be Part of Your Florida Estate Plan
If you have already created a Last Will and Testament, you have avoided one of the biggest estate planning mistakes people often make. While your will is extremely helpful in expressing your wishes to your heirs, there is a chance that you could save a lot of time, money, and frustration in the future by basing your estate plan on a revocable …