On the eve of one of the most contentious elections in U.S. history, it’s no surprise that Florida residents are uneasy about the next resident of the White House. However, it is worth noting that the occupant of the Oval Office has little effect on how your assets will be distributed to your heirs after you are gone. State Laws …
Congratulations! You have created a living trust to avoid probate and ensure that your heirs will have instant access to their inheritances. However, your job is not done yet—and without taking the next step, you may as well toss your trust documents straight into the recycling bin. The Basics of Funding a Living Trust in Florida Funding a trust is the legal term …
If you are going through a divorce, you may be overwhelmed by the number of life-changing decisions you must make before you can move on. Unfortunately, the day-to-day decisions often push the estate planning consequences of separation further down the road, causing havoc if a former spouse suffers incapacity or death. Whether you have already created a will or have not yet …
Every estate plan has legal requirements and formalities for distributing property to heirs. If the plan is based on a Last Will and Testament, the executor is responsible for paying the estate’s debts and passing on assets to beneficiaries. However, if the estate plan includes a trust, the successor trustee immediately assumes control of all trust assets upon the death or …
You’ve done it! After years of procrastination and worry, you finally made an estate plan to provide for your loved ones after you’re gone. While you may feel as if an enormous weight has been lifted off your shoulders, you could be experiencing a false euphoria. After all, a last will and testament downloaded from the internet has very different …
There are many different kinds of estate planning attorneys, but most fall into one of two categories. The first is someone who will prepare your documents, rubber-stamp your plan to ensure it stands up in court, and may even offer to administer the estate after your passing. The second is a person who does all of the above but also …
Nobody likes to think about what would happen to their children if they were suddenly unable to care for them. Unfortunately, putting this painful scenario at the back of your mind can have long-lasting emotional and financial effects on your family—especially if the state ends up making crucial decisions for you. It’s no exaggeration to say that naming a guardian for …
In the age of the internet, nothing we do is private. Our names and images can pop up on the screen with the click of a button, making it easy for prospective employers, customers, or anyone else to learn about us in a frightening amount of detail. Privacy concerns are essential to the estate planning process. Whether you are protecting …
In the wake of the Supreme Court’s 2015 landmark ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges, same-sex couples nationwide are finally enjoying marriage equality. Whether you are legally married in the eyes of the law, or not, there are important additional legal planning steps you need to take to ensure your wishes are honored in the event of your disability, or your death. The …
Real estate investments can be highly rewarding as well as a good way to generate passive income, particularly for owners of rental properties. The ability to give others a place to live instills a certain pride in the investment, creating a mutually beneficial relationship as well as a diverse portfolio. That said, owning apartment buildings can be time-consuming and frustrating …
