Keep Your Family’s Future Secure
Palm Beach Estate And Probate Blog
What is and is not subject to probate?
Probate is a mysterious process for those who have not dealt with it. Before creating an estate plan, you may want to understand how the court views assets. Under Florida law, most estates must go through probate. If the value of your estate is less than $75,000,...
What should you look for in an executor?
Florida residents like you spend your entire life crafting, maintaining and caring for your estate. It goes without say that you want someone to take care of it after your death. This will allow your beneficiaries to enjoy it without going through legal hassles and...
Do I really need to have a trust?
Having a will in place is a crucial part of the estate planning process. However, wills are limited in what they can achieve. If you only have a will established, your estate could be vulnerable after you are gone. Implementing a trust along with your will is a great...
Florida’s intestate succession guidelines
Past posts on this blog addressed the question of whether a person truly needs a will. This question no doubt arises from the fact that (according to Gallup), only roughly 44% of adults both in Florida and throughout the rest of the U.S. actually have one. State law...
Is this a red flag for undue influence?
Florida law defines estate planning and management in detail. The aim is to allow for estate planning to go over smoothly with the loved ones of the deceased. In many cases, it works as intended. But there are still instances where people find a way to manipulate the...
3 important estate planning documents for same-sex couples
Because of the Supreme Court decision that granted marriage equality, the estate planning process can be much less fraught for same-sex couples who choose to marry. Marriage grants a surviving spouse certain rights by default when the other passes away. The probate...
4 tips to help you succeed as a personal representative
With the death of your loved one, it is time for you to assume your responsibilities as personal representative per the instructions in the will. Since the estate will go through probate, the probate court will confirm your appointment. Here are four tips to help you...
Social Security benefits and special needs trusts
Whether you are a beneficiary and are unsure of how your inheritance will impact your ability to receive Social Security benefits or you are creating a trust and worry about how the assets you pass down will affect a loved one's SSI eligibility, it is crucial to...
Selecting your power of attorney agent
To many people, the thought of creating an estate plan means making a will that indicates what will happen to their assets after they die. However, other decisions and documents may also be part of developing a full estate plan. One thing people may want to consider...
Do I really need a will?
There are various explanations why it is very common for people to avoid or procrastinate making a will. You might not feel that you need one, you may think it seems too complicated to deal with, or you might possibly view it as an unpleasant issue that you would...
