In the US, one in 10 children lives with a grandparent. One-third of these households don't have any parents in the home which means the grandparent(s) are raising their grandchildren alone. These households are often referred to as "skip generation" families. In most...
What does estate planning look like for singles?
When you hear of the term "estate planning," you probably think of an older couple with a significant number of assets. With lots of heirs and plenty of people to designate as beneficiaries, an estate plan may seem pretty critical to a large family. However, what...
What should you prioritize when reviewing your estate plan?
You understand the importance of reviewing and updating your estate plan. Still, estate plans are often big, complex matters. The idea of going through it may make you feel like putting it off indefinitely. Fortunately, you can and should prioritize what you review. A...
Unmarried same-sex couples need to anticipate unfortunate events
Because of marriage equality, you and your same-sex partner have the freedom to choose whether or not you want to get married. For whatever reason, you may decide that marriage is not right for you as a couple. Neither choice is inherently better or worse than the...
Information about power of attorney abuse
People name a power of attorney to make legal and financial decisions for them, and a POA may be a family member, spouse, friend, lawyer or even nursing home staff. Along with naming this person, there is an expectation that the POA will do what is in the person’s...
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...
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...
Should you modify your estate plan?
When you create an estate plan in Florida, that is not the end of your work. Maintaining an estate plan is more complex than that. You cannot let your estate plan sit unedited for years and years. But when should you look at it? How do you decide if you need to change...
Use of summary administration in probate
Summary administration is governed by Chapter 735 of the Florida statutes, and it is entitled to small estates. This may be a misnomer because it is not just small estates that can qualify for summary administration. According to theBalance, other large estates...
Reducing the pressure of discussing an estate plan
While estate planning is absolutely an important topic for families in Florida to discuss, it is also one that can be challenging to talk about because of its sensitivity. While planning an estate means coordinating beneficiaries and delegating tasks for the execution...
