Anyone who has planned a funeral knows that there are many decisions that must be made while grieving the loss of a loved one. Questions about burial methods, funeral service components and more can be overwhelming. If your loved ones are not sure how to pay for your...
As a Florida resident, an essential aspect of your estate planning involves the creation of a power of attorney. Sometimes called a letter of attorney, the document provides written authorization for someone to act on your behalf when you are incapacitated. While it's...
When you receive an inheritance from a resident of Florida, you do not have to pay state-level estate taxes or inheritance taxes. The state of Florida does not have a separate estate tax. However, the federal government has an estate tax that applies to all states if...
When a parent marries later in life, adult children may not have many opportunities to observe the new marital dynamics. The new spouse may not ever seem like a stepparent. If the parent dies and leaves most of the anticipated inheritance to the spouse, the adult...
If you are like most people, you probably do not like to think about the possibility of being unable to make decisions for yourself. When it comes to estate planning, you do need to consider that possibility. Advanced directives are tools so that you can plan for the...
Distributing and closing your estate can be quite a group effort. Depending on the decisions you make made prior to your death, the responsibilities of those helping you could vary significantly. When you know who the key players are and what their responsibilities...
You may have had some experience with probate, perhaps as a beneficiary or even someone who has served as a personal representative. If not, the probate process may seem confusing at best. What is the process and what happens regarding a decedent’s assets? About the...
If you plan to contest a will in a Florida court, the time you spend preparing can make a considerable difference in your outcome. Courts will assess all angles of what your family member would have wanted. Doing your due diligence can improve your case and help the...
If you heeded the advice of estate planning experts in Florida and already drafted a will, then you likely feel well-prepared should you meet an untimely end. Yet it is important to remember that estate planning is not an event; rather, it is a process that requires...
One of the most popular driving factors behind Americans going through the estate planning process is helping their heirs skip probate. Avoiding probate is beneficial for many reasons, and chief among them is that probate can take a lot of time and be expensive. In...