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...
In Florida, state law and the state courts preside over matters of the estate. This includes wills. In particular, a court may need to get involved if someone takes issue with the will. This can lead to a will contest. But what are the most common reasons for a...
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,...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...