Estate plans often contain a variety of different documents each intended to serve a specific purpose. Oftentimes, the main focus of the testator creating or updating their estate plan will be planning for the distribution of their assets after they die. Testators may...
Estate Planning
The estate planning rule that separates Florida from most states
Florida is one of the most popular retirement destinations in the country. Some people pack up their entire lives and move to Florida when they finish their professional careers. Others become snowbirds, transitioning back and forth between Florida during the winter...
When should I update my will? Any time a life event surfaces.
With a will in place that provides detailed instructions as to what happens to your estate and its assets after you die, you have gained a sense of accomplishment. Not only that, but you are several steps ahead of your peers. According to Washington-based analytics...
Take a sensible approach to that inheritance
There is occasionally a sensational headline about unsuspecting heirs getting millions from someone who lived frugally. However, only .3% of all heirs get life-changing inheritances, with $300,000 being the average. One-quarter of the average is, nevertheless, still a...
Key questions to ask an estate law attorney
Estate planning forces individuals or couples to contemplate their mortality. It can be an unpleasant topic for some or prompt them to worry about their legacy. Conversely, some may regard it as fun to contemplate how they will "give it all away." They need to...
The pluses and minuses of unequal wills
Most parents go out of their way to treat their children equally. This tendency carries over into estate planning, so it is typical to split everything equally for the children. But some question whether equal amounts are equitable. Sometimes the parents see a need...
What not to put in a will
Drafting a will is always a wise decision. Of course, it enables a parent or loved one to pass along certain assets to specific beneficiaries. Still, it is also an official legal document that can state instructions for healthcare protocols, designate guardians or...
Estate planning for blended families
It is not uncommon for parents with children to remarry. While the first marriage may have been the one that the kids on one side or both sides are from, the final marriage may be the one that lasts for decades. Hopefully, it's a Brady Bunch-like situation where the...
Florida probate avoidance: Can a revocable trust help?
When you think about estate planning, it is at its core an act of kindness. You’re creating the plan in order to share what you have with loved ones when you are no longer around. The act of kindness that is estate planning can be expanded to help the beneficiaries to...
Estate plans should not be a secret
Some find it difficult to discuss any arrangements they have made regarding a will and the dispersal of assets. It can leave their spouses or children unprepared for handling the details of arranging the funeral, continuing to pay bills that come in and manage other...