Recently, a client asked for help with a family member who held a significant estate, including real property, bank accounts, and other assets. Unfortunately, the family member was suffering from mental incapacity. As a result of the individual’s mental decline, fines were collecting on the real property because of county violations that were not being […]
As perhaps a universal rule, clients desire to retain the flexibility to change their estate plans. Changes may become desirable as family members are born or die, as estates increase or decrease, as desires and objectives change, and as other life events occur. Irrevocable trust planning refers to a subset of estate plans in which […]
Divorce is an unfortunate reality. According to the American Psychological Association, about 40% to 50% of married couples in the United States divorce, and the divorce rate for subsequent marriages is even higher. With this in mind, divorce is often an import part of estate planning. Prenuptial and Postnuptial Agreements The first question in considering […]
‘Domicile’ generally refers to where you live – your residence that you intend to keep for the foreseeable future. Your domicile has legal consequences for tax, probate, asset protection, and numerous other purposes. Domicile issues frequently arise with clients who split their time between Florida and another state. They are also regular issues when clients […]
Often, estate planning clients know they need to have a Last Will and Testament and perhaps even a Revocable Trust. Sometimes, however, they may not realize that they also need other documents to complete their estate plan. The simple reason why multiple documents are necessary is because each document has a separate purpose. The Last […]
It is often said that it is a bad idea to make ‘big’ decisions within the first year after a loved one dies. Unfortunately, that is often easier said than done. Clients typically have important questions that need answers – and those answers can prompt actions that need to be taken. For example, in our […]
Clients often ask what will happen if they don’t have a Will and other estate planning documents. Creating estate planning documents allows you to make sure things work out the way you want. Of course, many people never make a Will or other estate planning documents. If you don’t create your own documents, Florida law […]