When people think of estate planning, they often think of the instrument that communicates their wishes after they pass away, like a Will or a Trust. But in addition to a Will and a Trust, an estate plan contains documents that help prevent and plan for a guardianship. What is guardianship and when is it […]
When Sophronia Washington died, her Will was nowhere to be found.[1] She owned a tract of land in Alachua County with several children and grandchildren as heirs. One of her sons, Albert, was the sole beneficiary of the missing Will. What happens when a Will is missing? If a Will cannot be found when the […]
Occasionally, we receive questions from clients about Florida’s escheat process. The primary concern clients have is that the State of Florida – rather than the clients’ children and other heirs – will receive the clients’ estate when the clients die. Happily, this is generally not the case. What is the Escheat Process? Simply put, the […]
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 […]
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 […]