You are jubilant because you and your partner have just found the home of your dreams in Florida. After fruitlessly searching for a place that both of you and your growing family can happily settle into for years to come, you think you have discovered it at last. This...
One critical part of the estate planning process is deciding how to pass on real estate once you pass away. Two options for doing so here in Florida are to pursue a life estate or an enhanced life estate deed. As you'll note, there's only a subtle difference in the...
Many Florida property owners consider their real homes to be elsewhere. “Snowbirds” have long traveled from points north to Florida for the winter months. Other people have vacation homes here where they spend part of their summers and other vacation time. When a...
Someone has passed away, and they’ve left a home and vacation property to their heirs in their will. They also listed you as executor. Now, everything has to go through probate. What are your responsibilities for this property until it is conveyed to its new owners?...
Many people associate estate planning with the gloomy realization that their life will one day come to an end. But estate planning does not need to be morbid -- it can be quite the opposite. Instead of focusing on the end of your life, the process can focus on all...
Your parents leave you and your two siblings their cottage on the water. It’s a small place, but it’s incredibly valuable and has been in the family for generations. It’s also valuable since you and your siblings have a lot of memories tied to that place from when you...
Any time that you hear someone talk about writing a will or making an estate plan, do you make a mental note to get your own estate plans started? On some levels, this is a very good mindset. It shows that you know how important estate planning is for your family’s...
If you’re about to embark on a second (or third) marriage, you’re likely considering what changes you need to make to your estate plans. If you don’t already have an estate plan, you shouldn’t wait any longer. Likely, your goals for your estate plan include ensuring...
While there are countless big companies out there with shareholders and boards of directors, there are far more small, family-run businesses run by a sole owner and a few support staff. It's not uncommon for family members to heavily rely on the continued success of...
Procrastination is part of human nature. The more unpleasant the task is, the more excuses someone will find to delay doing it. Estate planning doesn't feature highly on anyone's list of fun activities. Thinking about your death and about the financial needs of the...
