If you’re drafting an estate plan, you may be very conscious of the issues that an estate dispute – a dispute between your beneficiaries after you pass away – can create. Working to avoid estate disputes can help ensure that your assets are distributed correctly, that...
Serving Northwest Florida Families For More Than 20 Years
3 kinds of trusts to consider making
An estate plan typically includes a will. The will can help clarify the testator's last wishes. It should include a list of assets and people who should benefit from the estate. However, a will is also susceptible to probate, estate taxes and disputes. To avoid these...
2 strategies to prepare your children for business succession
Starting a business is no small feat, but safeguarding its continuity through generations is an even greater challenge. Business succession planning involves transferring the leadership and ownership of a company from one generation to the next. This process can be...
What happens if you pass away with outstanding debt?
When you start estate planning, you’ll need to look at your assets. You know you’re going to pass away while you still own some of those assets, and you want to leave them to your children and other heirs. Your estate plan gives you a way to make arrangements in...
How old should you be when you start estate planning?
You know that everyone needs an estate plan. It’s unclear exactly when they’ll need it, but everyone can make plans for future healthcare decisions or the distribution of their assets. That said, you probably think of estate planning as something that elderly people...
Timeshares in estate planning
Timeshares can often be overlooked in estate planning, but they should be carefully considered during it like any other property. A well-managed plan can protect this asset and allow for a seamless transition to your heirs, preserving happy vacation memories for...
Considerations when leaving a beach house to your heirs
You and your spouse have a beach house or a vacation home that you have taken the children to over the years. It’s a special place for your family, so you want to leave it to them in your estate plan. Certainly, your heirs may be thrilled about this plan, as...
Why people add durable powers of attorney to their estate plans
Estate plans often include multiple different documents that each serve a special purpose. Wills often serve as the most important individual document in an estate plan because they identify beneficiaries and provide instructions regarding the care of someone's...
Why you need an estate plan
The essence of an estate plan is to ensure your estate is divided among your beneficiaries as per your wishes. And while you can trust the family to manage asset distribution, it’s crucial to acknowledge that this task can be challenging and emotional. That’s why you...
Who inherits when someone in Florida dies without a will?
A will can be a simple or complex document that gives someone an opportunity to provide clear instructions about what needs to happen with their property – among other interests – when they die. Those who draft a will can name their own beneficiaries, as well as...