Estate Planning

A will and a trust are two of the most important estate planning documents. A will is a rather basic document that outlines who gets what when you die. It may also name guardians for your younger children. A trust, on the other hand, is more sophisticated because it...

The passing of a loved one can be extremely distressing for family members and loved ones. However, probate (the legal process where assets are allocated to beneficiaries, debtors and heirs) can occasionally result in further tensions.  Thus, identifying some of the...

Rents are high, but mortgage rates are low -- and people are fleeing the cities for the suburbs in droves. This has created a frantic surge in new home purchases that’s made the real estate market go wild. If you’re among the lucky few who have managed to outbid the...

The terms you set in your estate plan reflect your family relationships and your personal values. You may want to leave more property to one person than another. Sometimes, you might even choose to disinherit a loved one who has addiction issues or who has not been...

Working out the right way to leave money to your children can be challenging, especially if you have a substantial sum. People often misquote the Bible, saying that “money is the root of all evil,” whereas the actual phrase was “a love of money is the root of all...

If you are the executor (also sometimes called a personal representative) of someone’s estate in Florida, you are entrusted with carrying out many important tasks. One of them is making an inventory of the person’s estate for probate reasons. This is a key step in the...

People often want to pass down real estate to their loved ones, but there are a few things that you must consider if you want to do this. In many cases, it’s best to discuss your wishes with your family members ahead of time so you know how they feel about your...

If a loved one passes away, you hope that they have a will or an estate plan to show you what to do with their assets.  In the event that your loved one leaves behind a will, are you going to attend a will reading to find out what it says?  Readings of the will are...

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...