Category Archives: Wills Probate
The Coronavirus Crisis & Estate Planning: Are You Prepared?
The coronavirus outbreak and panic that is present in Florida and the entire country has many who put off estate planning now wondering what they should do, quickly, in order to make sure that everything is in order; should the unthinkable happen, especially if they have young children. Indeed, as estate planning attorneys who… Read More »
The SECURE Act Passing Warrants Updating Your Estate Plan
Passed in late December, the SECURE Act makes a number of important changes to retirement plans that also impact estate planning. Most notably, the Act eliminates the “stretch” IRA for non-spouse beneficiaries, meaning anyone other than your spouse who is the beneficiary of your IRA can no longer only take the required minimum distributions… Read More »
Survey & Changes in Law Highlight Why Working with an Estate Planning Attorney On an Ongoing Basis Is So Important
According to a new survey conducted by TD Wealth, in addition to increasing healthcare costs and life expectancy, a rise in gray divorces – or those after age 50 – is having a significant effect on estate planning. As a result, it is becoming more and more important to constantly and proactively review these… Read More »
Historic Changes Are Coming for Estate Planning January Due to the Electronic Documents Act
There are a number of important changes that Florida’s Electronic Documents Act will bring to estate planning in the state as of January 1, 2020, when it goes into effect. Advanced directives, trusts, and wills can be electronically signed by the testator, while witnesses and the notary appear via FaceTime or Skype because there… Read More »
Estate Planning Documents Necessary to Protect Your College Student
When people think of estate planning, they think of the elderly planning for the time after they have passed. However, estate planning isn’t just for the aging; it is also for those who might benefit from having a plan in place when it comes to important decisions, such as someone who can make health… Read More »
Setting Up a Special Needs Trust the Right Way Is Imperative
When it comes to setting up a special needs trust, it is imperative that families work with an attorney who not only knows about the complex federal, state, and local laws and rules surrounding the specific type of estate planning required for the specific type of circumstance, but also all of the many programs… Read More »
Creating Estate Plans for Musicians & Musical Works
As estate planning attorneys here in Florida, we talk a lot about planning for assets, but what happens when those assets are song lyrics and recordings? These types of assets (i.e. intellectual property items—copyright, name/likeness, trademark, etc.) are incredibly important, and present an entirely different type of challenge than physical property (like jewelry or… Read More »
Estate Planning for Land & Heirs’ Property Loopholes
As Florida attorneys who assist clients with estate planning, we talk a lot about planning for the future when it comes to your income, assets, and accounts. But what about land? Land that is passed on without a will face as a number of complications; it becomes what’s known as heirs’ property, whereby your… Read More »
Estate Planning for Your Business
We have previously discussed estate planning for your personal property, but what about estate planning for your business? Many people do not realize that having an estate plan in place for your business (to plan for when you pass) is absolutely essential, and this plan should be “living,” i.e. adaptable as circumstances change. Taxes… Read More »
Why Updating Your Estate Plan Is Absolutely Necessary
A will and estate plan that is not regularly reviewed and updated can not only become useless, but could in fact result in dangerous consequences that the testator did not intend. Below, we discuss some of the most important reasons you should update your will and estate plan: Has Anyone Named Passed Away? For… Read More »