Recent Blog Posts
Can You Include An IRA (Individual Retirement Account) In Your Estate?
You worked hard all your life at the same job, and continuously made contributions to an IRA to secure your retirement. The IRA has grown exponentially because it is a tax-deferred account and the owner does not have to take distributions until they are at least 70. Now there is more than enough in… Read More »
American Rescue Plan Expands Medicaid Home And Community-Based Waivers For Seniors
Many Americans know that the recently passed American Rescue Plan extended unemployment benefits due to the Covid -19 pandemic and provided fourteen hundred dollar stimulus payments to Americans and their dependents who make less than $75,000 AGI per year if single or $150,000 if filing jointly. In addition to stimulus payments, the American Rescue… Read More »
Estate Planning, Healthcare Proxies, & HIPAA: Understanding Your Privacy Rights
The American Rescue Plan Act recently passed, and it expands eligibility for many citizens to obtain tax credit premiums for the cost of health insurance. It also expands funding for the Older Americans Act (OAA) in addition to Medicaid Home Health Services. But many consumers have questions about privacy rights and healthcare organizations, given… Read More »
Grounds For Contesting A Decedent’s Will In Florida
You were made the executor of your mother’s estate. You are one of seven children, but maintained a close relationship with your mother throughout her life and cared for as aged. Now that she has passed your attorney has notified you of your duties as executor and read the will to you and your… Read More »
Appealing a Probate Order in Florida
You’ve just learned that the probate court has ruled on your father’s estate. There was no will, but you presented evidence to demonstrate your father’s intentions and wishes to leave a majority of his assets to you. Despite your best efforts, the court has ruled that you are to receive far less than what… Read More »
Understanding the Differences Between Guardianship & Conservatorship
The pop star Britney Spears has surfaced in popular news lately because she is contesting her conservatorship. Many people have questions about what a conservatorship is and when it is invoked, especially with young adults. However, California conservatorships differ widely from conservatorships in Florida. In addition, although you may hear the terms used interchangeably,… Read More »
Closing the Insolvent Estate in Florida
When people think of a person’s estate, they usually reference the home, personal property, furniture, vehicles, jewelry and other assets. The estate might also possess stocks and bonds, intellectual property, and other funds. But what happens when a decedent passes away owing more than they possess? What if a decedent has nothing to pass… Read More »
What is a Lifetime Bypass Trust?
You worked diligently to save a nest egg for retirement and set aside assets for your children and grandchildren. You have a will and an advance directive drafted. You are finished with estate planning days are over, right? Actually, if you own substantial assets you intend for beneficiaries to inherit, it might be wise… Read More »
It’s Crucial to Prepare a Durable Power of Attorney & Healthcare Proxy
Many people mistakenly assume that if they have completed a will and have an active life insurance policy, that their estate planning worries are over. While it is prudent to make important decisions regarding allocation of personal property and inheritance, it is equally important to prepare for declining health or a medical emergency. Doing… Read More »
Is a Stand-Alone Educational Trust Right for Your Beneficiaries?
Are you in the midst of estate planning for your loved one and are concerned about their educational futures? A 529 Plan sounds attractive, but doesn’t it mean your child or grandchild can only attend specific schools in Florida? How much will college cost in ten or fifteen years? While a 529 plan is… Read More »
