Category Archives: Estate Planning
Florida Appellate Updates To Probate & Estate Administration
Can an antenuptial or prenuptial agreement outweigh the grantor’s provisions in a signed will and testament, even if the couple was divorced at the time of the grantor’s death? The Florida District Court of Appeals says otherwise. In Sigurtz v. Sigurtz, decided in April of this year, the court ruled that the grantor’s former… Read More »
Should Florida Residents Consider A “Lady Bird” Or Enhanced Life Estate Deed?
Nicole and Robert have been married for over 45 years, but neither partner has contemplated legacy planning. They both feel it is too grim to talk about what would happen after their passing, and they trust their three adult children to handle things once they are gone. Now their eldest child Ronald has convinced… Read More »
Understanding Florida Probate And Estate Sales
Michael’s parents were avid collectors. They owned an antique store in Central Florida, and what they did not sell at the shop, they brought home to admire. Soon, their home of forty-five years was overwhelmed with trinkets and antique furniture in every corner. Michael explained to his parents that they should try to sell… Read More »
What Happens When A Loved One Dies Without A Will In Florida?
While most of us know that it is important to draft and update a will, we do not always get around to doing what is best for us. It seems like one more chore on the to do list that we continue to put off, until it is too late. In some cases a… Read More »
When Is Fiduciary Accounting Necessary In Florida Probate Actions?
Differentiating between probate and estate terms is dizzying. Personal representative, trustee, trust account, executor, decedent, interested party and beneficiary are terms you might hear often, but what does it all mean? Is accounting necessary for all estates? If you create a trust to avoid probate, doesn’t the trustee still have to file account statements?… Read More »
Devising An Estate Plan For Intellectual Property
You and your spouse collect rare art and you have also written 3 books. While only 1 book is published, you have several manuscripts and write poetry as a hobby. Your spouse is also an amateur sculptor. You did not mention any of this to your estate law attorney, because what does it have… Read More »
Estate Planning For New Parents And Grandparents
Your family is growing by one and you are finally bringing your bundle of joy home. You already had to add your new baby to your health insurance plan, apply for their social security card and obtain a birth certificate. You also had to find a good pediatrician and navigate medical bills and unexpected… Read More »
Signs Of Elder Abuse To Remember
Last year, at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, nursing homes and assisted living centers were at the epicenter of death and illness. Only recently are nursing homes open to the public and to visits from loved ones. Many nursing home staff members were required to stay on campus to limit exposure to the… Read More »
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 »
