Having the task of settling a loved one’s estate is a big, and often thankless, job. You already are dealing with grief from losing someone close to you, maybe your mom or dad. Now, you are their designated personal representative and you don’t know the probate...
Estate Planning
Intestate succession explained
The loss of a loved one in Florida is almost always a traumatic experience, no matter the circumstances. Your hope becomes that trauma is not further compounded from tension arising over the disbursement of your family member's or friend's estate. A will can typically...
How can I designate a healthcare surrogate?
While it is not a pleasant subject to consider, there may come a time when you are unable to make decisions about your own medical care. When that time comes, having someone in your corner is crucial to ensure your wishes are respected. This is the purpose of a...
Who may legally serve as a guardian in Florida?
Disability may affect more families than you think. In fact, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 61 million Americans have some type of disability. While not true with everyone, some disabled Floridians have difficulty caring for...
What is a health care surrogate?
There may come a time when you are unable to make and communicate competent health care decisions for yourself due to an injury or illness. You can prepare for this eventuality by designating someone to make decisions on your behalf regarding your care. This person is...
Estate planning and mental health concerns
When it comes to estate planning, the process is often complex for a host of reasons, from naming a personal representative to determining how to divide one's property and assets among beneficiaries. However, some people are in especially difficult positions, such as...
Remember to make Social Security part of your estate plan
When creating an estate plan, many draft a power of attorney. This is a key element of estate planning in which you designate an individual to manage your finances should you become unable to do so. However, many may be surprised to know that although managing your...
Is now a good time to update your estate plan?
As a Florida resident with an estate plan, you may have heard that maintenance is as important as creation. But do you know how to maintain an estate plan? What about when to update it? Today, we will examine some situations in which updating your estate plan may be...
Estate planning and a loved one with special needs
If one of your loved ones has special needs, you probably know how challenging it can be for them to deal with various financial hurdles (not to mention other facets of their lives). You may be determined to help them down the road when you are no longer around, and...
Can I create a trust for my pets?
Pets are family members to many residents of Florida and elsewhere. You may plan to leave an inheritance in your will to your children and grandchildren, and it can be easy to assume that you would be able to do the same for your dog, cat, bird, lizard or horse....