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Options for Donating to Charity Via Your Estate Plan
If you’re interested in using your estate plan to leave behind money to a charity or cause of your choice, there are several ways you can accomplish this. Here is a quick overview of a few of them. Charitable trusts You can name a charity as a beneficiary of a simple revocable or irrevocable trust. […]
How to Handle Pets in an Estate Plan
If you have pets, you may be wondering how you can account for them in your estate plan to make sure they’re properly taken care of in the event of your death. You cannot leave any property behind to your pets, because pets cannot legally own property. However, there are ways you can use your […]
Estate Planning Tips for Small Business Owners
Small business owners have some additional complications to consider when planning their estates, especially if they wish to ensure a smooth transition in the company upon their passing. Here’s a quick overview of the steps business owners should take to set their company up for success after their death. Start with the basics: Begin with […]
Some of the Most Common Estate Planning Misconceptions
Most people try to avoid thinking about their own mortality, which is why there are so many people who put off estate planning as long as possible. Because there are so many people who actively avoid thinking about getting their affairs in order, there are a number of misconceptions that exist about estate planning. Here […]
Rules About Scattering Ashes in Florida
As part of your estate plan, you may choose to leave instructions as to how and where you wish your ashes to be scattered. In Florida, unlike some other states, there are not any state laws that restrict where you can scatter or keep ashes. Of course, you should still make sure you use common […]
Factors to Consider When Choosing a Life Insurance Policy
A life insurance policy can be a very valuable asset in your estate. Therefore, it’s important to carefully consider the kind of policy you want and the amount of life insurance benefits you wish to purchase. Here are just a few examples of some of the factors that should play a role in your decision […]
How to Get a Death Certificate in Florida
After a person dies in Florida, that death must be registered with the local or state vital records office within five days, and before the body is cremated or buried. In most cases, the funeral home, cremation service or mortuary will handle the process of preparing and filing the death certificate. However, there may be […]
Who is Allowed to Serve as Your Personal Representative?
One of the most important parts of planning your estate is naming a personal representative who will manage your estate after your death, handling all asset transfers and payments of required debts and taxes. Who is eligible to serve as a personal representative? In Florida, your chosen personal representative must: Be at least 18 years […]
What is an Oral Will and Why Should I Not Use One?
An oral will is most commonly used if a person is too sick or otherwise incapable of writing a traditional will. In using an oral will, the testator (that being the person who makes the will) states his or her wishes aloud in the presence of witnesses, rather than following the formal process of writing […]
Is it Possible to Have a Personal Representative Removed?
As someone planning an estate, it is important you put the proper time and thought into the selection of the best possible personal representative for your estate. Your chosen representative should be someone without conflicts of interest in your estate matters, who is capable of handling all the various tasks associated with the position, who […]