Category Archives: Estate Planning
Why You Might Consider Naming a Professional Trustee
If your estate plan incorporates one or more trusts, you are most likely serving as the current trustee, with your spouse or partner listed as a co-trustee who would then be able to manage the trust if you become unable to do so due to death or incapacitation. But what happens if your spouse becomes […]
Outlining Your Options to Pay for Nursing Home Care
As part of your estate planning process, it’s important to consider how you will pay for nursing home or other long-term care in the event it becomes necessary later in life. Although this long-term care can be very expensive, there are ways you can get assistance outside using your personal finances alone. The following provides […]
What Should You Look For in Your Estate Planning Attorney?
If you are just getting started with the process of planning your estate, one of the first steps you’ll need to take is finding an estate planning attorney with whom you feel comfortable working. If you’ve never worked with a lawyer, you may not know which characteristics you should prioritize. Below are just a few […]
New Florida Law Allows for Guardianship Petitions for Abused Children in More Circumstances
A bill recently signed into law by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis will give abused and neglected children additional protections and opportunities, according to state officials with the Guardian ad Litem for Children program. The purpose of Senate Bill 124/House Bill 115 is to make the legal process for kids involved in multiple court cases easier. […]
Tips for Gifting Assets to Beneficiaries Before Your Passing
You can help your estate avoid the probate process by passing on some of your property to your children before you die. As a bonus, it can be satisfying to actually witness your loved ones and other beneficiaries enjoy the gifts you leave for them. However, there are some issues to consider with regard to […]
What Does a Trustee Do?
Once you create a trust, you need to assign a trustee who will manage the trust and the assets contained within it when you are unable to do so yourself. Anyone you name to the position of trustee will have significant authority over those assets. You should trust this person to handle your assets responsibly […]
Key Tips to Help Prevent Fights Over Your Estate
When children fight over their parents’ estates, it can result in emotional distress and drawn-out legal battles that can quickly get expensive and time consuming. To help avoid this situation, here are some steps you can take when engaged in the estate planning process: Choose the right person to be your personal representative: The individual […]
Can You Get Your Estate Plan Done on a Budget?
On the internet, you’ll find some estate planning services that promise to save you a significant amount of money as opposed to working with an attorney. You may also find general practice attorneys who provide estate planning services at a low cost. However, while it is possible to get your estate plan done on a […]
Probate is Not a Long Process in Most Cases
The probate process can get drawn out and expensive in some cases, and it is always beneficial to do your best to avoid probate through effective estate planning. However, if your estate does have to go through probate, you should not worry about it taking years for the case to wrap up. Typically, the only […]
Myth: Probate Costs Will Consume All Your Assets
One of the most common myths regarding probate is that the associate costs will take up most of the assets you own. Although it is true that probate can be a costly process and that you should attempt to avoid it as much as possible through sound estate planning, you do not need to fear […]