Category Archives: Estate Planning
Make Sure You Update Your Estate Plan After a Divorce
Divorce brings about a significant amount of change in an individual’s life. Anytime you experience that degree of change it is important to review your estate plan to make sure it aligns with your current wishes and your new life. Here are a couple tips to ensure your estate plan is reflective of your current […]
Tips for Including Stepchildren in a Will
If you pass away without a will, intestate succession laws will provide for your spouse and biological children, but not for any stepchildren who you may wish to inherit from your estate. Therefore, it’s important to be proactive about creating and revising a will to include all of your desired beneficiaries to be included. Here […]
Bequeathing Non-Cash Assets to a Charity in Your Estate Plan
Many people choose to leave money to charities in their estate plan as a way to support their favorite organizations or causes. Doing so also can decrease their potential estate tax liability. However, making gifts to charities under your estate plan does not have to mean giving them cash. There are other types of assets […]
The Benefits of an Open Dialog About Estate Planning
Estate planning is a difficult topic of conversation to broach. No one likes to think about their own mortality and it can be difficult for family members to grapple with the idea of losing a loved one. However, it is far more advantageous to have an open dialog about estate planning issues than to procrastinate […]
Estate Planning in a Pandemic: Tips to Consider
Estate planning can be a complicated endeavor even in normal circumstances. But as we head into a third year affected by the global COVID-19 pandemic, it has become even more important for people to make sure they have an estate plan in place and, if not, to perform the necessary preparations for their future. Here […]
What to Include in a Living Will
A living will is a legal document that provides instructions to doctors and providers about your preferences for end-of-life medical care. Living wills are beneficial because they remove some of the burden from your healthcare surrogate to make decisions on your behalf. Here are a few of the items you may wish to include in […]
How to Discuss Your Estate Planning Wishes With Your Family
Estate planning can be a difficult topic to discuss. After all, it’s understandable to not want to think about your own mortality. However, discussing your estate plan with your family is an important part of making sure your wishes are carried out. It also allows you to work through potential issues or arguments among family […]
Tips for a Successful Business Transition to the Next Generation
If you own a family business, part of your estate planning process should focus on how you will pass down your business to the next generation, be it your children or someone else. There are, of course, some steps you’ll need to take internally within your company as well. But you should consider succession planning […]
Basic Guidelines for Choosing a Personal Representative in Florida
Your personal representative will play a crucial role in the administration of your estate after your death. They will protect and manage your property until all taxes and debts are satisfied, all assets distributed and an order of discharge is entered. Florida has specific requirements that you must follow when selecting a personal representative. A […]
Estate Planning Considerations After a Dementia Diagnosis
It can be tough to come to terms with a dementia diagnosis. People who suffer from dementia could see significant decreased cognitive ability and memory. In the wake of a dementia diagnosis, you should take immediate action to develop or update estate planning documents. These documents are only legally valid if the person signing them […]