Tag Archives: estate planning
What Happens to Digital Assets and Accounts After Your Death?
The ubiquity of the internet and internet-connected devices has led to many people living a good portion of their lives online through various social media platforms, message boards and other types of accounts. These accounts and profiles are legally considered assets of the person who owns and controls them. But what happens to these digital […]
What Happens to Bank Account Funds After You Die?
No matter how well you plan for the future, it is a near certainty that there will be money left in your bank account(s) after you pass away. What happens to those funds? This primarily depends on the type of account you had and how it was owned. Solely owned account If you were the […]
6 Basic Tips for Estate Planning Success
Are you new to the concept of estate planning? You may have a lot of questions about what the process entails and what the best strategies are for you to be successful. Below are a few very basic tips we like to give to estate planning beginners who have just started working with our attorneys: […]
How to Deal With Stepchildren in Your Will
You can leave behind assets to stepchildren just as you would anyone else, by naming the assets you want them to receive in your will. However, stepchildren do not have any legal right to an inheritance unless you legally adopt them. Therefore, if you do not wish to leave any assets to your stepchildren, you […]
Do Life Insurance Proceeds Go Through the Probate Process?
In most circumstances, life insurance payouts do not go through probate. As long as you have your beneficiary designations in order, there should not be any issue with your chosen beneficiaries getting the money they are owed after you pass. However, you may need to conduct some extra planning if you will potentially owe estate […]
Why It’s Important for Your Personal Representative to Have Access to Your Digital Assets
Today’s estate plans must consider digital as well as physical assets. Digital assets include online bank accounts, email accounts, social media profiles, photo storage accounts, apps, blogs, web domains and any other digital file or account. It is imperative to provide your personal representative with access to these assets. Without such access, he or she […]
You’re Not ‘Too Busy’ to Make a Will!
With as busy as you likely are each day, it might seem like an impossible task to sit down with an attorney and draw up a will. In fact, being “too busy” is one of the most common reasons cited by people for not getting around to making a will. But making a will really […]
Can You Quitclaim Property Rather Than Leaving it In a Will?
It’s common for people to use wills or trusts to leave behind property to loved ones. However, there are other options available, such as gifting property or using a quitclaim for real estate. You do have the ability to deed your property to others during your life. People sometimes refer to that as quitclaiming property, […]
In Which Circumstances Can an Estate Entirely Avoid Probate?
There are some circumstances in which Florida estates do not have to go through the probate process. This usually happens when the deceased person leaves very little behind in terms of assets or property. Florida offers what is called Disposition Without Administration, a process that lets a person who paid for the final expenses of […]
What’s the Summary Administration Option in Florida?
In Florida, there are three main ways to settle an estate, one of which is summary administration. This method serves as a shortcut to the probate process for estates that meet either of the following criteria: The death occurred at least two years ago. The value of the estate to be probated, including all property […]