Estate Planning

While a Florida resident may have an estate plan, that plan may not necessarily be effective. For example, the estate plan could be missing some components. In addition to a will, an estate holder should consider financial and health care powers of attorney that...

Florida residents and others may make it easier to settle an estate by being organized. This is true of both the physical estate and the legal or financial documents that are part of it. Instead of letting items accumulate over time, it may be a good idea to have a...

There is no magic age at which an individual in Florida or elsewhere becomes competent enough to handle money or other assets. Therefore, there may be no harm in leaving assets to an adult child in a trust as opposed to transferring them directly to that older son or...

Florida residents who are preparing estate plans should be aware of any potential creditor issues with beneficiaries. The reason for this is that a creditor may be able to seize a debtor's inheritance. This was a dilemma that recently occurred when a mother left her...

The probate process has many pros and cons for those who live in Florida or elsewhere. Some of the benefits include the ability to challenge a will and the fact that probate can verify who has the title to a given asset. Probate is a public process, which means that...

Florida residents can use a tailored estate plan to direct how their assets should be distributed. Furthermore, a plan could ensure that a variety of wishes are honored after they pass. Individuals can specify their end-of-life decisions, funeral arrangements and who...

Business owners often have a good idea of who they want to run the company after they pass away. However, these plans may go for naught if they not written down. Estate planning tactics may make it possible for Florida business owners to ensure that their companies...

Having an estate plan is important for everyone, but in the absence of children, it becomes even more critical. In most cases, children are natural heirs when their parents pass, so the absence of a will may not impact the ultimate result. For Florida singles and...

Blended families are not unusual in Florida. While many stepparents manage to get along just fine with their stepchildren, conflicts can arise. If families cannot work out their differences, problems may resurface after the parent of the adult children dies or becomes...

Estate planning isn't just a plan for what happens after a Florida resident dies. Sure, a will that will be executed after a person dies is important to have, but it's only a part of the estate planning process.A good estate plan provides for a living person who may...