In some Florida families, an aging parent will have a strained relationship with one child and a close relationship with another child. The parent may want to leave a larger percentage of his or her estate to the child with whom he or she is closer and a lesser amount...
Estate Planning
Independent executors may help with estate planning
Parents who want to leave property behind to care for their children after they die could benefit from setting explicit terms for how their estates ought to be distributed. Although some parents want to keep these affairs in the family, siblings in Florida and other...
The use of trusts in retirement planning
Florida residents often wish to leave as much as they can to their loved ones, and investing retirement funds prudently could play an important role in achieving this goal. Trusts have always been useful investment and estate planning tools, but a 2003 change to the...
Charitable giving in an estate plan
Some Florida residents who are preparing wills or trusts as part of their estate plan may want to leave a part of their estate to charity. Philanthropic bequests have always been around, but they are increasing in popularity. Organizations are recognizing this as well...
Choosing the right executor
Florida residents who are in the process of preparing their wills may wonder how to choose the right executor. It is a position with a lot of responsibility, and some experts recommend choosing more than one to help reduce conflict. While an estate can be settled in...
Careful estate planning
Florida residents usually want to do the right thing when it comes to planning their estates. They want to make sure that all that they have worked for over the years is distributed to heirs fairly. They also want to ensure that medical and end-of-life decisions are...
Long term care, estate plans and family discussions
According to studies, people who are nearing retirement age often fail to create estate plans or make plans for their own eventual health care. With a large proportion of retirees, Florida may be one state where this is common. One survey found that only a little more...
Florida living will basics explored
Florida is home to a considerable number of retirees who have moved to the East Coast after having worked hard for years. However, inevitably, their health starts to deteriorate over time. We all want to minimize the suffering that our elder loved ones have to endure...
When should I start drafting my estate plan?
One of the biggest myths about estate planning is that estate plans are only for the "old" - people who are at or nearing retirement age. If this is your understanding of an estate plan, then you're not alone. A lot of people falsely believe that they shouldn't begin...
Why estate planning isn’t just for married parents
Thanks to evolving societal trends, young people no longer experience quite as much pressure to settle down as soon as possible. Indeed, many enjoy the freedom and other benefits afforded by single living so much that they make the conscious decision to put a walk...
