Recent Blog Posts
Estate Planning for Single Parents: How to Protect Your Children?
Many families in America have single-parent households. While everyone should have an estate plan, the need for estate planning is greater for single parents with minor children. If the single parent dies or becomes incapacitated, does he or she know who will care for their child? By setting up a plan ahead of time,… Read More »
Estate Planning for Dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease in Florida
While all of us hope that we will be in good health and of a sound mind as we age, there is always a risk of developing some sort of condition that may impact our mental abilities. For many older people, being diagnosed with dementia or Alzheimer’s means that they are unable to make… Read More »
4 Reasons Why You Should Avoid the Probate Process in Florida
After your death, your surviving loved ones will determine if there are assets of yours that need to go through probate. Probate is a court-supervised process where a Personal Representative is appointed by the Court, and your assets are distributed to your creditors and surviving heirs. Probate is very easy to avoid if you… Read More »
Spendthrift Trust: What Is It and What Are the Benefits?
In Florida, anyone can create a revocable or irrevocable trust to maintain control over the distribution of assets, minimize estate taxes, avoid probate, and provide protection for beneficiaries. One of the many types of protections offered by trusts is the so-called “spendthrift trust.” What Is a Spendthrift Trust? A “spendthrift trust” prevents creditors of… Read More »
Intestate Succession in Florida: Everything You Need to Know
Many people do not have a will or other estate plans in place to control the disposition of their assets upon their death. If you are one of these people, there is a possibility that the state of Florida would decide how to distribute most of your assets upon your death. The process is… Read More »
Florida Law Allows Remote Notarization of Estate Planning from July 1, 2020
Florida’s remote signing law went into effect on July 1, 2020, allowing people to notarize their estate planning documents remotely without having to leave their home. The new law now allows remote notarization for all types of estate planning documents, including wills and trusts. Before, Florida law required the physical presence of the witnesses… Read More »
Why Estate Planning is Critical for Unmarried Couples in Florida
While estate planning is essential for married individuals, it is no less important for unmarried couples. In fact, creating an estate plan may be even more critical if you are dating someone but have not married yet. With more and more individuals deciding that marriage is not an option for them, it is important… Read More »
How Can You Protect Your Child’s Inheritance from Their Spouse?
In some families, parents do not get along with their son-in-law or daughter-in-law. If you think that your child’s spouse is not trustworthy or you want to protect your child’s inheritance from their spouse for any other reason, you may need to consult with an experienced St. Petersburg estate planning attorney. Many people who… Read More »
Are Out-of-State Wills Valid in Florida?
If you are considering moving to Florida, or have already moved to the Sunshine State, you may be concerned about the validity of your out-of-state Will. If you are a new resident of Florida, is your previous Will created in another state still valid? In Florida, any out-of-state Will is valid as long as… Read More »
Pour-Over Will in Florida: What is It and What Are the Benefits?
A pour-over Will can be an important addition to your estate plan. In Florida, a pour-over Will transfers any probate assets into your Trust upon your death, hence the nickname “pour-over.” The Will simply names the Trust as the beneficiary of your probate estate. Your Trust then ensures that your assets will be distributed… Read More »