Category Archives: Estate Planning
Do I Need To Update My Estate Plans When I Move to Florida?
If you’re moving to Florida or considering a move to Florida, you may be wondering if you will need to update your estate planning documents after you move. Maybe you haven’t put together an estate plan, but the thought of your upcoming move is spurring you on to consider putting one together. Whatever your… Read More »
Leave your mark with a dynasty trust
If a prime objective of your estate plan is to leave a lasting legacy, a dynasty trust may be the right estate planning vehicle for you. And, thanks to the substantially increased generation-skipping transfer (GST) tax exemption amount established by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, a dynasty trust is more appealing than ever…. Read More »
Beware if your estate plan leaves specific assets to specific heirs
Planning your estate around specific assets is risky and, in most cases, should be avoided. If you leave specific assets — such as homes, cars or stock — to specific people, you may inadvertently disinherit them. Illustrating the problem Let’s say Debbie has three children — Abbie, Mary Kate and Lizzie — and wishes… Read More »
Three Ways to Protect Yourself from an Inheritance Dispute in Florida
You’ve worked hard your entire life. You deserve to have your estate distributed the way you see fit after your death. By spending some time and energy clarifying your intentions for your estate after your death, you will be on your way to avoiding common Florida inheritance disputes. Create Your Estate Plan Did you… Read More »
Make health care decisions while you’re healthy
Estate planning isn’t just about what happens to your assets after you die. It’s also about protecting yourself and your loved ones. This includes having a plan for making critical medical decisions in the event you’re unable to make them yourself. And, as with other aspects of your estate plan, the time to act… Read More »
Should Your Pet Have a Trust?
In recent years, an increasing number of people are leaving some (or even all) of their estates to their pets upon their deaths. When asked if pet owners value their pets as much as their children in a recent survey, 81% of pet owners said yes. In 2010, a millionaire named Gail Posner set… Read More »
Does your estate plan include a formula funding clause?
The gift and estate tax exemption is higher than it’s ever been, thanks to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), which temporarily doubled the exemption to an inflation-adjusted $10 million ($20 million for married couples who design their estate plans properly). This year, the exemption amount is $11.4 million ($22.8 million for married couples). If you’re married… Read More »
Estate planning for single parents requires special considerations
Here’s a fast fact: The percentage of U.S. children who live with an unmarried parent has jumped from 13% in 1968 to 32% in 2017, according to Pew Research Center’s most recent poll. While estate planning for single parents is similar to estate planning for families with two parents, when only one parent is… Read More »
College financing may be an integral part of your estate plan
The staggering cost of college makes it critical for families to plan carefully for this major expense, and in many cases grandparents want to play a role. As you examine the many financing options for your grandchildren, be sure to consider their impact on your estate plan. Make direct payments A simple, but effective,… Read More »
4 Little Known Powers of a Durable Power of Attorney
You undoubtedly have heard of durable powers of attorney while planning your estate. You may understand them as trusted individuals who will maintain your health care directives or help manage your finances after you have passed. Durable Powers of Attorney are just that: powerful. They should be selected with careful deliberation and they should… Read More »