Category Archives: Estate Planning
How To Talk About Estate Planning With Your Parents
As you and your parents get older, you might start thinking about estate planning issues that could be needed in the future. Or, perhaps, neither you nor your parents have thought about those issues at all. Either way, there is no avoiding the inevitability of the aging process and death and the need to… Read More »
Alzheimer’s And Dementia Issues In Estate Planning
Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia are more common than most of us think. Currently, over 6.5 million Americans have Alzheimer’s and related types of dementia. These are most common among those over 65 years old, but over 200,000 people under 65 in the U.S. also experience dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. As people continue… Read More »
Crisis Medicaid Planning In Florida: What To Do When Long-Term Care Is An Immediate Concern
We tend to think about nursing-home, and special-needs care as a distant prospect to be dealt with at some future time. It is human nature to put off decisions on these matters because there is always more time to plan – until there isn’t. First and foremost will be your concerns about a family… Read More »
Planning For Special Needs Trusts In Florida
For most people, qualifying for Medicaid and SSI can be painstaking and complex, as these “means-tested” programs require an individual to fall below a certain income threshold. These income standards are very low. Anything over essentially poverty-level income can disqualify a person from receiving critical Medicaid or SSI benefits that cover healthcare expenses and… Read More »
Durable Powers Of Attorney And Estate Planning In Tampa, Florida
You are probably familiar with the idea of wills and trusts when it comes to estate planning. After all, we usually frame the concept of estate planning is what happens to our property when we pass on. However, just as important is what happens in the months and years leading up to the distribution… Read More »
Whom Should You Choose As Your Personal Representative?
Your personal representative will play a critical role in the probate process once you die and, for this reason, must be selected with care. Choosing the wrong personal representative can be disastrous for you and your family. This person could not only fail to pay off claims but could endanger your estate by not… Read More »
Why Should Your Tampa Estate Plan Include A Healthcare Power Of Attorney And A Living Will?
You created your will and purchased a life insurance policy. Why do you need a living will if you already drafted a last will and testament? Why would you need a healthcare power of attorney if you do not have a chronic condition? What is a Living Will? A living will is a legal… Read More »
What Are Some Pitfalls Of Handwriting Your Will In Tampa?
Jason and his wife Sandra both handwrote their wills on lined paper over 10 years ago. Since then, Jason and Sandra have both retired. They also moved two times, selling, and purchasing property each time. Neither of them updated their handwritten will. The couple were parents to three adult children, who had never discussed… Read More »
Is A Lifetime Bypass Trust Right For Your Family?
Margie worked hard all her life to put something aside for her grandchildren. She inherited nothing and did not want her kids and grandkids to struggle. Now she is the proud owner of multiple residential properties and a venture capitalist. She has substantial net worth she wants to pass on to her loved ones,… Read More »
Tips For Updating A Florida Estate Plan After A Marriage Or Divorce
Janice and Ryan recently married, but with children from previous marriages. While they no longer share property or income with their previous spouses, neither Janice nor Ryan ever got around to changing beneficiary designation for life insurance policies. They also have not updated their will. What are some good estate planning practices to keep… Read More »