Larry Tolchinsky | April 14, 2015
Before tomorrow’s April 15th deadline, people will be making financial decisions, like depositing funds in an IRA (individual retirement account), in an effort to pay less federal income tax. Some of these tax decisions can also be used as part of an estate planning tax strategy (other tax strategies that can have duel usage, include […]
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Tags: End of Life Planning, Personal Representative's Duties
Larry Tolchinsky | February 10, 2015
Ask most people here in Florida about how they will pass along their property to their kids or spouse or favorite charity, and odds are high that they’ll say they are doing this with their Last Will and Testament. After all, writing your will is a traditional and historic way of leaving your valuables — […]
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Tags: End of Life Planning, heirs, probate assets, Probate Costs, Will
Larry Tolchinsky | December 9, 2014
In a matter of days, we’ll be entering a new year and 2014 will be a part of history. However, it’s still early enough in December for you to consider or update your Florida estate planning before the new year. There are reasons why you should, legally. For instance, some laws change on January 1, […]
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Tags: beneficiaries, End of Life Planning, Florida Probate, Self Proving Affidavit
Larry Tolchinsky | November 11, 2014
What is a Florida Health Care Surrogate? In Florida, a Health Care Surrogate is a person who makes your health care decisions for you when you are not able to make these decisions for yourself. This is someone who will have legal authority to pass on your wishes to your health provider (doctor, hospital, etc.) […]
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Tags: End of Life Planning, Florida Probate Laws
Larry Tolchinsky | October 14, 2014
Congratulations if you are reading this post because you are expecting a child or if you are a new parent. There are few joys in life as great as raising a child! Congratulations, too, on investigating how to protect your family in the event of an untimely passing on the part of you or your […]
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Tags: beneficiaries, End of Life Planning, Florida Probate, heirs, Last Will and Testament, Will
Larry Tolchinsky | September 9, 2014
In Florida, can you block someone from challenging your will with a No Contest clause? In Florida, as in all other states, there are laws on the books that establish how your property will be distributed should you die without a will, or if you die without a valid one. So, the smart thing […]
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Tags: beneficiaries, End of Life Planning, Florida Probate, Florida Will, heirs, Last Will and Testament, Probate Litigation
Larry Tolchinsky | August 12, 2014
Florida is a wonderful place to spend your retirement. It’s no surprise that so many people come here to spend their golden years, and here in the Miami and Broward County areas we see lots of seniors who are enjoying an active and full life here in the Sunshine State. Florida probate lawyers help seniors […]
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Tags: End of Life Planning, Last Will and Testament, testamentary capacity
Larry Tolchinsky | December 26, 2013
Florida law allows two people (think a husband and wife, or a parent and child) the ability to own Florida property together as joint owners in several ways, one of which is known as the “joint tenancy with right of survivorship.” The Joint Tenancy With Right of Survivorship (JTWROS) is familiar to bankers, lawyers, CPAs, […]
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Tags: End of Life Planning, Florida Probate Creditors, joint tenancy with right of survivorship, joint tenants
Larry Tolchinsky | August 21, 2012
This month, lots of people that don’t deal with senior citizen issues or the realities of end of life planning and elder law got a big, huge slap in the face as Dr. Mark Lachs called elder financial abuse by family members a “national epidemic.” That’s right – right up there with heart disease and […]
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Tags: Durable Power of Attorney, End of Life Planning, Florida Personal Representative, Florida Probate Laws, Probate Litigation, undue influence
Larry Tolchinsky | July 11, 2012
Here in our local Broward County, Florida, probate court proceedings got very crowded as the understandably upset mother and the very beautiful and upset wife of a missing millionaire came before local Probate Judge Mark A. Speiser to duke it out over what to do about the money, the property, the creditors, and all those […]
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Tags: Durable Power of Attorney, End of Life Planning, Florida Personal Representative, Florida Probate Laws, Personal Representative's Duties