Death and Taxes: Common Taxes in Estate Planning and Florida Probate

| 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 […]

How to Avoid Florida Probate: 5 Ways to Transfer Your Property Other than a Will

| 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 — […]

2014 Year End Estate Planning

| 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, […]

10 Reasons Why Your Parents Need a Health Care Surrogate

| 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.) […]

10 Reasons Why New or Expectant Parents Should Have a Will

| 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 […]

What is a “No Contest Clause” in a Florida Will?

| 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 […]

Diminished Capacity To Write A Florida Will – How Do Lawyers Help Protect Your Wishes?

| 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 […]

In Florida, Joint Tenancy With Right of Survivorship as an Estate Planning Tool to Avoid Probate: What Are The Risks in This Form of Florida Joint Ownership?

| 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, […]

Exploiting Elders in Florida: How Family Members Financial Abuse of Seniors is a “Public Health Epidemic”

| 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 […]

Florida Millionaire Goes Missing – How End of Life Planning Works To Keep Traumatized Family Safe and Secure

| 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 […]