Your signing appointment in Palm Harbor
By Spiro Verras
You are welcome to consult with me in person or by Zoom or teleconference. When it is time to sign your Florida estate planning documents, our usual practice is to bring everyone together at our Palm Harbor office.
That appointment gives...
Where we keep your estate planning originals
By Spiro Verras
When someone you trust needs your estate planning documents, it helps to have a simple answer to the question of where they are.
For our clients, that answer is our Palm Harbor office. Permanent storage of your original estate planning documents...
When Your Assets Are in More Than One State
By Spiro Verras
A home, business, or investment in another state can be part of a well-coordinated Florida estate plan. The key is to connect the ownership documents, local law, and people who will carry out your wishes.
Key TakeawaysPrivacy in the Sunshine State
By Spiro Verras
Privacy is a reasonable estate-planning goal. You may want your family’s inheritance arrangements, personal relationships, and financial details shared with the people who need them, without creating an unnecessary public record. Florida offers useful ways to plan for that, and understanding the limits helps you...
Estate tax planning for Florida families
By Spiro Verras
Thoughtful estate tax planning connects what you have built with what you want it to accomplish. The right approach considers family goals, future growth, income taxes, and the control you wish to keep.
Key TakeawaysClosing a Florida probate estate
By Spiro Verras
Closing a Florida probate estate is an opportunity to show that the work is complete and the people entitled to inherit have received their proper shares. In a formal administration, the personal representative finishes the required tasks, provides closing information, makes the remaining distributions, and...
How to Handle Out-of-State Assets in Your Florida Estate Plan
By Spiro Verras
Owning property or accounts in multiple states can complicate your estate plan. To handle out-of-state assets effectively, you need to account for each state’s probate laws, consider strategies to avoid multiple court proceedings, and ensure your plan coordinates across jurisdictions.
When your estate includes...
Transfer-on-Death Deeds: Are They Right for You?
By Spiro Verras
Transfer-on-death deeds can be helpful in limited situations, but they are not available for Florida real estate and are not an option for property owners here. In Florida, avoiding probate for real estate requires different tools, and choosing the right one depends on how...
Lady Bird Deeds: What Are They and When Do You Need One?
By Spiro Verras
A Lady Bird deed, also called an enhanced life estate deed, can let a Florida homeowner arrange a transfer at death while reserving substantial lifetime powers. It can be a useful estate-planning option for real estate, but its effect depends on the actual deed,...
Transferring a Car Title After the Owner Dies
By Spiro Verras
A car can be one of the first estate assets a family needs to address after a death. It may be needed for transportation, carry an outstanding loan or be ready for sale. Florida provides several ways to transfer a deceased owner’s vehicle, and probate...