What Successor Trustees Need to Know
By Spiro Verras
Being named as a successor trustee is an expression of confidence, but it also brings responsibilities. Before signing checks, moving investments, or making distributions, understand when your appointment takes effect, how you accept the role, and what the trust requires.
Start with the documentThe trust should...
Naming a Guardian for Your Minor Child in Florida
By Spiro Verras
Choosing someone to care for your child if you cannot is a deeply personal part of estate planning. A thoughtful nomination gives the court important guidance and gives the people you trust an opportunity to prepare. It should be coordinated with a plan for the...
Does My Estate Need to Go Through Probate?
By Spiro Verras
Whether your estate will need probate depends largely on how your property is owned and how it is directed to pass at death. Thoughtful planning can reduce the property requiring court administration and give your family clearer instructions. The right approach should...
Talk to Your Parents About Their Estate Plan Today
By Spiro Verras
A conversation about estate planning can be an act of care. Your parents may already have thoughtful arrangements, may want help organizing information, or may prefer to begin privately with their own lawyer. The most useful starting point is curiosity about what they want, without...
Electronic Wills in Florida
By Spiro Verras
Florida law now permits electronic wills that meet its statutory requirements. This article originally discussed an earlier legislative proposal. The former statement that Florida had not authorized electronic wills is no longer current.
An electronic document still needs valid executionAn electronic will is not simply an...
Estate Planning Basics: Three Things To Do Before You Die
By Spiro Verras
Estate planning can make difficult moments easier for the people who care about you. It records your choices, identifies people you trust, and gives them a practical framework for helping you during life and carrying out your wishes after death. These three areas are a...
Avoid These Estate Planning Mistakes
By Spiro Verras
A useful estate plan brings the documents, the assets, and the people who will carry out your wishes together. Many problems arise when one of those parts is overlooked. The following are three areas worth checking when you create or update your plan.
Expecting a will...Setting Up an Educational Trust for Future Generations
By Spiro Verras
Helping children or grandchildren pursue an education can be a meaningful part of a family's estate plan. An educational trust can set aside resources for that purpose and provide instructions about who may benefit, which expenses may be paid, and how the funds should be...
Spendthrift Trusts in Florida
By Spiro Verras
What is a spendthrift trust and how could a spendthrift trust benefit my family?A trust can specify how property will be managed and distributed for beneficiaries. A funded living trust may avoid probate for the property it owns; tax benefits depend on the...
What to Check Before Relying on a DIY Will in Florida
By Spiro Verras
An online will form can make it easier to begin thinking about your wishes. Before relying on the completed document, however, it is worth checking whether it fits Florida law, your family, and the way your property will actually pass.
Check how the document was signedFor...