Tips for Avoiding a Will Contest
Will challenges and probate litigation are much more common than many people realize, and they often drag on for months and years and can deplete the estate. While entire treatises have been written about this topic, there are just a few basic reasons a...
Probate and Estate Planning In the Cloud: Florida Fiduciary Access to Digital Assets Act
What is the Florida Fiduciary Access to Digital Assets Act, and why is it important?
On July 1, 2016, the Florida Fiduciary Access to Digital Assets Act took effect. "Digital assets" include electronic records like emails, texts, online photographs, and social media accounts. Before the passage of the Digital Assets Act, Florida, like...
The Brady Bunch has become the typical Modern Family – How remarriages are affecting inheritance
If a couple is married for the first time with young children and are working on your estate plan, the decisions about where the assets go are usually easy. Most parents in that situation want their entire estate to go to the surviving spouse, and upon the death of the surviving spouse, equally to their...
Differences Between Testamentary Trusts and “Living” Trusts
Do Heirs Have to Pay Off Their Loved One’s Debts?
The aftermath of the great economic crisis of 2008 has left many older Americans facing substantial debt in their final years. Are you concerned that, rather than inheriting wealth from your parents, you will instead inherit their bills? The good news is, you probably won't have to pay them. You cannot inherit debts. Probate...
What to Do After a Loved One Passes Away
The loss of a loved one is one of life’s most painful traumas, and the responsibility for handling the affairs of the deceased can make it even more stressful. The level of estate planning done prior to death will determine whether estate administration will be a difficult undertaking or a simple...