Few events are as life-changing as a marriage ending. While it may represent a sad milestone, proactive steps are paramount to ensure that the brand new chapter in your life reflects your estate planning objectives. An estate plan is a snapshot of a specific time and...
Lake Mary Estate Planning Blog
Making an Advanced Directive
When it comes to end-of-life planning, most people are aware of the fact that you can set up a do not resuscitate order for yourself that can block doctors from using some life-saving interventions if your condition declines. But in Florida and other states, you can...
How do grantor retained annuity trusts work in Florida?
Trusts are excellent tools for estate planning. Some people use them to help protect beneficiaries, secure trusts for children with disabilities and provide benefits for tax purposes. Like most people, you may not want to part with your assets in case you need them...
What are the responsibilities of a guardian?
Residents of Lake Mary and nearby areas of Florida may want to learn more about what a guardian does. An adult guardian has different responsibilities from a guardian appointed by the court for the welfare of a child. An elderly parent may need a guardian to help take...
Estate planning considerations for new parents
If you are a new parent in Florida, you’re probably looking at life a lot differently than you used to. The joy of new parenthood is often accompanied by a lot of worries and anxiety. One way to alleviate some of those worries is to make sure that you have a solid...
What are the benefits of creating a family trust?
Florida families might have a lot of questions about estate planning for their families. These questions only amplify with the number of assets that a person has or the number of people in their family. Without a proper will, the state dictates what happens to all...
What considerations involve powers of attorney designations?
Preparing a power of attorney could be an essential step in a comprehensive estate plan. By establishing a trusted person as an attorney-in-fact, a grantor gives that person personal representative authority under Florida law. The agent may handle many affairs on...
Medicaid spend-down strategies
Many times Florida residents with even moderate wealth will need to adjust their estate plan in order to qualify for Medicaid insurance. Medicaid is a total payment insurance system operated by the U.S. government and will accept claims from nursing homes for people...
Does your estate plan need a checkup?
Many changes occur in life in Florida as time goes by. For example, your child can have a child, federal or state laws can change, you may have bought something valuable like a watch, jewelry, or house, or the value of your stocks may have changed. If anything...
What are your duties as a guardian of an elderly parent?
As your parents get older, properly caring for themselves can become quite difficult. Considering that, you might want to become their guardian in Florida. After successfully filing a guardianship petition and getting it approved, you can enter into the important role...