South Florida Estate Planning News
Recent Posts and Articles
Medicare Beneficiaries Need to Know the Difference Between a Wellness Visit and a Physical
Medicare covers preventative care services, including an annual wellness visit. But confusing a wellness visit with a physical could be very costly. As part of the Affordable Care Act, Medicare beneficiaries receive a free annual wellness visit. At this visit, your doctor, nurse practitioner or physician assistant will generally do…
Read More How to Deal With Student Loan Debt as You Age
The number of older Americans with student loan debt – either theirs or someone else’s — is growing. Sadly, learning how to deal with this debt is now a fact of life for many seniors heading into retirement. According to a study by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, the number…
Read More So, You’ve Been Appointed Trustee of a Trust? Here Are 9 Do’s and 1 Don’t
Whether it’s an honor or a burden (or both), you have been appointed trustee of a trust. What responsibilities have been thrust upon you? How can you successfully carry them out? Here are nine do’s and one don’t to get you started: Do read the trust document. It sets out…
Read More If You Haven’t Been Regularly Reviewing Your Estate Plan, Start When You Hit 60
How frequently you should review your estate plan depends on how old you are and whether there has been a significant change in your circumstances. If you are over age 60 and you haven’t updated your estate plan in many decades, it’s almost certain that you need to update your…
Read More How to Make Your Funeral Wishes Known
How can you make sure your funeral and burial wishes will be carried out after you die? It is important to let your family know your desires and to put them in writing. Just don’t do it in your will. To help your loved ones follow your wishes after you…
Read More What exactly is a Personal Representative or an Executor?
Many clients ask me what will be required of their “Personal Representative” or “Executor” when they pass away; and are concerned about their family members being required to undertake such a responsibility. Here is some information to pass along to their family and to hopefully shed light on the duties…
Read More Execute a Power of Attorney Before It’s Too Late
A durable power of attorney is an extremely important estate planning tool, even more important than a will in many cases. This crucial document allows a person you appoint — your “attorney-in-fact” or “agent” — to act in place of you — the “principal” — for financial purposes when and…
Read More Guns and Dementia: Dealing With A Loved One’s Firearms
Having a loved one with dementia can be scary, but if you add in a firearm, it can also get dangerous. To prevent harm to both the individual with dementia and others, it is important to plan ahead for how to deal with any weapons. Research shows that 45 percent…
Read More Last Year for Couples to Use ‘Claim Now, Claim More’ Later Social Security Strategy
This is the last year that spouses who are turning full retirement age can choose whether to take spousal benefits or to take benefits on their own record. The strategy, used by some couples to maximize their benefits, will not be available to people turning full retirement age after 2019.…
Read More Does Your Estate Plan Include Your Pets?
Have you considered your pet or pets when planning your estate? If not, you should, according to The Humane Society of the United States, the nation’s largest animal protection organization. Pets usually have shorter life spans than humans, but people don’t always include their pets in their estate plans. If…
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