South Florida Estate Planning News
Recent Posts and Articles
Warning: you must have a Power of Attorney!
Imagine if tomorrow you were in a car accident or overcome by an illness and unable to communicate… What would your family do? I have sat on the edge of too many hospital and/or rehab beds dealing with distraught family members. You must have someone (with alternates) to call your…
Read MoreWhat am I forgetting?
So much is being said in the news about dementia that I thought we should discuss why being occasionally forgetful is not such a concern. To the contrary, our memory may not always be so important. A recent article explains how forgetting is actually useful. By forgetting information that is…
Read MoreMaximizing Social Security Survivor’s Benefits
Social Security survivor’s benefits provide a safety net to widows and widowers. But to get the most out of the benefit, you need to know the right time to claim. While you can claim survivor’s benefits as early as age 60, if you claim benefits before your full retirement age,…
Read MoreMedicare 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 MoreHow 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 MoreSo, 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 MoreIf 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 MoreHow 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 MoreWhat 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 MoreExecute 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…
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