South Florida Estate Planning News
Recent Posts and Articles
How to Plan for Quarantine or extended illness
Now is the time to make sure you are protected if you are quarantined or if you get sick! You will rest easier if your basic estate planning is done. But everyone should have these three basic documents, regardless of their wealth or health.
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Bank Pays Price for Failing to Honor a Power of Attorney
A durable power of attorney (POA) allows the person creating the POA, called the “principal,” to name a trusted agent who can act on his behalf in almost any situation. But because of the risk of abuse, many banks will scrutinize a POA carefully before allowing the agent to act…
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Understanding the Differences Between a Revocable Trust and an Irrevocable Trust
Trusts can be useful tools to pass assets to the next generation, protect your assets, save on estate taxes, or set aside money for a family member with special needs. The question I hear most often regarding trusts is “What is the difference between a Revocable Living Trust and an…
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3 Common Medicare Questions
1: When should you enroll in Part B? The magic age is 65! Even if you haven’t retired yet, you need to sign up during a seven-month initial enrollment period, which begins three months before you turn 65 and concludes three months after your birthday month. An exception allowing the…
Read More When Inheriting Property, Consider Your Options
Inheriting property from your parents is either a blessing or a burden — or a little bit of both. Figuring out what to do with the property can be overwhelming, so it is good to carefully think through all of your choices. There are three main options when you inherit…
Read More Five Estate Planning Myths
There are lots of misconceptions about estate planning, and any one of them can result in costly mistakes. Understanding who needs an estate plan and what it should cover is key to creating a plan that is right for you. A properly crafted estate plan allows you, while you are…
Read More Does Your Will Name an Alternate Beneficiary?
What will happen to your estate if your primary beneficiary does not survive you? If your will does not name an alternate beneficiary, your estate will be divided according to state law. The way the state divides your estate may not agree with your wishes. Your money may go to…
Read More Updating Your Estate Plan When Your Finances Change
Sometimes homes and portfolios lose value or income and investments increase significantly. If this is the case for you, do you need to change your will? If your finances have changed markedly since you wrote your will, you should check your estate plan to see if you need to make…
Read More What Is the Difference Between a Living Will and a Do-Not-Resuscitate Order?
It is a very good idea to create advance directives in order to plan for the possibility that you may one day be unable to make your own medical decisions. In doing so, there can be confusion about the difference between a living will and a “do-not-resuscitate” order (DNR). While…
Read More Discovery of Aretha Franklin’s Handwritten Wills Throws Her Estate Into Turmoil
Legendary singer Aretha Franklin was thought to have died without a will, but the recent discovery of handwritten documents in her home is calling that into question. A representative of her estate has asked a Michigan probate court to determine if any of the documents could be considered a valid…
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