South Florida Estate Planning News
Recent Posts and Articles
Charitable Giving Options Under the New Tax Law
The new tax law makes it harder to claim a tax deduction for charitable contributions. While charitable giving should not be only about getting a tax break, if you want to reap a tax benefit from your contributions, there are a couple of options. The Tax Cut and Jobs Act,…
Read More 2019 Will Bring Social Security Beneficiaries the Biggest Increase in Eight Years
The Social Security Administration has announced a 2.8 percent increase in benefits in 2019, the largest increase since 2012. The change will put an additional $468 annually in the pocket of the average retired beneficiary. Cost of living increases are tied to the consumer price index, and an upturn in…
Read More 5 Things to Know to Reduce Your Tax on Capital Gains
Although it is often said that nothing is certain except death and taxes, the one tax you may be able to avoid or minimize most through planning is the tax on capital gains. Here’s what you need to know to do such planning: What is capital gain? Capital gain is…
Read More Keeping Track of Your Will
Once you’ve taken the step to create a will and get your estate plan in order, you need to figure out what to do with the will itself. It is important to keep track of the location of your current will as well as any old wills, and to ensure…
Read More The New Tax Law Means It’s Time Review Your Estate Plan
While the new tax law doubles the federal estate tax exemption, meaning the vast majority of estates will not have to pay any federal estate tax, it doesn’t mean you should ignore its impact on your estate plan. In December 2017, Republicans in Congress and President Trump doubled the federal…
Read More How to Handle Sibling Disputes Over a Power of Attorney
A power of attorney is one of the most important estate planning documents, but when one sibling is named in a power of attorney, there is the potential for disputes with other siblings. No matter which side you are on, it is important to know your rights and limitations. A…
Read More Aretha Franklin’s Lack of a Will Could Cause Huge Problems
According to court documents, legendary singer Aretha Franklin did not have a will when she died, opening up her estate to public scrutiny and potential problems. Failing to create an estate plan can cause lots of headaches for heirs, in addition to unnecessary costs. Franklin, who died August 16, 2018,…
Read More Understanding Tenancy: The Different Ways to Co-Own Property
When two or more individuals own property — whether it’s a condominium, a home, or a piece of land — the relationship between the owners is very important. The form of ownership of the property affects how property is transferred to someone else. It is important to make sure you…
Read More What Happens If You Die Without a Will?
We all know we are supposed to do estate planning, but not all of us get around to it. So what happens if you don’t have a will when you die? Your estate will be distributed according to state laws, which may or may not be the way you want…
Read More Fear of Losing Home to Medicaid Contributed to Elder Abuse Case
A California daughter and granddaughter’s fear of losing their home to Medicaid may have contributed to a severe case of elder abuse. If the pair had consulted with an elder law attorney, they might have figured out a way to get their mother the care she needed and also protect…
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