South Florida Estate Planning News
Recent Posts and Articles
When a Spouse Dies: Legal and Financial Steps for Florida Trusts and Estates
Navigating Grief and Responsibility: A Checklist for New Personal Representatives
Losing a loved one is tough, and if you’ve been named as the Personal Representative of their estate, the responsibilities can feel overwhelming. It’s crucial to take care of yourself while managing these tasks. We’ve put together a checklist to help you navigate this challenging time and make your visit to an attorney’s office smoother. Remember, some of these tasks have deadlines, so it’s important to act sooner rather than later.
Florida Lady Bird Deeds Explained: Keep Control, Keep Your Home, and Avoid Probate
If you want your Florida home to pass smoothly to your family without court involvement, learn how a Lady Bird (Enhanced Life Estate) Deed works
Is Probate Private?
We all have a nosy neighbor, like Nellie. Most people think of probate (the process of collecting, managing, and distributing a deceased person’s money and property) as a private process. However, because probate involves the court system, most filings become a matter of public record. That means your nosy neighbor…
Estate Planning Secrets: Keeping Your Family Out of the Spotlight
Most people think of probate (the process of collecting, managing, and distributing a deceased person’s money and property) as a private process. However, because probate involves the court system, most filings become a matter of public record. That means your nosy neighbor Nellie can simply go to the courthouse or…
Help! This Probate Is Taking Forever!
When Sarah’s dad passed away, she thought things would be simple. Her dad had a will, and Sarah and her brother were the only kids. She figured they’d take care of some paperwork, pay off a few bills, and be done in a few months. But months later, Sarah found…
Val Kilmer: Lessons From His Life and Legacy
A Public Life, A Private Death. Private Estate Plan The passing of actor Val Kilmer in April 2025 brings attention to estate planning issues that affect far more than just celebrities. While Kilmer was a public figure, the challenges his estate faced—such as managing real estate in multiple states, handling…
Regis Philbin: Blended Family, Big Heart, & Clear Plans
From Game Shows to Estate Plans: Insights we can Learn from Regis Regis Philbin, the Guinness World Record holder for the most hours on US television, was a familiar face in millions of homes for decades. By the time he retired from his show Live with Regis and Kelly in 2011, he…
Estate Planning Ideas: National Ice Cream Month
Avoiding Probate is the Cherry on Top of your Estate Plan It is summertime, and the living is easy. Maybe you spent the day out on the boat, at the beach, or at home relaxing in your most comfortable lounge chair. As the sun sets, you have a hankering for…
Beneficiary and Transfer-on-Death Designations
Do you know which of your accounts have beneficiary designations, sometimes called transfer-on-death (TOD) or payable-on-death (POD) designations? Have you updated them recently? Are you aware of what can go wrong if there are issues with your beneficiary designation forms? If you answered “no” to any of these questions, read…
Probate Nightmares
Come join me at the Broward County Library for my presentation on probate nightmares. You will learn how to protect your money, your loved ones, and yourself by planning ahead and avoiding stressful, costly struggles with probate. I use celebrities as examples and it is a fun and informative hour.…
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