South Florida Estate Planning News

Holiday Recommendations for Family Harmony

If your goal is family harmony, it could be a huge blunder to fail to consider the emotional ties children may have to their parent’s possessions.

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How Does The Probate Process Work In Florida?

If you have lost a loved one in Florida, it’s important to understand how the probate process works. Probate is the legal process of identifying and gathering the assets of a deceased person and then transferring assets to their beneficiaries.  If  someone dies intestate, without a will, their things will go to their family based…

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What Is A Personal Representative And How Should I Choose One?

If you’re working on your estate plan, one of the most important steps is determining who will be the Personal Representative (Executor) of your estate. It’s an important choice – maybe you’ve read stories of some Personal Representatives behaving badly and wish to avoid that. You don’t want to make a mistake that would cause…

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What Happens If You Die Without A Will In Florida?

In Florida, if a person dies without a will, their property will then pass on to their nearest relatives through the Florida intestate laws. These laws outline a strict formula that judges use to distribute the assets of the deceased to their family members. This is done to help avoid a situation where the assets…

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Responsibilities of Successor Trustees

Many people becoming trustees for the first time have asked questions such as “What is a trust?” or “What taxes must I pay as a trustee?” or “Am I required to file annual reports with a court?” Most people have had little experience with trusts.

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Estate Planning, Wills And Trusts

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 will. When Franklin died August…

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Estate Planning, Wills And Trusts

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 the rules under which you…

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Estate Planning, Wills And Trusts

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 required by the position. A…

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