Many people think their estate plans need nothing more than a simple will, and that they can throw that together in minutes when the time comes. But the estate planning process can be more involved than that. You might need a trust, or multiple trusts, to bring your...
Estate Planning
Why even college students need an estate plan
If you or your child are in college, then estate planning probably isn’t top of mind. But it’s an important process that shouldn’t be overlooked, even when you’re younger. It only takes a split second for something wrong and unexpected to occur, and if you or your...
What you need to do with your estate plan during divorce
Getting divorced is tough. It can be hard to separate your life from the one you’ve built with your spouse, and figuring out how to divide marital assets can be challenging. While you’re caught up in the emotions and legalities of that process, though, you can’t lose...
Know the risks of not having a health care advance directive
Many Floridians who are concerned about what might happen to them if they are incapacitated will have a health care advance directive as part of their estate plan. This is a document that designates a representative – a proxy – to make decisions as the person would if...
The right personal representative is key to estate planning
When creating an estate plan in Florida, most people decide to write a will. This is the easiest solution for many as they do not want to move forward with the complexities inherent with trusts and other estate planning options. Still, a will is not necessarily...
Avoiding probate: why and what to do instead
Probate and estate planning may not seem like the most exciting topics to discuss. However, what if I told you that by avoiding one and choosing another, you could save yourself and your loved ones a lot of time, money and headaches? Many people, upon evaluating the...
Designating a guardian for your child
When you become a parent, it can feel like a tornado just passed through your life and everything changed. It’s true—becoming a parent changes everything. After you bring your baby home from the hospital, you will be busy changing diapers, hosting guests and adapting....
When should you modify your estate plan?
Getting your estate plan set up was a wise and responsible choice. Your estate plan gives you the peace of mind you need knowing that your loved ones will be protected if you pass away. One common mistake people make once their estate plan is in place is forgetting to...
How to estate plan to shield assets from creditors
When you engage in the estate planning process, your hope is to pass down as much wealth as possible to your loved ones. Your ability to achieve that goal can be jeopardized by your creditors, though, who are hungry to get their hands on your wealth to recoup debts...
Estate planning tools that could reduce your estate taxes
If you have significant assets, you might be worried about how estate taxes will eat into your legacy and your loved ones’ inheritances. Fortunately, the federal estate tax doesn’t kick in until your assets hit the $12.92 million mark. At that point, only assets...

