When you die, your estate will likely need to go through Florida’s probate process. This is the process in which your estate is administered, and your assets are passed on to your heirs. Your personal representative is responsible for administering your estate. Who is...
Wealthy Floridians will want to pay attention to an important component of estate planning: the estate tax. While the estate tax does not affect everyone, those of greater wealth could find the value of their estate is lowered due to the estate tax if they do not...
Have you finished your estate plan? Yes? Congratulations! Does it include an incapacity plan? No? Well, then you do not have a full estate plan. According to a recent Caring.com survey, only about a third of us even have a will, which means that even fewer of us even...
One of your goals for the new year may be to set up an estate plan. This is a wise and responsible decision. Having a solid estate plan in place, whether through a will, trust, power of attorney or a combination of all three, can take a tremendous burden off your...
A good estate plan is made up of several documents, and the will is just one of them. However, it plays a particularly important role in many people's plans. Everyone who is starting the estate planning process should understand its strengths and limitations. The will...
The wide variety of options available to Florida residents when it comes to estate planning can make the task seem daunting. However, the reality is that a comprehensive estate plan can be crucial for almost anyone, so it is important to get started. Understanding...
When it comes to estate planning, the core laws across the United States are similar, although there are some subtle differences from state to state. Because a large amount of Florida's population is older, there is a lot of interest in estate planning and it is...
Most people in Florida who have an estate plan in place probably have a “living will” as part of that plan. So, what is a “living will”? Quite simply, it is a directive for medical professionals to follow that includes your wishes if, in a worst-case scenario, you...
Many Florida estate plans use trusts to accomplish all or a portion of the goals of the person making the plan. Perhaps the most obvious issue in creating a trust is finding a person to act as trustee. Many people simply choose a friend or relative to fill this role,...
Floridians might contest a will for a number of reasons. A family member or other loved one might challenge the validity of a will because they feel like they have been treated unfairly. People who feel that a will did not divide property fairly or left them without a...
Jennifer D. Sharpe, P.A.