Category Archives: Estate Planning
Neglect Of Vulnerable Seniors By Family Caregivers
The horrifying stories of vulnerable seniors abused and neglected by family caregivers are enough to make even the most committed procrastinator get started on his or her estate plan. Last year, Alton Cardwell was arrested after the death of his father Jimmy Cardwell, for whom the younger Cardwell was a primary caregiver, and now… Read More »
What Can Go Wrong With Designating Beneficiaries For Non-Probate Assets?
It can be difficult to get started on big projects; just ask any parent who has struggled to muster the energy to pick up the first piece of clutter in the living room after the kids had a three-day weekend off from school. By contrast, you get a big emotional boost when you accomplish… Read More »
Does It Really Matter If You Choose A Revocable Or Irrevocable Trust?
The most attainable New Year’s resolutions are the ones that require “one and done” actions, as opposed to actions that you must repeat every day. “One day at a time” is your only option if you are trying to achieve sobriety or follow a healthy diet; the things in life that are most worth… Read More »
Does Transferring Property To A Revocable Trust Make Things Worse?
Given the modest amount of effort it takes to establish a revocable trust and the vast amount of time and effort you can save your heirs by establishing one, it is a wonder that not everyone does it. A revocable trust lets you be in control of the assets you transfer to it as… Read More »
The Worst Choices Of Beneficiaries Of Non-Probate Assets
Non-probate assets are the key to saving money on transferring your property to your heirs after you die. Any property that you own solely, and which you have not preserved in the form of a non-probate asset, will become part of your estate and go through probate. This means that the beneficiaries of your… Read More »
Downsizing Your Home For Retirement
If you have always had misgivings about the McMansion life, retirement is the ideal time to break free from it. Depending on your work situation, you might even be able to ditch your McMansion while you are still in the workforce, as long as your children have grown up and moved out of the… Read More »
Estate Planning New Year’s Resolutions For 2025
Congratulations on making it through 2024. Even if you still feel young, you are old enough that living to see another year counts as a victory. You are too old for unrealistic New Year’s resolutions like eliminating all enjoyable foods from your diet or becoming fabulously wealthy, but you are just the right age… Read More »
Your Estate Planning Hurricane Box
In Florida, no one has a basement; it is simply not possible to build a basement into the limestone. Likewise, most people do not have a proper attic. Every Florida household has a hurricane box, however; depending on how much space you have in your house or apartment, you might keep it in your… Read More »
Do Too Many Personal Representatives Spoil The Estate?
If your estate goes through probate, whether or not you have a will, the probate court will appoint a personal representative, also sometimes called an executor of the will. Your will should mention by name the person you choose to be personal representative of your estate. By including this provision in your will, you… Read More »
Retirement Accounts: An Underrated Asset Protection Strategy
Perhaps your mother was right that, when trying to get others to see your point of view or do your bidding, you catch more flies with honey than you do with vinegar. Estate planning lawyers can attest, however, that while some people enter the law office with dreams of being generous to their descendants,… Read More »