As we have discussed before in this blog, Floridians' digital assets and holdings are becoming increasingly important in the state's estate administration landscape. Gone are the days of entirely "analog" assets, with the advent of Facebook, Twitter, online banking and a variety of other virtual processes. So far, the nation has yet to develop a set of uniform laws to deal with the complications that can result from Read More
WOMAN WITH DEMENTIA MAY HAVE BEEN MANIPULATED
Years before one Florida woman made major changes to her million-dollar estate, she had been formally diagnosed with dementia. Courtroom documents show the elderly Florida woman's estate has been beleaguered by probate litigation problems after she agreed to hand over $1.8 million to a Portsmouth police officer, who relatives contend was a scam artist. A state report dated in April 2012 indicated the woman had Read More
GANDOLFINI WILL DESCRIBED AS ‘CATASTROPHE’
Even the rich and famous sometimes fail to plan ahead. That is what attorneys are saying about the late James Gandolfini, the famous 'Sopranos' actor whose estate is supposedly facing a multi-million dollar tax burden. It is not clear whether the man truly understood hisestate value, a situation that has left his estate in shambles thanks to an inadequate will. The deceased star could see as much as $30 million of Read More
CONCEPTION AFTER DEATH? MANAGE YOUR WILL ACCORDINGLY
Conception after death: It sounds like something out of a science fiction movie, but the legal realities of conceiving children after one or more parents are dead are increasingly relevant. The law is clear about estate planning for children who are alive at the time the documents are drafted, but they are not so clear about your estate's relationship to children conceived after your death. Who should be concerned Read More
USE TRUSTS TO PROTECT ASSETS AFTER DEATH
Even though many Floridians may have heard of trusts, they may not fully understand what these important legal documents can do for their estate plans. In fact, proper trust administration does not require a significant amount of effort; your local qualified probate attorney can help you learn more. Today, we will discuss the aspects of trusts that you should discuss with your estate planning professional. There Read More
BEWARE POWER OF ATTORNEY ‘SUPERPOWERS’
Many individual estate plans include durable power of attorneys. Those who employ this method should realize that a new Florida law could change the way this document is administered. This law went into effect in October 2011, but many still do not realize that it could affect their will execution plans. It allows you to give additional powers to the person who is designated to make important financial decisions when Read More
WHY SHOULD YOU USE A TRUST?
Many Americans consider their estate plan complete after they have drafted a last will and testament, never considering the benefits that could come along with trust administrationoptions. Even though you may think that you do not have enough money for a trust, you could still qualify for these helpful estate planning tools. Consider using a trust to avoid taxes, protect your privacy and assets, and bypass probate Read More
ARE LIVING WILLS OUTDATED?
If you are considering including a living will in your estate planning documents, experts in probate law offer some tips and information about these critical documents that can help your family members and trusted associates make decisions if you are incapacitated. The burgeoning field of behavioral economics is bringing a new perspective to the execution and creation of living wills. Early developers of these Read More
ESTATE ADMINISTRATION BASICS
If your family member has recently passed away, you may be faced with the daunting task of estate administration based on your loved one's estate documents. Even though estate execution is something that occurs every day, few of us have actual experience with the process. Our article will help you learn more about the processes involved in making sure your loved one's directives are followed. The first step in Read More
MANAGING YOUR DIGITAL ASSETS AFTER DEATH
We value our real property assets, from our homes to our jewelry and cars. What value would you place on your social media assets, though? This issue is becoming a hot topic in the world of estate administration, as social media lives on even after its originator passes. Attorneys are encountering an increasing population of Baby Boomers and other clients who want to preserve their online presence for Read More
