CHECK THESE PARTS OF YOUR ESTATE PLAN

Estate planning can seem like an intimidating undertaking. Many people think that they only need a will to address their estate planning needs, but a variety of options exist to help you distribute your wealth. Estate valuation experts often encounter clients who are unaware of the power of certain provisional documents in creating a complete estate plan. It is sometimes difficult to know how you can meet the real Read More

EXPERTS: FARMERS SHOULD DRAFT ESTATE PLAN EARLY

Florida's citrus growers might not be thinking about estate administration, but experts say it is never too early to draft and refine your estate plan. Farmers, in particular, need to be educated about estate planning because of their massive financial assets. Most farmers own a significant amount of land, along with large equipment and other holdings. Failing to adequately distribute those assets can cost your heirs Read More

DON’T LET MOVING PREVENT YOU FROM ESTATE PLANNING

Our society is increasingly mobile and fluid. As the economy shifts to accommodate these attributes, more people are finding themselves frequently relocating between states, including Florida, in order to accommodate their financial needs. As a result, they often fail to craft acceptable estate plans because they are unfamiliar with the rules in their particular state. This is a bad financial decision, according to Read More

ESTATE PLANNING FOR CHILDLESS COUPLES

Most people associate estate planning with heirs, specifically children. But what about those couples who have chosen not to have kids? If you are one of the millions of couples without children, you may be apprehensive about aging without an adult child to serve as your caregiver and decision-maker. Luckily, estate administration planning for childless couples is only slightly different than that for traditional Read More

FACEBOOK ASSETS IN LIMBO AFTER USERS DIE

Digital assets such as financial accounts and other holdings are becoming a hot-button topic among estate administration professionals. Still, some of those assets are poorly defined by traditional estate planning schemes; how, for example, does one distribute access to one's email accounts or Facebook profiles? Bills proposed throughout the United States would allow these digital assets to transfer to the executor Read More

AVOID ESTATE TAXES BY USING STRATEGY

The fiscal cliff was avoided by 11th-hour decisions at the nation's capital, but the American Tax Relief Act of 2012 did not eliminate all unsavory tax requirements. The most recent changes to tax law are designed to be permanent, eliminating the potential for unexpected alterations that could alter estate valuation and planning. Experts say the new tax plan should be considered as a kind of cliff tax. People who Read More

DON’T FORGET YOUR DIGITAL ASSETS DURING ESTATE PLANNING

As the modern world continues to evolve into an increasingly digital age, estate planning professionals report that digital and virtual assets are becoming important considerations. The world is becoming more and more digital, with books, music and even photographs maintaining a strong online presence. Few people maintain hard copies of those items, which can make estate administration difficult for those who do not Read More

DAUGHTER OF CONVICTED FELON POISED TO INHERIT FLORIDA ESTATE

In a highly publicized case, the stepdaughter of a Florida millionaire stands to inherit his estate, despite the fact that the woman's biological mother was convicted of killing her stepfather in 2009. Many observers believe that the woman is set to win her probate litigation claim involving her stepfather's estate, which is estimated at $4.2 million. She would receive $150,000, while her two adult sons would split Read More

ESTATE ADMINISTRATION CHANGES AFTER FINANCIAL CLIFF

As the American public waited on the plunge of the fiscal cliff, financial advisers found themselves in an even less enviable position. Many worried that their clients would be unable to use previously enacted tax exemptions as part of their comprehensive estate administration plans. Luckily, the nation did not fall off the financial marketplace, and financial advisers have great news for their clients: The $5 Read More

RESOLUTIONS FOR END-OF-LIFE PLANNING

New Years has arrived and with it the desire to make resolutions. Some choose to try to lose weight, be nicer to their friends or earn more money. An important resolution for those withestate administration plans, though, might be to update your living will and other important documents. As we reach the end of life, our resolutions evolve to consider our family members and heirs, who may face serious difficulties Read More