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ARE LIVING WILLS OUTDATED?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
FAMILY SUES ATTORNEY FOR PROBATE VIOLATIONS
Three granddaughters of the Milwaukee industrial magnate Charles Pfister Vogel are filing aprobate litigation suit against a woman they claim defrauded their mother for more than $1 million. The defendant in this case is facing a suit from the trio, one of which hails from Florida. The case is under scrutiny not only from the probate courts, but also by federal investigators and tax officials. The 15-count lawsuit Read More
HOW DOES MY IRA FIT INTO MY ESTATE PLAN?
When Florida residents assess the value of their estates, they are encouraged to consider both testamentary and non-testamentary assets. Estate administration professionals encourage those with IRAs and other specialized accounts to carefully plan for these assets' distribution in the event of their untimely deaths. Some measure of anticipation is required in order to correctly deal with a pending IRA. An IRA is a Read More
TOO YOUNG FOR A WILL? THINK AGAIN
When most young adults head off to college, the last thing they are thinking about is establishing their will or estate plan. Many might not even know why you need a will, or which provisions should be included to protect their assets. But as these young people enter the workforce, even for modest summer jobs, they will begin to accrue property that would need to be distributed upon their death. If you are a single Read More
$40 MILLION ESTATE IN JEOPARDY, MAN LEFT NO WILL
A Polish Holocaust survivor earned the dubious distinction of leaving behind the largest unclaimed estate in New York history. The man, who died at age 97, left behind nearly $40 million, but it remains unclaimed because no estate administration documents existed to guide the distribution of his estate. The man left behind no remaining relatives. He was childless and his wife died in 1992. The public administrator Read More
IRREVOCABLE TRUSTS: NOT JUST FOR THE RICH
Experts in estate and trust administration know all the ins and outs of irrevocable trusts. Still, these legal contracts can become confusing for the layperson, sometimes discouraging individuals from including trusts in their estate plans. Even though trusts may seem intimidating, probate attorneys say they can often save your heirs a significant amount of stress while potentially saving you money. Most people Read More
ATTORNEY: WOMAN BULLIED INTO CHANGING WILL
The will of an elderly Florida woman is being contested by her grandson after the woman's estate was given to a local police officer. The officer stands to gain about $300,000 in connection with the probate decision. Estate litigation in the case began shortly after the woman's death in 2012. She had changed her will and trust to include the officer as the beneficiary of her home, vehicle and various stocks and Read More
