As the clock ticks down on the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), high-net-worth families in Florida face a looming deadline that could drastically impact their financial futures. For years, the TCJA has provided a sense of security and predictability for those with...
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Year: 2024
How joint ownership can help avoid probate in Florida
Probate can be a lengthy and costly process, but there are strategies that can help you avoid this. Joint ownership can be a simple and effective way to transfer specific assets outside of probate. But how does it work? Bypass probate with ease: Joint tenancy with...
Estate planning for blended families
On average, around 40 to 50 percent of marriages in the United States end in divorce. In Florida, divorce rates hover around 3.1 per 1,000 people. As a result, many families in the country, including Florida, have blended families. Blended families or stepfamilies are...
How Florida’s homestead exemption affects probate proceedings
If you own property in Florida, understanding how the homestead exemption influences probate proceedings is key. This law offers significant protections and benefits to homeowners, but it also impacts how your loved ones handle your property after you pass away....
Navigating Florida’s probate court: What to expect
When a loved one passes away, dealing with their estate can be challenging. In Florida, probate is the legal process of distributing a deceased person's assets. The probate court oversees the process, and it can be formal or informal, depending on the complexity of...
What is the role of a personal representative in Florida probate?
In Florida, the personal representative (also called an executor in other states) has the very important job of managing a deceased person’s estate through probate. This person, named in the deceased’s will or by the court if there is no will, has responsibilities to...
Signs of undue influence of a loved one in their estate plan
Estate planning is a critical process, but it's important to ensure that your loved one is making decisions freely. It can be useful to look out for some signs that they might be unduly influenced. Sudden changes in the estate plan One of the clearest signs of undue...
Can you avoid going through probate?
Probate is the legal process of distributing a deceased person’s assets. While it is a common procedure, you might want to avoid it due to the time and costs involved. You may find it helpful to consider some ways to bypass probate in Florida. Create a living trust A...
Can you transfer a car title without going through probate?
When a loved one passes away, managing their assets can be overwhelming. One common question that arises is whether you can transfer a car title without going through probate. There are specific circumstances in which the state of Florida allows this. Transfer by...
Protecting your legacy with a spendthrift trust
You have worked hard to build financial stability for your family. As you contemplate passing your assets to your children or even grandchildren, you may have concerns about their ability to properly manage an inheritance, or that circumstances might take away their...