Estate planning is a term that often brings up images of vast family estates and the wealthy elite; however, it’s really for everyone. Estate planning is about taking control of your financial and personal affairs, ensuring your wishes are met both during your...
Why Hiring an Estate Planning Attorney is the Prudent Option
In today’s digital age, it's tempting to turn to online estate planning templates when creating wills, trusts, and other legal documents. These services offer a quick, convenient, and often cheaper option compared to hiring an estate planning attorney. But when it...
Protecting Your Assets: Trusts vs. Wills
When it comes to estate planning, protecting your assets and ensuring a smooth distribution to your heirs is one of the main goals. Two ways of achieving this is by creating a Trust or a Will. Both have distinct advantages and serve different purposes. It’s important...
The Vital Role of a Personal Representative in Probate
The process of probate can seem daunting, especially during the already emotionally challenging time following a loved one's passing. One of the most critical positions in probate is the Personal Representative, sometimes referred to as the Executor. Their appointment...
An Introduction to Guardianship
Guardianship is a legal process through which the court appoints someone known as a guardian to provide support and care for individuals who are unable to make decisions for themselves due to incapacity. It can significantly impact the lives of everyone involved....
The Importance of Estate Planning
Estate planning is one of those topics that often gets pushed to the bottom of our to-do lists. It's a subject that can be uncomfortable to think about, as it forces us to confront our own mortality. However, estate planning is not just about what happens after we're...
What Happens if You Die Without a Will? Understanding Intestacy Laws
Planning for the distribution of your assets after you're gone is a responsible and important objective, yet many people postpone or neglect it. If you pass away without a valid Will, your estate becomes subject to the laws of intestacy. In this post, we will explore...
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With the coming of May, people are making plans to celebrate a popular annual event. No, I’m not talking about Mother’s Day, although that’s an awesome day to celebrate, too. I’m thinking of a fairly new holiday that has really taken hold in recent years: Star Wars...
The Gathering: An Important Step in Estate Planning
For many, the thought of creating an estate plan can be overwhelming. Beyond the obvious (and quite normal!) aversion to thinking about death, people tend to procrastinate simply because they don’t know where to start or what all it entails. More often than not,...
Myth Busting: Common misperceptions about estate planning
When people hear that my practice specializes in estate planning, they sometimes ask if all my clients are elderly. I’m quick to note that while a good portion of our clients are indeed living their best golden years, people of all ages come to us for assistance with...
Let’s Go, O’s!
March is an exciting time for baseball fans because March is all about spring training—when MLB teams take up residence in southern locations to prep for the new season in warm climates. Many Floridians are at least part-time fans of the Baltimore Orioles, who have...
Florida Snowbirds and Estate Planning Considerations
The first few months of the year are snowbird season in Florida, including here in the Sarasota area. A “snowbird,” as locals often refer to them, is someone from a northern state who spends some or all of the winter in Florida. The main draw, of course, is the...