You may think that you do not need a revocable living trust if your estate falls below the federal estate tax exemption. After all, a large number of Floridians' personal estates fall below that $5.34 million individual threshold. Although most estate planning professionals encourage the use of living trusts for estate tax avoidance, there is one other benefit: Trusts help keep your estate out of probate Read More

So, you are ready to start building your comprehensive estate plan in Florida. Although many of us are familiar with estate planning titles like "executor," we do not always understand the exact duties that accompany that title. Choosing an executor is one of the most important decisions you will make with regards to your estate. Make the right choice in your director for estate settlement by taking the following Read More

Bernice King, daughter of the heralded Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., is pleading with her brothers not to sell their father's personal effects. Bernice, who lives in Florida's neighboring state of Georgia, retains possession of her father's Nobel Peace Prize and his personal Bible.Estate planning documents transferred King's estate into the hands of his two sons, however, and they are permitted to make final decisions Read More

You do not have to be a celebrity to have an all-star estate plan. However, probate attorneys say that the everyman may be able to benefit from some estate planningstrategies utilized by high-profile entertainers in Florida and other states. Even if you can't imagine walking the red carpet yourself, you can still have an award-winning estate plan. For example, Elizabeth Taylor's estate provided an excellent model Read More

If you think you are too young for an estate plan, think again. Estate planning is a useful topic for adults of all ages. If you have assets, you need to know how to distribute them after your death. Even though most estate planning information is targeted at those over 50, experts urge younger people to think about their assets. Further, parents of young children may benefit from estate planning tools designed to Read More

As Florida residents work through the details of their estate plan, they may wonder how to appoint an executor. That person, after all, will be largely responsible for making sure that your assets and personal holdings are distributed according to your wishes. Although you may think that the title of executor is a compliment, many people may not view it as such, perhaps because the executor's role is so complicated Read More

True or false: When you pass away, your family members will automatically be taken care of, even if you have not made a comprehensive estate plan. If you think that statement is accurate, you may be estate planning by default, a dangerous practice that can cause serious financial problems for your estate and your heirs. In fact, estate planning without a specific goal can lead to a variety of unintended Read More

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

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

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