Two Florida parents seeking to obtain the rights to their child's ashes after their divorce may not treat the cremains as "property," according to a state appeals court. The ruling, handed down on May 21, was likely the first of its kind in Florida, according to news reports. It appears that the parents were trying to decide what to do with the ashes of the 23-year-old man who had not left a will. The decedent's Read More

Did you know that nearly half of older hospitalized patients need a surrogate to help them make major medical decisions? According to researchers, a large number of those ages 65 and older need assistance from a medical decision-maker, often a relative or close friend. Statistics show that the vast majority of those decision-makers are women. Estate planning experts say that this population of health care surrogates Read More

The debate started with the completion of an "E-Z Legal Form" by one Florida resident. It ended with a decision from the Florida Supreme Court. What happened in the middle of this estate planning saga might surprise you -- and it might convince you to seek professional advice before committing your final wishes to paper. News reports show that the Florida resident in question penned her initial will on a pre-printed Read More

Many Florida residents feel very protective of their own personal information. Although privacy is valuable, secretiveness can wreak havoc on families in the event of an injurious accident or illness. This is particularly true for families who are working to determine whether their relatives have a living will. Setting up these important documents in advance can make a difficult situation easier for your family Read More

A pregnant woman who had forcibly been placed on life support after a serious medical incident will finally be laid to rest. The situation raised serious questions about the rights of pregnant women in Florida and the rest of the nation, as the woman was kept alive against her advance wishes. The state of Texas, where the woman resided, has a law that overrides living wills if a pregnant woman suffers brain Read More

If you are a Floridian reaching an advanced age, you may have thought about drafting a living will. Without the proper planning, you could be left out of making your own medical decisions simply because you did not anticipate needing a living will. These important documents help individuals of all ages protect their health care rights, providing information about advance directives and a variety of other Read More

Florida employers are increasingly abandoning the traditional pension plan, a move that is now placing the responsibility for retirement savings square on the shoulders of employees. A growing base of experts is now advocating for more awareness about estate planning, as it is a critical step in moving toward a secure financial future. Among the tasks required to develop a comprehensive estate plan: drafting a Read More

Florida couples who choose not to marry - or who are prohibited from doing so - may worry about the future of their estate because of their non-traditional circumstances. These couples may fear that their will and other estate planning documents will not automatically include their significant other. Experts in the field say there are some extra steps you can take as an unmarried couple to make sure that your Read More

You have probably already taught your adult children in Florida about the birds and the bees, but there is another important "talk" you need to have with your kids as you both age. That conversation has to do with your will and other estate planning documents. Experts have taken to calling this the "other talk," which outlines your wishes for the end of your life rather than explaining how life begins. As both Read More

You are on your way back from a lovely date night when a tragic car accident occurs. With both parents catastrophically injured, would your children know what to do? Or, would they end up having to spend weeks in state custody because you failed to provide for their care in an estate document? Even if you are a Florida parent who prides yourself on parenting abilities, you may not be fulfilling all of your duties Read More