Estate planning is an important step to ensure your family receives assets according to your wishes after you are gone. However, many people make avoidable mistakes during the planning process. Understanding common mistakes can help you prevent them, which will offer...
Estate Planning And Probate
How should you discuss estate planning with your elderly parents?
As parents grow older, it becomes increasingly important to have honest conversations about their estate planning. Although discussing these matters can be uncomfortable, having these conversations now can provide peace of mind and clarity for both parents and their...
Selecting the best guardian for your estate plan
When it comes to estate planning, choosing a guardian is one of the most important decisions for the children you leave behind. This person or persons will assume responsibility for minor children and possibly even manage the estate assets until those children reach...
What do your loved ones need access to after you die?
An estate plan may make the probate process easier on your loved ones. Immediately following your death, however, what might your family need? Start gathering up some of the following information so that your death will not burden those you love the most. Does someone...
What does it mean to disinherit a spouse?
When you create your estate plan, you will include information about to whom you want your assets to go. You can name anyone you want and distribute your property as you desire. However, if you choose to leave your spouse out of your will, you may have problems. State...
Why it pays to have an estate plan regardless of if you have kids
Many people in Florida put off making an estate plan until they experience a major life event, such as a marriage or the birth of a child. However, if you count yourself among them, you may want to reconsider delaying the creation of your estate plan, even if you...
What is the role of a personal representative in a will?
When a person dies, his or her estate may have to pass through a process called probate before distributing to heirs and beneficiaries. Probate is the court-supervised system for assessing the deceased’s debts and assets, fulfilling the estate’s existing financial...
How can you avoid beneficiary designation mistakes?
While wills are a crucial aspect of a solid estate plan, they are not the only way to distribute assets to heirs. When it comes to things like life insurance policies and retirement accounts, beneficiary designations ensure the proceeds pass directly to your heirs...
Can you avoid probate in Florida?
A will is often the first thing that comes to mind when you think about creating a plan for your assets after death. However, you have other options that may allow your family to avoid the sometimes painstaking process of probate. Bank accounts and securities Florida...
Beginning your estate plan
Planning your estate can feel overwhelming when you have no idea where to begin. A common myth about estate planning is that it is a one-time deal. Maintaining your plan throughout time can help you preserve its function. When you know where to begin, you might feel...
