Recent Blog Posts
Incapacity Can Undo the Execution of a Will
Whether it’s signing a deed when closing on the sale of a home or inking your name on a release form for your child, we have all provided our signature to legal documents. Given the magnitude of some of these documents, formalities are often required. Whether its being witnessed by a notary public or… Read More »
Fort Myers’ Residents Seeking Streamlined Estate Planning Ideas
Locally, Fort Myers and Lee County residents maintain some of the most dynamic and active lifestyles in the country. From schooling to working to enjoying retirement and all the family, friends and activities in between, Floridians have little spare time. As a result, they often eschew things like proper estate planning. Despite this blog’s… Read More »
Some key differences between wills and trusts
The differences between wills and trusts are numerous and depending upon your situation, one might be more appropriate than the other. Wills and trusts also have a lot in common. At their core, both documents are simply estate planning tools in which you appoint a person to distribute your assets under certain terms and… Read More »
How often do I need to revisit my estate plan?
As this blog regularly reports, too many local Fort Myers and Lee County residents fail to engage in comprehensive estate planning. This risky strategy exposes their wealth to the whims of family and friends, along with state and federal regulations. Nevertheless, many of them cite the inability to account for contingencies as a reason… Read More »
Lee County residents advised to add estate planning as resolution
It’s that time of year when we roll our eyes at the urging to adopt this resolution or that for the new year. While a new diet or workout routine may seem like a daunting 2015 exercise, there are other more simple resolutions you can make to get the momentum going. For many Fort… Read More »
Florida calling for more probate judges
The Florida Supreme Court has recently put the state Legislature on notice to the fact that Florida needs more judges. The State’s highest court cited the large number of cases, the increased complexity of those cases and new legislation as the primary reason for requesting 32 new judges. One of the biggest areas of… Read More »
Florida probate laws always changing
Florida has a well-established probate code that dates back to the turn of the 19th century. In addition to the code, our state enjoys ample legal precedent from judges that have interpreted these laws. As a result, there is some continuity and certainty in the probate of an estate. At the same time, the… Read More »
Some things women should keep in mind when estate planning
A recent article published here in Fort Myers suggests that many women suffer from what one study terms “Bag Lady Syndrome.” As ominous as it may sound, the condition is nothing more than a fear of losing their financial independence. Of those suffering from Bag Lady Syndrome, over 60 percent were the primary earner… Read More »
Trust administration help available to Fort Myers residents
Every day in America, including Fort Myers, someone learns that he or she has been named the trustee of a trust, and every day someone wonders what the trustee of a trust is supposed to do. In many respects, the trustee is simply tasked with carrying out the terms of the trust. The trust,… Read More »
Fort Myers residents, self-dealing and estate administration
A recent revenue ruling issued by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has caught the attention of many estate planners in the Fort Myers’ area. The ruling concerned an individual who had sold an interest in his company to a trust for a note. Under his will, the man then conveyed the note to several… Read More »
