Tag Archives: Fort Myers Estate Planning Attorneys
The Impact of Divorce on Your Life Insurance Policy
In a recent post, we discussed the potential impact of a divorce on your estate planning. One issue we raised was the need to review–and possibly revise–the beneficiary designations on assets like retirement accounts and life insurance policies. But there is an important caveat to this advice: You need to ensure any beneficiary designations… Read More »
Is a Will Executed in a Foreign Country Valid in Florida?
Florida is home to immigrants from around the world. However, many people settle in Florida without taking the time to learn about local laws pertaining to subjects such as estate planning. So when they pass away in Florida, these individuals may not have left a will executed under Florida law–although they may have a… Read More »
Does Your Estate Plan Include Your “Digital Assets”?
In a recent post, we noted the passing of Paul G. Allen, one of the co-founders of Microsoft. Allen’s will was recently filed for probate in Washington State, and while it is a largely boilerplate document–he left his estate to his revocable trust–it does contain one notable provision. The will expressly defines Allen’s “digital… Read More »
Getting a Divorce? You Need to Review Your Estate Plan
Even in the best of cases, a divorce is a difficult process for all of the parties involved. Ending a marriage means unwinding a complex web of financial and legal relationships. And one subject that often gets overlooked in the divorce process is estate planning. Indeed, many people do not even think to review… Read More »
How Long Should I Delay My Children’s Inheritance?
Many Florida residents make an estate plan when their children are still young. But even if you have children who are now all grown up, you might still think they are not ready to handle a large inheritance from your estate should something happen to you right now. So what are your options for… Read More »
How Does a Reverse Mortgage Affect My Estate Plan?
Many elderly Florida residents have trouble paying their bills each month. For those residents who own their homes, a so-called “reverse mortgage” may provide the answer to their cash-flow problems. A reverse mortgage–which is known in legal terms as a “home equity conversion mortgage”–is basically a loan the homeowner does not have to pay… Read More »
Can My Ex-Spouse Still Inherit from My Estate If I Never Changed My Will?
Estate planning is often an overlooked detail when a couple divorces. In many (if not most) cases, a person does not want to keep their ex-spouse as the beneficiary or personal representative under their will. This is why an experienced Florida estate planning lawyer will always advise a client to update a will after,… Read More »
Is It a Good Idea to Add My Child’s Name to My Bank Account?
When it comes to estate planning, many Florida residents look for shortcuts. And while there are certain legal tools you can use to minimize the burden of the probate process for your heirs, you need to think carefully before taking steps that might actually make things worse for you while you are still alive…. Read More »
Will Florida Accept My Handwritten Will?
There is a famous story in Canadian estate planning law about a farmer who died in 1948 after getting pinned underneath his own tractor. The day after the farmer died, neighbors noticed some writing on the side of the tractor. It turned out the dying farmer used his pocket knife to scratch out a… Read More »
Who Is the “Qualified Beneficiary” of a Trust?
Trust disputes often arise between the beneficiaries of the trust. According to Florida law, a beneficiary is “a person who has a present or future beneficial interest in a trust, vested or contingent, or who holds a power of appointment over trust property in a capacity other than that of trustee.” There is also… Read More »
