One advantage of marriage in Florida is that it provides spouses with several legal benefits. One such benefit is related to probate, which is the process by which a deceased individual’s assets are legally transferred to his or her rightful heirs. When a married person dies, his or her surviving spouse is entitled...

A power of attorney is a powerful estate planning tool. However, there are several different types of powers of attorney, and each is used for different purposes. Therefore, before executing a power of attorney, it’s important to understand which option is best for you. In this article, we examine the different types of power...

Clients are often encouraged by advisors at financial institutions to name beneficiaries on their savings and investment accounts; however, doing so is not always beneficial for everyone.

The primary advantage of naming beneficiaries on one’s accounts is that probate is avoided.  At one’s death, the asset passes to the beneficiary simply by presentation...

It used to be that purchasing long-term care insurance was the best way to finance long-term health care costs, whether it be provided at home, with an aide, or in an assisted living or nursing facility.  If one currently has long-term care insurance, then you should consider yourself very lucky and you should hold...

As a senior citizen, it’s vitally important that you have an estate plan in place. Not only can you use an estate plan to leave assets to your loved ones, but an estate plan allows you to identify who will make certain important decisions on your behalf should you ever become unable to do...

On December 15, 2020, Governor Cuomo signed a new bill into law which is designed to simplify the power of attorney form used in the State of New York and make it easier for clients to have the form recognized by institutions.  A power of attorney is an essential estate planning document which usually...

When it comes to estate planning, there’s a lot to consider. In addition to deciding who to leave your assets to after you pass, you must determine which estate planning instruments are the most appropriate for your unique situation. In this article, we examine the differences between a will and a living trust. In...

For a variety of reasons, many people are under the impression that they don’t need an estate plan. This couldn’t be further from the truth. Estate planning is for everyone. Without an estate plan in place, settling your affairs after you’re gone could have a long-lasting and costly impact on your loved ones. In...

There has been a good deal of talk lately about changes to the tax laws, with the primary purpose of closing loopholes and having the wealthy pay more in taxes.  Two proposals, if enacted, could have serious consequences for people who are engaging in estate planning.

One proposal being touted is reducing the federal estate...

Elderly people are highly vulnerable to financial exploitation. This is because cognitive impairment often diminishes the ability of older adults to make sound financial decisions and to detect scams. Florida, with its large senior population, is a hotbed of elder exploitation. In this article, we examine the ways in which an estate plan can...