Tag Archives: trusts
Can You Write Your Own Will?
Many Floridians want to know whether they can write their own will. The answer is yes—but depending on the extent of your estate and what you hope to accomplish, working with an experienced estate planning attorney is often a better option. Florida legal requirements To make a valid will in Florida, the testator must be […]
Provide for Your Pets in Your Estate Plan
Most pet owners consider their pets a member of the family. To ensure that your pet is cared for after you pass away, you can leave funds specifically for the care of your pet. There are several ways you can provide for your pet’s care. Here are some pros and cons of each: Non-legal arrangements: […]
Emerging Trends in Estate Planning for 2022
The field of estate planning, like other areas of law, is constantly evolving. While the basics of estate planning remain relatively consistent, there are new trends that may influence a person’s estate planning decisions. Here are a few examples of some current estate planning trends: Family limited partnerships: Family limited partnerships exist to enable grantors […]
Recent Trends and Issues in Estate Planning
If you’ve already developed an estate plan, that’s great! Hopefully that means you’ve given your assets and your beneficiaries some protections that are needed if you are to distribute your estate in the manner you wish. However, it’s still important to review and revise your estate plan every now and then. Not only might your […]
Pros and Cons of Putting Retirement Assets in a Trust
As you go through the process of naming beneficiaries for your retirement accounts, consider naming a trust rather than an individual. This, however, can be rather complex. The complication centers around whether the retirement assets can be stretched out over the beneficiary’s lifetime or are required to be distributed much sooner. Here are some of […]
Transferring Stocks Into Your Trusts
If you desire, you do have the option of transferring stocks and other securities into your trust. It is important, however, that you follow all state and federal laws, along with all requirements put forth by the issuer of the stock. It is highly recommended you work with an attorney during this process. To move […]
Potential Estate Planning Effects of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, signed into law by President Donald Trump at the tail end of 2017, has wide-ranging implications when it comes to taxes, divorce and estate planning. High-wealth individuals and families benefit the most under the estate planning-related provisions of the law. Therefore, if you have a large, valuable estate, it’s […]
Putting Stocks or Bonds into a Trust
Transferring stocks and bonds into a trust is possible, but it takes some time and know-how, which means you should seek the assistance of an experienced estate planning attorney to do it correctly. You will need to be mindful of both state and federal laws, along with any specific requirements established by the issuer of […]
20-Year-Old Florida Man Wins $450 Million Jackpot in Lottery
Shane Missler, a 20-year-old man from Port Richey (near Tampa) was recently announced as the $450 million Mega Millions jackpot winner. The jackpot reached previously unseen heights thanks to rules that were changed last year to make winning more difficult. There were 23 total drawings before Missler’s ticket was selected as the lucky winner January […]
How You Can Modify an Irrevocable Trust
You can likely change an irrevocable trust that no longer makes sense for your situation, whether economically or practically. Common reasons people choose to modify an irrevocable trust include changing beneficiaries, changing trust protectors, changing governing laws, moving the trust to a new state, changing the trustee and minimizing income or estate taxes. There are […]