Coral Springs Estate Planning Lawyers

Your 5 Task Year-End Estate Planning To-Do List

2019 is fast approaching!  As we all prepare for a new year, it is important that we wrap up any loose ends.  Here are some things that need to be on your end of year checklist:

Wills, Trusts & Dying Intestate: How They Differ

Let’s kick of the New Year by getting down to the basics!

Most people understand that having some sort of an estate plan is a good thing. However, many of us don’t take the steps to have an estate plan prepared because we don’t understand the nuances between wills and trusts – and dying without either. 

Wills vs. Trusts: A Quick & Simple Reference Guide

Let’s keep up the momentum! Have you ever been confused about the differences between wills and trusts?  If so, you’re not alone. While it’s always wise to contact experts like us, it’s also important to understand the basics. Here’s a quick and simple reference guide:

Estate Planning: Why Me, Why Now, and Is a Will Enough?

Consider these common misconceptions about estate planning!

Why is My Probate Case Taking Forever?!

When a loved one dies, their estate must be settled. While most people want the settlement process to be done ASAP, probate can take anywhere from 18 and 24 months. This time delay can cause a great deal of stress and frustration. Here are the 5 most common reasons probate takes so long:

Do You Really Need A Will?

Do I REALLY need a Will? You may not think you need a Will, but you really do! And here is why…

Do you really need a trust?

Although many people equate “estate planning” with having a will, there are many advantages to having a trust rather than a will as the centerpiece of your estate plan. While there are other estate planning tools (such as joint tenancy, transfer on death, beneficiary designations, to name a few), only a trust provides comprehensive management of your property in the event you can’t make financial decisions for yourself (commonly called legal incapacity) or after your death. 

The Pros and Cons of Probate

In this post we take a closer look at probate administration. In estate planning circles, the word “probate” often comes with a starkly negative connotation. Indeed, for many people — especially those with larger estates — financial planners recommend trying to keep property out of probate whenever possible. Let’s take a brief look…

The Perils of Joint Property

People often set up bank accounts or real estate so that they own it jointly with a spouse or other family member. The appeal of joint tenancy is that when one owner dies, the other will automatically inherit the property without it having to go through probate. Joint property is perceived to be easy to setup since it can be done at the bank when opening an account or title company when buying real estate.

Estate Planning For the Newly Married

Today we will be focusing on newly married individuals. If this is you then now is the perfect time to start working on an estate plan! As newlyweds, you may not have a list of your accounts, but you’ve effectively just done a working inventory of your possessions—as you’ve figured out how to consolidate two households into one. You’ve already been working on the new banking and shared responsibility of bills and taxes and so forth.