Creating an estate plan is a major undertaking for most people, not necessarily because it’s a lot of work but because the decision-making process itself is so consequential. There are several things that should be included in an estate plan. People who have assets...
Key life events that mean it’s time to craft or update an estate plan
For many people, the life event that spurs them to start making an estate plan is retirement. Once they are done working, they know that it’s time to begin thinking about what to do with the assets that they have accumulated. They then make an estate plan to pass...
3 reasons that probate can diminish someone’s final legacy
Probate court is the special court wherein families and other interested parties make claims related to someone's estate. The estate administration process typically involves filing someone's planning paperwork, such as their will, with the courts, communicating with...
How far back does the Florida Medicaid lookback period go?
By the time someone decides to apply for Medicaid, they may already have a significant amount of unpaid medical bills to cover. People often don't understand the gaps in their Medicare coverage until they have expenses that they theoretically have to cover. At that...
Traits to look for in your child’s guardian
As you create your estate plan, if your child is a minor, you may be interested in picking a guardian. In fact, maybe that’s the whole reason you wanted to create that estate plan to begin with. You just became a new parent and you need to know who is going to take...
An important rule if gifts are part of your long-term estate plan
There are two common reasons that people add annual gifts or strategic gifting to their estate plans. The first is that they want to watch their loved ones enjoy their inheritance. Receiving money a bit at a time might mean that family members can go on a vacation or...
Planning for incapacitation: What to expect
As you get older, one thing that may become apparent to you is that no one lives forever. Everyone is at risk of getting seriously hurt, becoming incapacitated or living with a disability. It’s important for you to plan for the potential for incapacity in your estate...
Understanding the value of a personalized estate plan
As you start to get older and your life changes, you need to understand the value of having a personalized estate plan. While there are basic DIY estate planning methods online and simple forms that you could fill out on your own, the reality is that those may not...
One crucial difference in how Florida handles estate plans
Many people create an estate plan when they buy a house or have a child. Some people never revisit their estate plan because their plans for their legacy never change. However, if you are a transplant to the Sunshine State who wants a warm retirement, you may need to...
Why do retirement-age adults need to plan for Medicaid?
Working adults often spend much of their professional lives saving and planning for their retirement. When they finally get close to retirement age, their main priority may be verifying what benefits they have and making small changes to their households and...