Let’s face it—no one wants to contemplate the possibility of a time when she or he is unable to take care of herself or himself. However, the truth of the matter is that it could happen to anyone at any time. In general, a person becomes incapacitated when that person…
Who will handle your matters after you have passed away? Here in Florida, a personal representative is in charge of handling the matters of your estate, regardless of whether you died with a will. If a person dies intestate (i.e., without a will, and therefore likely without a named personal…
By now you have probably heard about former NBA star, Lamar Odom’s, health scare. Odom was found unconscious in a Nevada brothel on Tuesday, October 15, 2015. Fortunately, Odom’s condition has improved, and he appears to be on the road to recovery. What you might have not heard about in…
There are a number of reasons why people choose to execute a Last Will and Testament. Some individuals create a will to ensure that their loved ones are provided for upon their passing. On the other hand, other people create a will to ensure that certain family members are specifically…
Planning for one’s death is never easy, but that does not mean it has to be difficult. In an effort to encourage individuals to establish plans for their eventual passing, Everplans Professional recently launched a digital estate planning application to begin the process. The consumer application, geared primarily toward estate…
New Orleans Saints and New Orleans Pelicans owner, Tom Benson, is currently involved in a family dispute and a series of judicial proceedings emerging from changes in his estate planning documents. After becoming displeased with the way his daughter—Renee Benson—and her two kids, Rita and Ryan, began acting upon his…
A will is supposed to represent your loved one’s final decree for the distribution of his or her estate, but what can you do if you believe that there is a possibility that the will does not accurately represent the decedent’s last wishes? Especially with high-net-worth decedents, there are sometimes…
“By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.” Benjamin Franklin may not have been referencing estate planning when he made that statement, but aptly applies to creating estate planning documents. There are many individuals who have incorrectly assumed that estate planning is only for elderly individuals with a lot…
A well thought out and thorough estate plan is one of the best things you can leave behind for your loved ones. Like all others, high net worth individuals should take the process seriously to ensure that their wishes are honored, and their assets are dealt with properly after their…
Interest rates are currently at an all-time low, making it an imperative time to consider all the potential estate planning options that you may have. Low interest rates provide an advantageous opportunity to utilize grantor-retained annuity trusts, also known as GRATs. GRATs are an instrument used to transfer appreciating assets,…