When someone dies, that person may leave behind assets for family and friends. If the deceased does not leave behind specific instructions for distributing those assets, he or she has no control over where the assets go. Planning ahead by writing a last will and...
Inheritance taxes are a major concern for many who have amassed financial wealth or physical property. Federal and state lawmakers are constantly making changes to tax law, and trust and wills can quickly become a matter of importance when laws change or expire....
When a large estate has a seemingly unexpected beneficiary, the courts often must decide if the latest will is valid. Those working on estate planning in the Orlando area who fear they may have bequests that others might deem eccentric will be gratified to learn that...
One strong argument for why we should all undertake solid estate planning is that it ensures that an estate's assets will be distributed in the ways the creator of that estate desires. But there are many nuances that older Florida residents should be aware of to be...
When a family member dies, the administrative process of settling the deceased's estate is called probate. If a person has a detailed will, the process is usually not complicated - any creditors and tax responsibilities the deceased had are paid and any items that the...
Estate planning uses legal instruments such as wills and trusts to distribute assets among a testator's heirs. Spiritual estate planning uses a testator's financial values to determine the assets that each decedent receives from a will or trust. Charity Navigator, a...
Preparing an estate plan can be complicated when a family or closely held business is involved. Any disruption in passing along control of business assets and decisions to heirs could have a significant effect on the business itself. Business succession planning is...
Estate planning is important regardless of whether your assets total $10,000 or $100 million. Either way, it's critical to have good legal advice and to understand the laws that can affect your assets. While having $100 million in assets is rare, that's the figure at...
Estate planning is vital, especially for older persons. Wills, living trusts, insurance trusts and other trust forms can help ensure that a person's assets are divided in the fashion that the person wishes, instead of by probate courts and other outside agents, such...
There are many issues to consider when deciding distribution of your property and assets to your heirs. It is important to consider all of your financial accounts as you begin to work on estate planning, including any retirement accounts you may hold. Individual...
