Appointing a Trustee? Consider a professional.
A trustee is charged with protecting and investing trust assets and administering those assets per the terms of the trust agreement for the benefit of the trust’s beneficiaries. See Fla. Stat. 736.0801 et seq. While this sounds like a basic premise, there are some important functions which a trustee must do in their fiduciary role. […]
Story Of Rosa Park’s Estate In Probate Demonstrates Need For Early Estate Plan
When Rosa Park’s passed away in 2005 at age 92, she had a small estate but left an enormous and indelible mark on history. Before her death, Rosa Park’s created an estate plan that assigned all of her personal belongings to a charitable organization called the Rosa and Raymond Parks Institute for Self-Development. A close […]
What Is A Florida Power Of Attorney?
Palm Beach County residents might be concerned about problems that could arise if they became incompetent or incapacitated. They want the peace of mind that comes from knowing that another person is authorized to handle things for them. The document to make this happen is a power of attorney. Powers of attorney are legal documents […]
What Is A Charitable Trust?
The purpose of a trust is to protect and hold a person’s assets for the benefit of another individual or an organization. A trust can specify how and when assets are passed onto this beneficiary. There are many different types of trusts, which are each designed for a particular purpose. One type of trust under […]
Setting Up A Trust Fund For Your Children
No parents or guardians like to think about what would happen to their children and assets if something were to happen to them but, if you have been successful in life and collected numerous assets or wealth in Florida, you might want to consider setting up a trust fund for your children. Though this may […]
An Estate Plan Checkup For Floridians In The New Year
As the New Year starts, people in Florida should take time to review and update their estate plan. The New Year can be used to review changes in personal circumstances, the law and other factors. This post will talk about a few items to consider during the review of your will, trust and other documents […]
Don’t Let Seemingly Complicated Estate Planning Prevent You From Making A Plan
Only 45 percent of Americans today have a will. So many Americans and folks in Florida lack estate planning because many people put off estate planning and because many people overcomplicate estate planning decisions to the point where a plan is not created. While estate planning can be complicated, it does not have to be. […]
Pet Trusts Acknowledge Loving Companionship
Animal lovers know what it means to say that their pets are part of the family. There is a special bond that is formed between animals and their owners. It doesn’t matter if it’s a dog, a cat, or even a snake. The reality is that these pets are special to their masters and so […]
Importance Of Estate Planning For High-Asset Estates
Florida residents who have significant assets should avoid making the same estate planning mistakes that late actor James Gandolfini did with his own. When Mr. Gandolfini died in 2013 at age 51, he did so without having adequately planned for how his assets would pass to his heirs. Mr. Gandolfini’s estate was worth $70 million […]
When Life Changes May Necessitate Amending Trusts
As the use of trusts for estate planning has become increasingly common, more and more Florida residents have drawn up the documents necessary to establish them. In some cases, a change in circumstances may necessitate an update or amendment to the trust document itself. Determining when such a change is needed may be tricky for […]