Blog: Estate Planning
Striking the Right Balance: Tips When Crafting Your Family Trust
Creating a family trust can sometimes feel like walking a tightrope. On one side, you want to protect your assets and ensure they're used wisely. On the other, you don't want to exert so much control that it becomes impractical or creates tension within the family....
What Authority Do I Actually Have as Power of Attorney? A Lithia Estate Planning Attorney Explains
Being named as someone's Power of Attorney is both an honor and a significant responsibility. One of the most common misconceptions I encounter is that holding POA gives you unlimited control over your parent's life and finances. The reality is quite different. Your...
Resolve to Get Your Affairs in Order in 2025: A Fishhawk Estate Planning Attorney’s Guide
The start of a new year brings the perfect opportunity to tackle those important tasks we've been putting off. While gym memberships and diet plans often top resolution lists, getting your estate planning affairs in order might be the most important gift you give your...
Is Your Estate Plan Naughty or Nice?
It's that time of year when Santa's making his list and checking it twice. But when was the last time you checked your estate plan? If you're like most families, it's been a while. Maybe you set everything up years ago and haven't looked at it since. Perhaps you've...
How to Navigate Grief and Estate Administration in Brandon Over the Holidays
The holidays bring their own demands: family gatherings, travel plans, shopping lists, and endless obligations. When you add the loss of a loved one to this already hectic season, the weight can feel unbearable. You're grieving while simultaneously facing estate...
Beyond the Will: Why Trusts in Hillsborough County Matter for Families with Children
When most parents think about estate planning, they think about writing a will. And while a will is certainly important, it's only part of the picture. If you have children, trusts offer protections and benefits that a will simply cannot provide, and understanding...
Planning for Adult Children with Addiction Issues: A Sensitive Approach
As a Lithia estate planning attorney, I've sat across from many parents grappling with one of the most heart-wrenching estate planning challenges: how to provide for an adult child struggling with addiction while protecting them from potential harm. These...
Your IRA Beneficiary Form Might Contradict Your Will (And Why That’s a Problem)
As a Riverview estate planning attorney, I regularly encounter a scenario that catches families completely off guard: a meticulously crafted will that gets undermined by an outdated beneficiary designation form. Many people don't realize that their IRA beneficiary...
How Will Your Reverse Mortgage Affect Your Heirs? A Lithia Estate Planning Perspective
Reverse mortgages can provide valuable financial flexibility for seniors, but many homeowners worry about how these loans will impact their children and grandchildren after they're gone. As a Lithia estate planning attorney, I help families understand exactly what...
Should You Choose an Out-of-State Trustee? A Brandon Trust Attorney’s Guide
Many Florida retirees face a common dilemma when creating their estate plans: their most trusted family members live hundreds or thousands of miles away. As a Brandon trust attorney, I frequently help clients weigh whether appointing an out-of-state trustee is the...
The Hidden Costs of Aging: What No One Tells You About Long-Term Care
As a Brandon elder law attorney, I've witnessed countless families face a harsh reality: the staggering cost of long-term care. While most people plan for retirement, few truly understand the financial impact of needing extended care as they age. Let me share what no...
If Your Children Have No Contact With You, Do You Have to Include Them in Your Estate Plan?
Family relationships can be complicated, and sometimes children and parents become estranged for various reasons. If you're in this difficult situation, you might be wondering whether you're legally required to leave anything to children who no longer have contact...
Why You Shouldn’t Make Handwritten Changes to Your Will: A Brandon Estate Planning Attorney’s Perspective
"I want to make a small change to my will. Can I cross that section out, make my changes, and initial it with a date?" This is one of the most common questions I receive as a Brandon estate planning attorney, and I completely understand the appeal of making quick...
Changing Guardians When Medical Needs Change: A Lithia Estate Planning Attorney’s Perspective
When young parents create their first will, they often name their own parents as guardians for their children. It makes perfect sense, as grandparents love their grandchildren deeply and have the life experience to provide guidance and stability. But as a Florida...
Capital Gains Taxes: What Will My Loved Ones Owe If They Inherit My Estate? A Brandon Estate Planning Attorney’s Guide
One of the most common concerns I hear from families in Brandon, Fish Hawk, and throughout Florida is about the tax burden their loved ones might face after inheriting property or investments. "Will my children have to pay huge capital gains taxes on the family home?"...