Blog: Estate Planning
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encounter a scenario that catches families completely off guard: a meticulously crafted will that gets undermined by an outdated beneficiary designation form.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?"...
What Exactly Is a Living Trust? A Riverview Estate Planning Attorney Explains
If you've been researching estate planning options, you've probably encountered the term "living trust" more than once. But what exactly is a living trust, and why do so many estate planning attorneys recommend them? As a Florida estate planning attorney who has...
Navigating Inheritances When You’re Raising a Grandchild: A Brandon Estate Planning Attorney’s Perspective
Life has a way of bringing unexpected changes, and for many grandparents in Brandon, Riverview, and throughout Florida, raising a grandchild has become their new reality. Whether due to family circumstances, health challenges, or other life events, grandparents who...
Why You Need to Update Your Estate Plan After Relocating to Hillsborough County
If you've recently relocated to Hillsborough County from elsewhere in the country—first, welcome! Second, it's time to take a fresh look at your estate plan. While your existing will and other estate planning documents from your previous state may still be legally...