Blog: Estate Planning
What Is a Lady Bird Deed and Should Riverview Homeowners Consider One?
Not long ago, a Riverview couple sat in my office, worried they would have to choose between qualifying for Medicaid someday and leaving their home to their children. They had heard about something called a lady bird deed from a neighbor but were not sure if it was...
Who Can Access Your Online Accounts When You Pass Away? What Lithia Families Should Know
A widow once came to me months after losing her husband, still unable to access his email. The family photos stored in the cloud, the frequent flyer miles, the small online business he ran. All of it sat behind passwords she did not have and companies that would not...
Is Your Out-of-State Will Still Valid Now That You Live in Florida? What New Brandon Residents Should Know
Thousands of families move to the Brandon area every year, and many arrive with a will drafted in New York, Ohio, or Michigan tucked safely in a drawer. When they ask me whether that will is still good, my answer usually surprises them: It is probably valid, but valid...
Your Child Turned 18: Why Parents Can No Longer Make Medical Decisions for Them
Every August, I hear from Fishhawk parents busy buying dorm bedding and mini fridges for kids heading off to college. Almost none of them realize that the moment their child turned 18, they lost the legal right to make medical decisions for them or even to get...
Protecting Both Your Spouse and Your Children: Estate Planning for Blended Families in Riverview
Blending two families takes a great deal of love and patience, and most couples assume that love will carry everyone through after one spouse is gone. We understand why it feels that way. It can seem almost cold to picture your spouse and your children ending up on...
The Sandwich Generation: Planning in Both Directions When You Are Caring for Everyone
July is National Sandwich Generation Month, a fitting time to recognize the millions of adults who are raising their own children while also helping care for aging parents. If that describes your life right now, you already know the feeling. You are pulled in two...
Florida Homestead and Your Estate Plan: What Lithia Homeowners Should Know
If you own a home in Florida, you have probably heard the word "homestead" at the property appraiser's office or seen it on your tax bill. What many Lithia homeowners do not realize is that homestead is one of the most powerful and most misunderstood pieces of any...
Estate Planning Across Borders: What Hillsborough County Families with Overseas Property Should Know
Hillsborough County is a wonderful melting pot. We work with families who have roots all over the world, and many of them still own a home, a piece of land, or accounts in another country. That connection is something to celebrate. It also adds a layer to your estate...
Can You Name More Than One Power of Attorney? What Riverview Families Should Know
It's one of the most common situations I see in my practice: a parent who wants their child to handle things if something happens, but that child lives in Seattle. Or Chicago. Or anywhere that isn't a quick drive to Riverview. The love and trust are there. The...
What Brandon Families Should Know About Medicaid Estate Recovery
Qualifying for Medicaid to help cover the cost of long-term care can feel like a relief, and it is. But there's a part of the Medicaid story that many families don't learn about until after a loved one has passed, and by then, the surprise can be significant. Florida...
The “Automatic” Inheritance Myth: Why Your Family May Not Inherit What You Think
Most people believe that if they have a Will, they have a plan. But here is the hard truth: your Will is often the last thing the bank or the court looks at. In Florida, your legacy is decided by titles, forms, and default laws that don't care about your family's...
10 Responsibilities of a Personal Representative in Florida: A Fishhawk Estate Planning Attorney Explains
If someone has asked you to serve as the executor of their estate, you may not realize that Florida uses a different term for this role: Personal Representative. The title is different, but the weight of the responsibility is very much the same. As a Fishhawk estate...
A Lithia Estate Planning Attorney’s Guide to Choosing a Guardian for Your Adopted Child
When you name a guardian in your Will, you aren't just choosing someone to provide a roof and a routine. You're choosing the person who will become the keeper of your child's history. For families formed through adoption, this decision requires a deeper level of...
The Personal Representative’s Checklist: What to Expect When Administering a Florida Estate
Being named personal representative in someone's will is an act of trust. It's also a job; one that comes with real responsibilities, legal obligations, and a timeline that doesn't always match what grieving family members are hoping for. If you've recently been named...
Can You Remove Someone From Your Will? A Brandon Estate Planning Attorney Explains
It's a question that comes up more often than you might think. Relationships change. Families experience conflict, estrangement, or circumstances that make you reconsider who should inherit from your estate. If you're wondering whether you can remove someone from your...