Blog: Estate Planning
Preparing for Income Changes After the Death of a Spouse | Brandon Elder Lawyer
Losing a spouse is difficult, no matter at which stage of life it occurs. However, for seniors on a fixed income, losing a spouse may also mean suddenly losing their livelihood, too. As a Brandon elder lawyer, I work hard to help both spouses prepare for every...
Tampa Estate Lawyers: Benefits of a Roth IRA in Estate Planning
You may be familiar with Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) as savings tools, but they can also be an important part of a comprehensive estate plan. Following, our Tampa estate lawyers explain how to get the maximum benefits out of your IRA for both yourself and...
Brandon Will Lawyer: How to Help Your Spouse Understand the Urgency of Planning
As a Brandon will lawyer, I’ve seen a lot of cases in a marriage where one spouse is more eager to start the estate planning process than the other. There are many reasons why this is true: perhaps one is more of an organizer and wants the peace of mind of having...
Why Might a Tampa Estate Planning Lawyer Suggest a Pour-Over Will?
Most people are familiar with a Last Will and Testament that dictates how your assets are to be passed down to your loved ones after your death. Yet few people are familiar with a “Pour-Over Will,” which is a legal tool that your Tampa estate planning lawyer may use...
Protect Your Loved One’s Inheritance with a Life Insurance Trust | Hillsborough County Estate Planning Attorney
There are several different trusts available to achieve your estate planning goals and help you protect the assets that you plan to leave to your loved ones. One tool that an experienced Hillsborough County estate planning attorney may suggest to safeguard the...
Consider These Three Things When Choosing a Successor Trustee | Tampa Trust Lawyer
Many Tampa-area residents use tools like Revocable Living Trusts to help their loved ones avoid probate proceedings and to give clear instructions on how they want their assets and property handled after death. In general, a trust is created once it is signed and...
Charitable Giving in Life and Death | Tampa Trust Lawyers
There are many ways to leave money for charity while still getting significant tax breaks, and in some cases, generating income for you or your family while you are alive. One of the simplest—and often most overlooked—is a "bequest" or a gift to charity at your death,...
How Well Do You Understand Your Parents’ Estate and Long-Term Care Planning Needs?
When meeting with a Tampa will and trust lawyer for the first time, many adult children realize that they have no idea where their parents stand in terms of having the right plans in place to protect their assets and wishes if something happens to them. During our...
Brandon Trust Lawyers: How to Select the Best Trust Administrator
Trust administration in Florida is more complicated than many people realize. So, when deciding whom to name as your administrator, you may want to explore other options besides a close family member or your best friend. Our Brandon trust lawyers often find that the...
Why You Need a Power of Attorney | Tampa Estate Planning Lawyer
Any Tampa estate planning lawyer will tell you that every adult should have a durable power of attorney for their finances. They are useful for handling financial transactions and paying bills, as well as making real estate transfers and business dealings. However, a...
I’m Moving. Do I Need to Create a New Estate Plan? | Tampa Estate Planning Lawyers
Do I need a new estate plan if I move out of Florida? This is a common question that our Tampa estate planning lawyers are asked by clients who are thinking about relocating to somewhere else in the country. In most cases, the answer is yes, you will likely need to do...
Tampa Estate Planning Lawyer: The Difference Between a Will and a Trust and Why you May Need Both
A common misconception is that a Will is the “end all be all” document that directs how assets are to be passed down after a person’s death. The truth is that there are significant limitations to Wills, and many Tampa-area families end up needing both a Will and a...
Brandon Estate Lawyer: Advantages and Disadvantages of a Last Will and Testament
As a Brandon estate lawyer, I often meet with clients who believe that a Last Will and Testament is the “end all be all” of estate planning. What I often tell them is that a will is just the first step. Let’s discuss what a will does, and the limitations of wills...
All About Revocable Living Trusts | Brandon Estate Planning Lawyer
Revocable living trusts are very common in estate planning. Having one gives you a safe place to “put” your valuables along with an instruction manual on what to do with you and your stuff if you can’t act on your own behalf. While you are alive and well you are in...
Estate Planning with a Roth IRA
When choosing the right retirement plan, many people consider Roth IRAs because they provide a lot of tax benefits. However, what’s not often is known is that Roth IRAs are also excellent tools to help families avoid probate. Before we get into the probate benefits of...