Recent Blog Posts
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...
Attention Veterans: You May Be Entitled to Benefits to Help Pay for Nursing Home Care! | Brandon Elder Lawyer
It’s no secret that nursing home care can cause financial strain—even impoverishment—for seniors and even their children. Nursing home costs in the Tampa area can range from $4,000-$8,000 per month, and most services are not covered by Medicare or private health...
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...
Tampa Special Needs Lawyer: 3 Steps to Take When Creating a Special Needs Trust for a Loved One with Disabilities
Parents who have children with disabilities must take extra planning steps to ensure their child would be taken care of in their absence--most importantly, if the parents become incapacitated or pass away. Creating a special needs trust is often a necessary step in...
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...
Tips When Obtaining a Death Certificate in Hillsborough County
Our Hillsborough County probate lawyers know the steps to take after the loss a loved one can be overwhelming, but requesting a death certificate is a great place to get started. You will need a death certificate to complete many of the administrative tasks that you...
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...
Is Home Health Care Right for Your Parents? |Tampa Elder Law Attorney
When asked, most elderly individuals wish to remain in their homes until they pass. People want to spend their final years living independently and comfortably in their own space. Unfortunately, the reality is that many people cannot live alone in their waning years...
Medicaid Planning in Florida: Avoid These Common Mistakes
Americans are living longer, and as such, more seniors are needing long-term care as they age, including nursing home care. The average time that a senior will spend in a nursing home is 30 months, and the costs range anywhere from $4,000 to $8,000 a month. As a...
The Do’s and Don’ts of Medicaid Planning | Brandon Elder Lawyer
The complexities surrounding Medicaid eligibility requirements can make Medicaid planning a stressful, daunting process. You have to be aware of the strict asset and income limits you must maintain, as well as the penalties that can result in a loss of coverage or...
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...