A recent news story shows what can go wrong when someone dies without a plan. An 86-year-old widow moved to the United States to marry her first love. He died without a will. Within days, she faced a fight over the home, lost control of basic systems like her mail, and was later detained by ICE.
Planning for aging is not just about choosing a place to live. In Florida, it is also about protecting your assets, qualifying for Medicaid, and making sure someone you trust can legally act when you cannot.
When you begin thinking about estate planning, one of the first questions you might ask is whether you need a will, a trust, or both.
Think your family's White Elephant gift exchange gets competitive? Wait until there's no estate plan and they're fighting over Dad's classic car instead of a singing fish. Learn why your legacy shouldn't be left to chance (or family politics)...
When I retired from the military and started law school, I was struck by how many great quotes came from court opinions. Some were inspiring, some poetic — and a few just stuck in your brain because they were so weirdly vivid.
Back in the 90’s, I met the most perfect woman when I was stationed in Germany. We fell in love. We built a life together, two beautiful boys, a happy home. But, when we did estate planning as young parents, we had no idea my estate could be taxed differently just because of her citizenship. I assumed the law treated all married couples the same.
Florida’s First District Court of Appeal recently struck down the state’s open carry ban, declaring that ordinary, law-abiding citizens have a constitutional right to carry firearms openly in public.
Jimmy Buffett gave the world songs about simple pleasures — beaches, boats, and wasting away in Margaritaville. After his death in September 2023, though, his family has been caught in anything but a carefree story.
