Florida Estate Planning Lawyer Blog

If you are a Trustee or Guardian over property in Florida There are many things to consider when remodeling or purchasing an older home, which is common in the real estate industry.

I recently became aware of problems with some homes built before 1980 because they have a strong likelihood of containing asbestos. Due to a steady progression of technology and green sustainable methods, there are many ways to ensure your home or property is asbestos free. If you are interested in saving money, remodeling and improving your carbon footprint, here is some information that I found to help you get on the right track.

Asbestos insulation was used in millions of homes throughout the last quarter of the 20th century and can become a real dilemma for homeowners due to a variety of health problems, including malignant mesothelioma and a variety of other lung ailments. Mesothelioma takes the lives of thousands of people each year and has lead to a variety of mesothelioma lawyers throughout the nation. Manufacturers of asbestos products knew about the harmful effects of asbestos and continued manufacturing the products anyways.

Non-regulated asbestos material can be legally performed by homeowners, regular contractors, or licensed asbestos abatement contractors as long as the National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) are not violated. Asbestos removal in public facilities, homes and workplaces must be undertaken by a licensed asbestos abatement contractor. Once the removal is complete, green insulation options should be given serious consideration, such as: Cellulose, Cotton Fiber and Lcynene.

The United States Green Building Council (USGBC), in a study conducted in 2003, estimated a savings of $50-$65 per square foot for well-constructed green buildings in the U.S. (see table below) during that year. The numbers continue to improve as more eco-friendly options become available, and those kinds of figures have finally begun to attract those who thought eco-friendly construction was just a bunch of hogwash.

If you are involved with property in Florida as a fiduciary, you may want to check out these resources to protect the assets. To discuss your potential liability, Contact a Florida Estate Planning Lawyer.

Florida QPRT (Qualified Personal Residence Trust): Options:

Often clients want to make sure their homes go to their children. In Florida, a homestead will automatically go to your descendants and be protected. One of the problems is that although the home is generally not subject to Florida Probate, the value of the home at the time of their death is subject to estate tax. Once option of leaving a home to children is to use a special trust designed for the home. There are many advantages and disadvantages of using a Qualified Personal Residence Trust in Florida (QPRT).

Andrew Ewalt recently wrote an article on this on his Legal Blog where he listed the basic Pros and Cons. It is important that there are risks involved with a QPRT and each persons situation needs to be evaluated to determine if this is the right way to deal with the transfer of one's Florida Homestead. QPRT's are not for everyone, and many who used them in the past have ended them because of the changes in tax laws and how they impact their individual estate plan. As with all Florida Estate Planning it is important to review and update you estate plan on a regular basis.

The Advantages of a QPRT that Andrew list are

1. A QPRT removes any appreciated value of a house from a parent's estate which can help reduce estate tax liability.
2. The parents can continue to live in the house during the term of the trust.
3. Both residence and vacation homes can qualify.
4. Often more than one home can be protected.
5. When the trust term ends the children receive the home.

1. Capital gains tax can be a significant factor on the sale of the home because the cost basis of the house remains the same as it was for the parents. (as the capitol gains is suppose to increase shortly, this can be a significant issue)
2. If the parents die before the trust terminates the home will not be devalued for estate tax purposes. Thus it is very important the parents survive for the term of the trust.
3. Children will become their parents landlord when the trust terminates. As such children could evict their parents or increase the rent to live in the home.
4. These trusts are very complicated. In order to set one up you will need a lawyer.

If you live in Jacksonville or have property in Florida that you are considering placing in a Qualified Personal Residence Trust (QPRT) you should discuss your personal situation by Contacting a Jacksonville Estate Planning Attorney