During the late 1970’s through mid 1980’s, Gary Coleman became a promising young star on the television sitcom Different Strokes. His character’s catchphrase “What you talkin’ ’bout, Willis?” made numerous people laugh during the shows 8 year run. Sadly after his passing and subsequent cremation, his relatives will not be…
As generations grow older, more and more women will find that they have significant assets worth giving to others when they pass away. In most parts of the world women have a longer life expectancy and commonly marry older men. This means that there is a good chance a wife…
Grantor Retained Annuity Trusts are used in the United States to make large financial gifts to beneficiaries without paying a U.S. gift tax. A GRAT is a trust with a specific life or term, usually anything longer than 2 years. In most cases a wealthy grantor transfers assets to the…
Creating a Florida Revocable Trust is a job that most Florida Estate Planning Lawyers are capable of but the process of avoiding Florida Probate does not end there. Once the Florida Revocable Trust has been created it must then be funded with the client’s assets. Without proper funding all of…
Foreclosure Lawyers in Jacksonville Florida have seen a significant increase in the number of Foreclosure cases in Duval County over the past several months. Many individuals who are currently going through loan modifications are seeing the banks file foreclosure cases on them as the same time as they try to…
According to Forbes Magazine the United States has over four hundred billionaires. Currently, three Liberal members of the Senate are working on a plan that calls for a 10% estate “billionaire surtax” that would go into effect retroactively. This would raise the tax rate to 65% on all estates that…
In Florida, it is a common principle of law that criminals should not profit from their crimes. Therefore, it follows that a murderer should not be able to inherit from the estate of their victim. The most common, but unfortunate event that would trigger a slayer statute would be when…
Being named the “Personal Representative” or “Executor” of someone’s estate under a Florida Will should be a decision made after consider several factors. Although many people may be tempted to name their spouse or one of their children as personal representative, there are certain qualities one should look in a…
Intestate succession is a statutorily imposed way of passing property to descendants after death. In Florida, an adopted child is treated exactly the same as if he/she was a natural born child of the adoptive parents (mother and/or father). This means that for the purpose of intestate succession by an…
Florida Revocable Trust are managed by a Trustee who is the person(s), or in some cases entity, that hold legal title to property for the benefit of an equitable title holder. Often the grantor of the Florida Revocable Trustselects the trustee who is responsible for making sure the beneficiaries are…