A small business owner spends so much time managing their company’s current needs, he doesn’t think about planning for his own needs. Instead of putting aside money for retirement, business profits may be plowed back into the business through expansion, increased expenses, or development of new business lines. However, retirement for an entrepreneur is serious business,...

Blended families are nothing new. Many baby boomers are at or beyond retirement age, single, and looking to get married. But if you’re retired and thinking of getting married, there are some important things you’ll need to consider, including making some changes to your estate planning. Review Your Documents. Before walking down the aisle, set up...

When a car breaks down, the driver usually pulls over to the side of the road and activates the car’s hazard lights. If a boat runs into trouble, the operator may radio a Mayday call and send up flares to summon help. But when an individual becomes incapacitated, their ability to alert others that they need...

Legal documents are sometimes invalidated because they were signed incorrectly, not dated, not notarized, or not signed at all. Meeting legal requirements is especially critical when it comes to your Last Will and Testament. After all, people may not learn a Will is deficient until it is too late to have the testator re-do the document....

Most of us want to leave as much of our property to our families as possible. But in many cases after someone passes away, they leave behind debts that must be paid, too. Many states, including Florida, have enacted laws to protect certain property. While developing your estate plan, take time to find out if you...

People procrastinate when it comes to estate planning. Some do not want to think about their mortality, while others just feel they do not have enough assets to warrant the cost. Then there are the ‘do-it-yourselfers’ who use inexpensive legal websites or mistake Google for a qualified estate planning adviser. What people do not realize is...

We often give presents to celebrate a special event or please a significant other. Sometimes gifts serve a specific purpose, like lowering your potential estate tax burden. Let’s look at some ways to legally reduce your federal estate tax through gift-giving. First, it’s important to understand how estate taxes are calculated. Florida does not have an...

Legal document protection As we’ve seen repeatedly, Mother Nature can wreak havoc on us with little to no warning. Even when weather forecasters predict a coming storm, it’s still difficult to know when and where the most damage will occur. We all try to safeguard our homes and possessions against damage. Your most important documents also...

"Planning without action is futile, action without planning is fatal." — Cornelius Fichtner</h3 As you survey the property you’ve accumulated through a lifetime of hard work, you may wonder what’s going to happen to it after you’re gone. Maybe there are family heirlooms or other prized possessions or items of sentimental value, and it really matters...

We are encouraged to get regular dental checkups and the dreaded annual physical. We schedule spring cleaning, annual vacations, and maintenance on our automobiles and boats. Shouldn’t our estate planning documents get the same careful attention? During National Estate Planning Awareness Week, we invite you to review your current estate plan. When was the last time?...