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When you’re dealing with the loss of a loved one, the last thing you want is added frustration with your probate attorney. But sometimes, changing attorneys is the right decision. Whether communication has broken down, progress has stalled, or you simply feel uncomfortable with how things are handled, Florida law allows you to replace your…
As the calendar turns to a new year, you are likely setting resolutions for financial health, personal growth, and professional success in 2026. However, as an estate planning attorney serving Sarasota and the surrounding area, I encourage you to add a crucial, proactive legal goal to that list: reviewing and strengthening your estate plan. Most…
It’s common for Florida parents to place their home into a revocable trust to “avoid probate.” Unfortunately, when that home is their Florida homestead and they have minor children, doing so can actually create more problems than it solves. Florida’s Constitution gives strong protections to the family home, and those protections can override even the…
The death of a loved one is always a distressing time, but the stress can be compounded exponentially when the deceased owned real estate jointly with another person and left no Will. In Florida, what happens to the deceased co-owner’s share of the property is not a matter of simple assumption; it is dictated entirely…
Rising health insurance costs aren’t new, but what’s happening now is different. Subsidies are shrinking or disappearing, premiums are jumping, and many families—especially those dealing with serious medical conditions—are facing impossible choices. You can’t control Congress or the insurance companies, but you can control how prepared your family is when the system gets shaky. This…
For many clients in the Venice area, the family home is the most significant, cherished, and valuable asset in their estate. You want this legacy to pass directly to your grandchildren, ensuring they benefit from your foresight. However, bypassing the children’s generation, the parents of your intended beneficiaries requires careful, legally precise planning. A simple…
When preparing an estate plan, Florida residents often think about providing for loved ones living abroad. While this is a generous and thoughtful decision, naming foreign beneficiaries can add unexpected complications. From tax reporting to delays in transferring assets, it is important to understand the challenges and plan carefully to avoid problems for your heirs….
As the year draws to a close, your focus might be on holiday plans, but as an experienced estate planning attorney serving the Sarasota area, I urge you to dedicate time to one critical, often-overlooked task: a final, year-end review of your estate plan. Failing to make timely updates to your will, trust, and related…
A common myth in Florida is that a person with dementia cannot sign estate planning documents. While dementia is a serious diagnosis, it does not automatically mean someone has lost the mental ability to make decisions. Florida law looks to mental capacity—the person’s ability to understand what they are doing—at the moment they sign, not…
If you pass away without a valid will in Florida, the law decides who inherits your property. This process is known as intestate succession, and it can produce outcomes that may be very different from what you would have wanted, especially for blended families, unmarried partners, or individuals with minor children. As an attorney focused…
Recent headlines and online ads have made many Florida homeowners fear “home title theft” — the idea that someone can steal ownership of their home with a few clicks. It’s a real type of fraud, but the actual risk is often misunderstood. Let’s look at what title theft really is, how common it is, what…
When you’re running a small business, the day-to-day responsibilities can make it easy to postpone estate planning. But if you’re a business owner in Florida, it’s crucial to ask: What will happen to your company, assets, and real property if something happens to you? Without a clear plan, your legacy and your loved ones could…
A land trust is a special way of holding title to real estate that is sometimes used in Florida. While they can serve certain purposes, they are not a one-size-fits-all estate planning solution. Understanding how land trusts work—and when they make sense—can help you decide whether this tool is right for your situation. What Is…
If you’re looking for a way to pass down real estate in Florida without sending your loved ones through probate, you may have heard about the Lady Bird Deed, also known as an enhanced life estate deed. This estate planning tool can help you maintain control of your property during your lifetime while ensuring a…
Leaving money to a child or grandchild may seem straightforward—but in Florida, things get more complicated when a minor is involved. The state has clear rules about how much a minor can inherit before court involvement is required, and those rules impact both estate planning and estate administration. Here’s what you need to know—whether you’re…
When someone passes away owning real estate in Florida, title problems can stall probate, and with it, your family’s ability to sell, transfer, or manage the property. In many cases, these issues aren’t discovered until a closing is already underway. For heirs and personal representatives, that delay can mean lost time, money, and peace of…
In today’s world, our lives are increasingly tied to the digital world. From bank accounts and cloud storage to social media profiles and email accounts, digital assets now make up a significant portion of a person’s legacy. But what happens to those digital accounts when you die? And how can you plan ahead so your…
When people think about estate planning, they often worry about the government taking a large portion of their life savings after they pass away. The good news is that for most Floridians, this fear rarely becomes reality. Thanks to Florida’s favorable tax laws and the high federal estate tax exemption, very few estates in Florida…
Many Floridians think of estate planning only in terms of wills, trusts, and financial matters. But there’s another gift you can leave that has nothing to do with money: the gift of life through organ donation. Making your wishes clear about donation is one of the most compassionate decisions you can make—and it can ease…
Creating an estate plan is a critical step to protect your assets and ensure your wishes are legally recognized. However, entrusting this task to an attorney who doesn’t focus on estate planning can leave important details overlooked. Even well-meaning attorneys in other practice areas may not have the depth of knowledge needed to navigate the…