Wills, Trusts, & Estate Planning

In Florida, a shocking act of cruelty exposed the urgent need for responsible pet ownership and proper estate planning for pets. Xyla, a 16-year-old Shih Tzu, was abandoned in a dumpster by a family member of her deceased owner. Rescued and now thriving, Xyla's story highlights the importance of securing our pets' futures through legal means like pet trusts and designated caregivers. Responsible planning ensures our beloved animals are cared for, even after we're gone.

LGBT couples and families face unique challenges in the probate process.In the LGBT community, the concept of a “chosen family” is prominent.[1] This is because members of the LGBT community are often estranged from their blood relatives and are less likely to have children than the general population.[2] This presents a problem, however, as family members by choice are given less deference by the law than family members by blood.[3]Members of the LGBT community are not unaware of this, and studies indicate that they take greater care in planning their estates.[4] This use ...

What is Capacity?Capacity is the ability of someone to make rational decisions, and thus be accountable for their actions. Individuals with capacity are people with the power to make important life decisions in the eyes of the law; those with capacity are legally recognized as autonomous or semi-autonomous individuals.The question of capacity is rooted in state of mind. As legal concepts, the standards for capacity are designed to protect those who are legally vulnerable as a result of some kind of mental infirmity. This infirmity could be temporary, such as alcohol intoxic...

When you sit down with an attorney to go through the fundamentals of the estate planning process, one of the questions you will almost certainly be faced with is this: who would you like to designate as your power of attorney. You may be unfamiliar with this legal document and wondering, “What the heck is a power of attorney, anyway?”Many people have questions about choosing a power of attorney and what it means, what it entails, and who you could or should designate. To help you start thinking ahead, we have answered some of the most frequently asked questions about power ...

Key Takeaways:Survivorship life insurance offers greater death benefits at lower costs than typical life insurance because the benefits are not paid until two or more policyholders have died.Because survivorship life insurance lists someone other than the decedent’s estate as a beneficiary, this type of insurance does not need to be distributed by a court through a probate process.Survivorship life insurance may not be right for those who will need the death benefits in the immediate term in order to pay off expenses after the death of their spouseIs survivorship life insur...

According to the dictionary, the definition of the word trust is a “firm belief in the reliability, truth, ability, or strength of someone or something.” When it comes to legal matters, it takes on a whole other meaning. However, you’ll still want significant “trust” built into a revocable living trust. That’s why you should secure the assistance of an experienced attorney and why you’ll want to carefully choose trustees who always have your best interest at heart.Keep reading to learn more about this important legal process and how it can benefit you and your estate.What i...