By: Jacqueline R. Bowden Gold It is no surprise that Florida is different from the other 49 states. (Exhibit A: Google “Florida Voter Recount”) What is confusing to some probate attorneys outside the state – and many within the state – is our unique Procedure for “Probating” Homestead Property. Pursuant…
By Phil Rarick, Esq. and Jacqueline Bowden Gold, Esq., Miami Lakes and Weston Estate Planning Attorneys,with special thanks for comments by Rick Stockton, Esq. of Holland & Knight, a primary author of the Lawgic Florida Wills and Trust program. Editor’s Note: The following is a public service Alert from Rarick…
By Phillip B. Rarick, Esq., Miami Asset Protection Attorney If you have never checked Florida’s web site for lost accounts and abandoned property you should do so – immediately. You may be pleasantly surprised! You may think that it is not possible that you have any “unclaimed” property held by…
By Phillip B. Rarick, Esq. and Jay R. Beskin, Esq. Last year the Federal annual gift tax exclusion was $15,000 and the amount remains the same for 2019. This means you can walk down the street and give out $15,000 to every person you meet and not have to file…
By Phillip B. Rarick, Esq., Miami Probate Attorney Florida’s 30% elective share law was completely rewritten in 2001 because the old law could be easily circumvented by placing assets in a revocable trust or using non-probate transfers (e.g. life insurance, IRAs etc.) In an effort to curtail such tactics, the…
By Phillip B. Rarick, Miami Lakes and Weston Estate Planning Attorney Note: This 10 Point Checklist is for those persons who have interests in one or more Florida entities, such as a corporation, limited liability company (LLC), or limited Partnership (LP). 1. Annual Fees. In January the State of Florida…
By Phil Rarick, Miami Trust Attorney Hard to believe we are in mid-Fall and 2016 is coming to a close. Now may be a good time to sit down with a Miami trust attorney and review your estate plan. One of the biggest problems we see with individual estate plans…
Checklist for Amending your revocable trust Note: Your revocable living trust is designed to be as dynamic as your family. It serves as the master set of instructions to care for you and your family. Therefore, when there are big changes in your family, you may need an experienced Miami…
By Phillip B. Rarick, Miami Trust Attorney You are named the successor trustee and the trustmaker has just died. No doubt these are difficult times, but thankfully there are many resources to help. The following is a checklist of initial important tasks to help guide you after the funeral or…
By: Phillip B. Rarick, Esq. Most divorce judgments call for one of the parties to obtain a life insurance policy to secure the payment of child support, alimony or some other financial obligation. Let’s assume the obligation is solely child support: a potential mistake is failure to secure payment of…