Category Archives: Legal

Tax Tips: Not Just for the End of the Year

Tax Tips Not Just for the End of the Year Slider

Tax advice abounds towards the end of each year as advisors try to help people minimize the taxes due the next April. Some of that advice is common sense, like making sure you paid enough taxes during the year to avoid underpayment penalties. Some of it only applies to people who can afford it, like […]

These are the basic legal issues that arise when someone loses a partner

Senior Working On Laptop

| Written by Andrew Grant | Many things happen all at once when the first of a married couple dies, and the survivor is left to deal with matters that may be unfamiliar and intimidating. Among the most intimidating issues the surviving spouse faces are the legal issues; how to transfer the house, what to […]

How to avoid probate by “operation of law”

probate-senior-800

| Written by Wendy Mara | One of the goals of estate planning is to help clients avoid estate planning probate. No, everyone does not have to go through probate. And no, contrary to popular belief, a will does not avoid probate. A will is not self-executing; that is, it doesn’t transfer ownership of assets […]

What happens to your assets if you or your spouse need to go into a nursing home?

medicaid

| Written by Wendy A. Mara, J.D., M.B.A | Long-term care planning is key to protecting your assets should you or your spouse need to go into a nursing home.  In Florida, the Department of Children and Families (“DCF”) determines your eligibility for Medicaid Long Term Care (“Medicaid LTC”).  DCF looks at two separate things: […]

What is a revocable living trust and do I need one?

will-testament-800

| Written by Andrew C. Grant | One of the most frequent questions I get when meeting with new clients to plan for their estates is whether they need a trust or not.  This question is usually prompted by a lack of information, or misinformation, as to what a trust does as part of a […]