Legally Speaking
Who Will Be There When You Need Help?
Estate planning often assumes there is an obvious person waiting in the wings. A spouse. A child. Maybe two children who will somehow agree on everything and always be available. (more…)
Legally Speaking
Legally Speaking
You Packed the Water. But Where Is Your Power of Attorney?
By October, most of us are pretty good at hurricane preparation. Water? Check. Flashlights? Check. Batteries? Check. Medications? Check. Enough snacks to last through three weather updates and a power (more…)
Legally Speaking
Cinderella’s Father Needed an Estate Plan Too
We all know the story of Cinderella. Her father remarries, dies, and leaves his daughter behind with a stepmother who has very different ideas about who should benefit from the (more…)
Legally Speaking
Too Hot Outside? Take This Estate Planning Quiz
It’s August in Florida, which means heat, humidity, and afternoon storms are keeping many of us inside. Time for a quick refresher. Estate planning is about more than who gets (more…)
Legally Speaking
Think You Have a Simple Estate? Read This Before You Ask AI to Write Your Will
S ummer has a way of making us think about the things we have been putting off. For teachers, it may be the first real breathing room after a long (more…)
Legally Speaking
When “Stuff” Becomes an Estate Planning Problem
George Carlin once joked that a house is just a place to keep your stuff while you go out and get more stuff. Funny—and maybe a little too true. But (more…)
Legally Speaking
The Conversation No One Wants to Have Until It’s Too Late
Most people don’t think about estate planning until something forces the issue. My dear friend and colleague, Scott, is an estate planning attorney. He helps families prepare for incapacity and (more…)
Legally Speaking
The “No-Drama” Parent Conversation 3 Questions to Ask ASAP
If you’re an adult child with aging parents, you’ve probably had this thought at least once: “If something happened… would I even know what to do?” Not in a spooky, (more…)
Legally Speaking
Surprise! Second Marriages Change Estate Planning More Than You Think
This one surprises people all the time, so let me start here: in Florida, it’s very hard to completely cut your spouse out of your estate plan. I often hear (more…)
Legally Speaking
Chocolate helps—But if You’re Unmarried, the Real Love is in the Planning
Valentine’s Day always sneaks up on me—suddenly it’s flowers, dinner plans, and chocolate everywhere. And while I’m all for romance (and candy), here’s my very unglamorous (but loving) reminder: if (more…)