Florida Elder Law & Estate Planning Blog


Steer Clear of Online Sweetheart Scams
January 18, 2023

The internet can be a great matchmaker. Many authentic romances, even marriages, have sprung up when people have met over the internet. Unfortunately, looking for love online has its dark side, too. The Federal Trade Commission reports that “sweetheart scams”…

more
Who Do You Trust? Your Bank & Brokerage Want To Know
September 5, 2022

Who do you trust? Your brokerage, bank and other financial institutions want to know. When you open a new account, or update an account that was established before Feb. 5, 2018, they will ask you to provide the name of…

more
guardianship
Florida Wants To Curb Predatory Guardianships
April 12, 2022

If the court decides you can’t make your own decisions due to incapacity, it will appoint a guardian for you. You then lose the right to make your own decisions.  Your guardian gets extensive authority over your life, from deciding…

more
elder abuse
Surprising Estate Plan Suggests Victimizer Became Victim Of Undue Influence
January 27, 2021

Burton Pugach and Linda Riss’ life together is a bizarre saga that captured public attention years ago. Consider the title of the 2007 documentary about their relationship: “Crazy Love.” Pugach’s recent death, allegedly while he was being abused and coerced…

more
elder abuse
Elder Abuse Not Always Easy To Spot: The Art Dealer And The Deli Owner
October 29, 2020

How can you protect yourself from exploitation and financial abuse if you become incapacitated?  These crimes can be hard to spot. After all, perpetrators go to great lengths to present themselves as helpers, not hustlers. Fortunately there are steps you…

more
elder financial abuse
Florida Seniors Get More Protection From Financial Exploitation Under New Law
August 27, 2020

Vulnerable seniors are getting more protection from financial exploitation, thanks to a new Florida law that went into effect on July 1, 2020. The new law increases the ability of financial advisors to take action when they suspect their elderly…

more
Tranquility Base Landing For The Aldrin Family
Tranquility Base Landing For The Aldrin Family
April 2, 2019

Buzz Aldrin became the second man to walk on the moon when the Apollo 11 lunar module landed gracefully in the Sea of Tranquility. But in recent years, Aldrin’s relationship with his children has been anything but tranquil. As noted…

more
Sumner Redstone Estate Battle- The Wheel Has Come Full Circle
Sumner Redstone Estate Battle: The Wheel Has Come Full Circle
January 9, 2019

It’s been as much a Shakespearean tragedy as a legal battle over an elderly billionaire’s assets. The story features power grabs, on-again, off-again lovers, betrayal, and money… lots and lots of money. In my post of 2016 I described the…

more
Buz Adlrin
Houston, We Have A Problem
July 3, 2018

Houston, we have a problem! Nearly 50 years after becoming the second man to walk on the moon, Buzz Aldrin is undertaking a more earthly mission: fighting guardianship proceedings  to stay in control of his own affairs. In May, two of…

more
Stan Lee
Be Your Own Superhero: Protect Yourself From Financial Predators With a Predator Protection Trust
June 27, 2018

Spider Man. Ant Man. The Fantastic Four. The Hulk. These comic book superheroes sprang from Stan Lee’s imagination and made their creator a wealthy man. But at 95, the Marvel mogul’s own powers appear diminished, potentially putting him and his…

more
Array