Florida Elder Law & Estate Planning Blog


Leonard Cohen’s Trustee, Children Battle Over His Estate
February 18, 2023

Leonard Cohen, the prolific songwriter, singer and poet, died November 7, 2016 at age 82. His well-known songs include Marianne, I’m Your Man, and the iconic Hallelujah. Cohen once said that he turned to songwriting just to pay the bills,…

more
Who Will Inherit Aaron Carter’s Estate?
December 6, 2022

The list of celebrities who have died without an estate plan grew by one more this November, providing yet another example of the chaos that can follow lack of planning, for celebrities and non-celebrities alike. Rapper/songwriter Aaron Carter was found…

more
Student Debt Forgiveness Could Benefit Older Borrowers, Too
October 26, 2022

Young people are not the only ones crushed with student debt. Some older people fall into this category, too. A College Board study reveals that 23% of federal student loan debt is held by those age 50 and up, as…

more
Actress Ann Heche Had No Will: Impact On Her Children
September 15, 2022

Updated 9/18/22 The lives of celebrities are always under a microscope. So are their deaths. The latest celebrity to receive such attention is Ann Heche. The 53-year-old actress was in a fiery car crash in Los Angeles on August 5….

more
florida pet trust
Florida Pet Trust Protects Fluffy and Fido
September 11, 2022

Over the years we’ve heard about the lavish (some would say excessive) inheritances people have left to their pets. Take Gunther, the German shepherd bequeathed millions by German countess Karlotta Liebenstein, who died in 1992. On this side of the…

more
Charles Manson Crime Scene
The Battle Over Notorious Killer Charles Manson’s Estate: Lessons For The Rest Of Us
August 10, 2022

It’s shocking, it’s macabre, but it’s true: The estate of serial killer Charles Manson could be worth a fortune. And there’s a legal battle over who inherits it. Manson left behind assets when he died. He passed away at age…

more
beneficiaries
Don’t Let Outdated Beneficiary Designations Spoil Your Estate Plan
August 7, 2022

If you own an asset for which you have named a legitimate death beneficiary, the asset will not go to probate when you pass on.  Your beneficiary will avoid the court and the additional hassles and expenses that go with…

more
estate tax portability
Great News For Those Who Missed the Portability Filing Deadline
July 20, 2022

Great news for those who missed the deadline to file for portability: Uncle Sam is giving you a second chance. Portability allows a surviving spouse to claim for his/her own estate any unused portion of the deceased spouse’s unified estate…

more
3 Items Your Florida Estate Plan Should Include If You And Your Partner Are Not Married
February 12, 2022

Florida law does not provide unmarried couples with the inheritance protections and automatic decision-making authority it provides to married couples. Even if you are in a longstanding, devoted relationship, from a legal perspective you and your companion might as well…

more
Last Will and Testament
Do Handwritten Wills Hold Up In Florida?
January 25, 2022

You have met with a competent Florida estate planning attorney and discussed your situation and your goals. He/she has drawn up a Last Will & Testament for you that meets your needs, fits your financial and family circumstances, and anticipates…

more