Florida Elder Law & Estate Planning Blog


Hugh Hefner
Playboy Founder A Shrewd Estate Planner
October 22, 2017

Playboy founder Hugh Hefner died in September at age 91.  As he wished, he was laid to rest at Los Angeles’ Westwood Memorial Park in a mausoleum adjacent to Marilyn Monroe, who appeared on the very first cover of the…

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Debbie Reynolds and Carrie Fisher
Estate of Star Wars’ Carrie Fisher goes to probate because funding neglected
August 15, 2017

Carrie Fisher, daughter of late actress Debbie Reynolds and crooner Eddie Fisher, died from a heart attack on December 27 at age 60. When her mother died the following day, many were not surprised: Fisher and Reynolds had an exceptionally…

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Alan-Thicke-wife-Tanya-Callau
Alan Thicke’s family goes to war over late actor’s estate
June 11, 2017

You don’t need to be rich and famous, or have children from prior marriages, for your estate plan to run into trouble. But it sure does help. Now, the late Alan Thicke joins the roster of deceased celebrities whose families…

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Robert Morin
Should your gifts to your heirs have strings attached?
October 17, 2016

The story of Robert Morin will resonate with you if you’re mulling over the most effective way to leave assets to your loved ones (or organizations) in your estate plan. A University of New Hampshire alumnus who worked as a…

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Texting Teens
Estate planning with Generation Z in mind: these are not your “typical teens”
September 13, 2016

Estate planning is not just about money and taxes. It’s about the people you love: Their character, their values, their hopes, your hopes for them. These things matter when you are deciding how you want your assets distributed, and who…

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Estate Tax
Annual gift tax exclusion: who does it impact?
August 12, 2016

The annual gift tax exclusion is widely misunderstood. Many people believe that for tax purposes they must stay under the exclusion limit. In fact, for the vast majority of people, the annual exclusion – currently $14,000 – effectively has no…

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Probate
Surprise, it’s ancillary probate
July 9, 2016

People who ask The Karp Law Firm to handle the Florida probate of a loved one’s estate often have an inkling of what’s ahead: just about everyone has heard horror stories about the probate courts, particularly the courts in Florida….

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alzheimer's disease
Alzheimer’s Disease: Today’s Realities
June 14, 2016

An online search for “Alzheimer’s Disease” yields countless articles: New reports appear daily about recently discovered biomarkers, diagnostic tests, possible treatments, new medications, the latest research into potential cures. We are learning more all the time. But despite research efforts,…

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newlyweds
Newlyweds, tend to these important plans
May 31, 2016

At this time of year, thousands of eager couples, young and perhaps not-so-young, are busy with preparations for a June wedding. Guest lists, flowers and bridesmaids’ dresses take center stage right now. But after the honeymoon, newly married couples should…

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Sumner Redstone’s competency trial dismissed, but the saga continues
Sumner Redstone’s competency trial dismissed, but the saga continues
May 11, 2016

Who do your sympathies rest with in the legal brouhaha swirling around ailing media tycoon Sumner Redstone? Are you inclined to believe that the frail 92-year-old billionaire’s ex-girlfriend, Manuela Herzer, is just a good soul looking out for her friend’s…

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