Florida Elder Law & Estate Planning Blog


Why can’t I bring my adult child to my initial consultation?
Why can’t I bring my adult child to my initial consultation?
September 27, 2019

Joseph S. Karp When somebody comes in to meet with us to discuss their estate plan, frequently they are brought there and accompanied by a loved one. Sometimes, that loved one is the child that they trust the most, or…

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Do I have to go broke to qualify for Medicaid benefits for long-term care?
Do I have to go broke to qualify for Medicaid benefits for long-term care?
September 27, 2019

Jonathan D. Karp A question that we commonly receive is, Do I need to go broke and spend all of my money in order to qualify for Medicaid benefits in the event that I need long-term care or a nursing…

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Do I automatically get FL Medicaid nursing home benefits if qualified for benefits in another state?
Do I automatically get FL Medicaid nursing home benefits if qualified for benefits in another state?
September 27, 2019

Adele Small Harris Just because you’re qualified in one state doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re going to qualify in Florida for Medicaid benefits. It would be a great idea if your loved one’s family would contact us, and we can…

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How can I prevent my child’s inheritance from going to his spouse?
How can I prevent my child’s inheritance from going to his spouse?
September 27, 2019

Joseph S. Karp We are frequently confronted with the question from our clients, How can I divorce-proof the inheritance I’m leaving my child? How can I make sure that the money I’m leaving to my child goes to my child’s…

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How can a Special Needs Trust help without jeopardizing government benefits?
How can a Special Needs Trust help without jeopardizing government benefits?
September 27, 2019

Adele Small Harris Many times I get questions regarding Special Needs Trusts, and setting them up for disabled children or other family members. The unique thing about a Special Needs Trust is that it allows the disabled person’s money to…

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Why is it important to have Health Care Advance Directives?
Why is it important to have Health Care Advance Directives?
September 27, 2019

Jonathan D. Karp People always assume, by virtue of their relationship with their loved one, that if their loved one is injured or ill, the doctor will speak to them and give them their medical information. Unfortunately, that’s not the…

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Will all my assets have to go through Probate?
Will all my assets have to go through Probate?
September 27, 2019

Joseph S. Karp People want to know: When I die, what goes through Probate court? Is everything probated that I own? The answer is no. Certain assets avoid probate automatically. Those are assets that are titled joint with right of…

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Will my heirs have to pay estate taxes?
Will my heirs have to pay estate taxes?
September 27, 2019

Adele Small Harris I frequently get asked questions about estate tax. Florida has no state estate tax, while the Federal government charges estate taxes on very large estates at this time. There are different techniques that we can propose in…

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What Is my spouse entitled to inherit?
What Is my spouse entitled to inherit?
September 27, 2019

Joseph S. Karp When people come in to do their estate plan with us, one of the questions they ask quite frequently is, What do I have to leave my spouse, if anything? First of all, there are laws that…

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What documents do I need to protect my minor child?
What documents do I need to protect my minor child?
September 27, 2019

Adele Small Harris I frequently get asked what documents parents of minor children need, and there are really three that I think about. One is a Health Care Designation. That means if you’re out of town or unavailable, who can…

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