Lisa Marie Presley, the only child of Elvis Presley, aka the King of Rock & Roll, died of cardiac failure on January 12. She was 54. A potential contest for control of her estate has already begun, a mere two…
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Florida law offers a robust safety net for surviving spouses: the elective share. A surviving spouse has the right to inherit 30% of his/her deceased spouse’s estate, as well as the right to live in the homestead property (or to…
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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…
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For most people, the ultimate goal of estate planning is to promote family harmony. If your family members get along well, you want your plan to encourage more of the same. If they don’t, you want to avoid adding more…
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The dog ate my homework! That time-worn excuse usually gets an unprepared student an “F”. But suppose Rover isn’t interested in your homework, but in your last will and testament? That could result in an “L” – as in lawsuit. …
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The deadline for Florida homeowners to apply for homestead exemption on their primary residence is March 1, 2020. The exemption can reduce the assessed value of your primary residence by as much as $50,000. There are also additional exemptions for…
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Reports frequently come in from around the country about misplaced, forgotten or hidden valuables found in deceased person’s homes, or in items that have been donated to second-hand stores. Sometimes the valuables are discovered by rightful heirs, sometimes not. It’s…
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You probably think that the estate plan of one of the nation’s most prominent legal authorities would be absolutely airtight. But you would be wrong. Janet Reno was appointed U.S. Attorney General by President Clinton, the first woman to serve…
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Effective January 1, 2020, the federal lifetime unified estate and gift tax exemption increases. Individuals who pass away in 2020 can pass, tax-free, $11.58 million (was $11.4 million). With portability, a married couple may pass twice that amount, $23.16 million. Anything in excess…
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You may not know the name George Rodrigue, but you probably know his art. Rodrigue was the New Orleans-based creator of the 1984 “blue dog” painting that has become a pop culture icon. Blue dog has appeared in one form…
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