Florida Elder Law & Estate Planning Blog


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…

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Lt Uhura
Star Trek Actress The Subject Of Guardianship Battle
September 15, 2021

Britney Spears’ guardianship has drawn most of the media attention lately. But there is another, not quite-so-high-profile celebrity currently embroiled in a guardianship drama. Both stories underscore how essential it is to make legal plans for the possibility that you…

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power of attorney
Your Power of Attorney Is Not Enough for Medicare, Social Security
February 28, 2021

You may be surprised to learn that Medicare and Social Security will not automatically honor your Durable Power of Attorney or Health Care Surrogate. These are powerful legal documents that everyone should have in their planning toolkit, but when it…

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coronavirus
COVID Vaccine Arrives At Long-Term Care Residences: What You Need To Know
December 22, 2020

The much-anticipated Coronavirus vaccine has arrived. It is now rolling out to Florida’s nursing homes and assisted living residences. Some residents are already receiving inoculations. Long-term care facilities in Florida and around the country have been prioritized, having been hit…

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children at 18 need health documents
When You Kid Turns 18, He Needs These Legal Documents
August 30, 2020

Your child’s 18th birthday may seem like just another birthday on the road to adulthood. But legally speaking, it represents a massive change for him, and for you. Those 18 candles on the birthday cake mean you, the parent, are…

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Florida cohabiting couples need legal plans to protect themselves, one another
June 18, 2020

Many of our clients “cohabit.” They are committed to one another and share a home, but are unwilling to marry, usually for legal and financial reasons. If this is your situation, for all intents and purposes you may consider yourselves…

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Barbara Bush
Importance of Advance Directives, End-Of-Life Wishes Reflected in Barbara Bush’s Passing
April 18, 2018

Former First Lady Barbara Bush died at her Houston home on April 17, 2018, surrounded by her family. She had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, heart failure, and had been hospitalized multiple times in recent weeks. Following an Easter weekend in…

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Elder Orphan
Elder Orphans Need to Plan
September 12, 2017

The future of America’s “elder orphans” is getting increasing attention as we live longer, many of us without the support of a spouse, children, or other close relatives. The 2012 U.S. Census reveals that about  one third of adults ages…

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Health Care Surrogate
Considerations Before (And After) You Agree to Serve as Health Care Surrogate
July 24, 2017

Consider yourself fortunate if you have been asked to serve as someone’s health care surrogate, for you get to decide if you’ll accept the job. Astonishingly, many people name a surrogate without ever asking or informing the person they select!…

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happy preschool kids hugging
Parents of Minor Children – Make These Plans for Your Peace of Mind
March 20, 2017

Sara Hankins made sad headlines recently. The Illinois mother of four was diagnosed last year with Lou Gehrig’s Disease, and lost her life on March 13, 2017. She was just 36. Her primary concern during her last months was not…

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