Recent Blog Posts
One Life, Two Addresses: Estate Planning for Snowbirds Splitting Time Between States
Every November, traffic on I-95 tells a familiar story. Snowbirds are returning to Palm Beach County, often leaving behind a home up north. Living in two places is a reward of a long career, but it raises estate planning questions single-state residents never face. These are questions worth bringing to North Palm Beach domicile… Read More »
Giving Straight From the IRA: Qualified Charitable Distributions in Palm Beach County
Plenty of retirees in Palm Beach County give generously to local hospitals, houses of worship, and arts organizations. Far fewer give in the most tax-efficient way available to them. A qualified charitable distribution (QCD) lets an IRA owner send money directly to a charity without that money ever counting as income. For charitably minded… Read More »
Rent Is Due on the First: Estate Planning Tips for Landlords With Rental Property Portfolios
Tenants will still expect a working air conditioner in August, whether or not their landlord is alive to arrange the repair. That simple reality is why rental property owners need a different kind of estate plan than most people. A portfolio of duplexes, condos, or single-family rentals is really a small business, and it… Read More »
The Bills Keep Coming: HOA and Condo Assessments During Probate in Stuart
A condo association’s billing cycle does not pause for a funeral. If your loved one owned a unit in Stuart, the monthly maintenance fees, special assessments, and late charges will keep arriving long after the death certificate is issued. Many families are surprised by how quickly these balances grow and by who may end… Read More »
Payable on Death (POD) vs. Beneficiary Designations in Stuart
If you’re trying to determine what might happen to your bank account after you pass away, you might have come across the term “payable on death” (POD). How is this distinct from a beneficiary designation? What steps do you need to take to make sure that the money falls into the hands of someone… Read More »
Switching From Tenancy in Common to Joint Tenancy After Marriage in Palm Beach County
Suppose you purchased a condo with your boyfriend or girlfriend a few years ago. Back then, you were concerned about what might happen during a potential breakup, so you chose “tenancy in common.” With this approach, you reserved the right to sell your share of the condo at any point. What happens after you… Read More »
What Happens to My Pet if I Become Incapacitated in North Palm Beach?
If you’re serious about your responsibilities as a pet parent, you might worry about incapacitation. What if you get into some kind of car accident? What if dementia suddenly takes its toll? If you live alone, your pet might face various hardships while you’re incapacitated. Can an estate planning lawyer in North Palm Beach… Read More »
Plan for Medicaid Before You Actually Need It
Many seniors believe that they have plenty of time for Medicaid planning in Stuart. In reality, the timeline is much shorter than they realize. The truth is that by the time you need Medicaid, it is often too late to put effective planning strategies into place. As a result, it makes sense to begin… Read More »
How Do I Dissuade My Children From Relying on Inheritance in North Palm Beach?
One of the most common fears for high-net-worth parents is the “curse of inheritance.” The theory is that if you leave your children your fortune, they will become overreliant on your assets without achieving anything or building their own wealth. By the third generation, your wealth could be completely gone. How do you prevent… Read More »
Can an Estate Planning Lawyer in Stuart Help Me Protect My Wealth From a Recession?
If you’re concerned about the possibility of an upcoming recession (or even a depression), you might wonder how an estate planning lawyer can help you protect your wealth. Various estate planning strategies can help you accomplish this goal, and you might want to discuss the options in more detail with a Stuart estate planning… Read More »