Florida Trust & Probate Attorneys Blog
Three Big Threats To Your Children Over 18 –
And How To Protect Them
By Phil Rarick, Weston Estate Planning Attorney
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Seven Point Year End Checklist
By Phil Rarick, Miami Trust Attorney
Hard to believe we are in mid-Fall and 2016 is coming to a close. Now may be a good time to sit down with a Miami trust attorney and review your estate plan. One of the biggest problems we see with individual estate plans is failure to keep the plan updated to ensure that it continues to meet the changing needs of your dynamic family. Here is a short checklist:
- Marriage/Divorce.Has there been a marriage, divorce, or separation of anyone named in your will or trust – such as your adult children or grandchildren? Most persons want to ensure that their hard earned money goes to their children – or grandchildren – not to any spouses.
FLORIDA COUNSEL NOTICE: FLORIDA DEEDS
By Phillip B. Rarick, Miami Trust Attorney
Although the main focus of our Florida Counsel Services is probate, trust, and corporate law, we can assist your office if you need deeds to a trust or other entity.
If you wish to use our deed services, click FLORIDA DEED INTAKE FORM. Please complete this form with all relevant information and email it to cmedina@raricklaw.com.
5 Reasons Nevada Is Best State For Asset Protection Trust
By Phillip B. Rarick, Esq., Miami Trust Attorney
State laws provide numerous legal opportunities for protecting your family’s hard earned wealth. See my recent article: Asset Protection for the Small Business Owner: 7 Key Strategies.
An important domestic strategy is a Domestic Asset Protection Trust or DAPT. Because of the ever more stringent IRS reporting requirements for off-shore entities, DAPT’s are becoming a popular asset protection tool. See Hybrid Asset Protection Trust
FBAR Filing Deadline is June 30; Summary of Reporting Requirements for Off-Shore Assets
By Phil Rarick, Weston Estate Planning Attorney
This report is a reminder that the FBAR or Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Account is due June 30. The FBAR is required for U.S. persons having a financial interest or signature authority over one or more foreign financial accounts, including a bank account, brokerage account, mutual fund, trust, estate, pension, cash value life insurance, or other type of foreign financial account having an aggregate value over $10,000 at any time during 2015.
Note: A U.S. person may have a reporting obligation even though the foreign financial account does not generate any taxable income.
When Can A Non-Resident Of Florida Serve As The Personal Representative For A Probate Estate?
By Phillip B. Rarick, J.D, Miami Probate Attorney
Note: Special thanks to Illinois attorney John E. Fish for the following question, which is one of the most frequent questions we receive.
Executive Summary:
Should I have Separate LLC’s For Protecting Each Investment Property?
By Phil Rarick, Weston Business Attorney
Here is a Big Red Flag: bundling multiple investment properties in the same LLC. This is a mistake we are seeing more and more often: a real estate investor has six condo rental homes; all rental homes are owned by the same LLC. This investor has essentially defeated the purpose of the LLC. A slip and fall claim on one of the properties would expose all six to the claim.
Bundling multiple investment properties in one LLC
Is Your Living Trust Up To Date? 10 Point Checklist For Amending Your Revocable Trust
Checklist for Amending your revocable trust
Note: Your revocable living trust is designed to be as dynamic as your family. It serves as the master set of instructions to care for you and your family. Therefore, when there are big changes in your family, you may need an experienced Miami trust attorney to amend your revocable trust.
______#1. Marriage/Divorce. Has there been a marriage, divorce, or separation of anyone named in your will or trust? If there has been a marriage of an adult child (without a prenuptial agreement) you may need to amend your revocable trust to make sure monies designated for this adult child are protected.
5 Key Rights of a Florida Trust Beneficiary
Phillip B. Rarick, Esq., Miami Trust Attorney
Florida law requires that a trust must keep the qualified beneficiaries of a trust “reasonably informed of the trust and its administration.” F.S. 736.0813. A “qualified beneficiary” is a current beneficiary, intermediate beneficiary, or first-line remainder beneficiary. F.S. 736.0103(16). These information rights fall into two broad categories for a Florida trust beneficiary: the Duty To Inform and the Duty to Account as follows.
Note: The notice requirements discussed here typically apply to an irrevocable trust not a living revocable trust where the settlor (trustmaker) is not incapacitated. If the settlor becomes incapacitated or dies, then these notice requirements likely do apply.
What Is The Federal Estate Tax Exemption for 2016?
By Phillip B. Rarick, Esq. and Jay R. Beskin, Esq.
2016 Federal Estate Tax Exemption: $5.45 Million
For 2016 the federal estate and gift tax exemption is now $5.45 million – up from $5.43 million in 2015. This means a single U.S. citizen can leave $5.45 million to their family members and friends and pay no estate tax if they die in Florida since Florida does not have an estate tax. (As some commentators have stated, Florida is a great place to die. For states where you don’t want to die see Where Not To Die)