Articles Tagged with Miami asset protection lawyer

How fundamentally has the 2012 American Taxpayer Relief Act (ATRA) changed estate planning?  It may have taken a year for this consensus to develop, but the simple answer that was apparent at the recent 48th Annual Heckling Institute on Estate Planning is this:  Profoundly; there is a new paradigm in estate planning.

Paul Lee, the National Managing Director of Bernstein Global Wealth Management, captured the essence of the new consensus in his presentation.  The new law increases the estate tax exemption to $5.34* million per person and $10.68* million for a married couple.  With the increased exemptions and permanence of portability of the deceased spouse unused exclusion (DSUE), Mr. Lee’s major Take-Away Points are:

  • Estate planning is now far more complicated for estates above the $5.34* million threshold

 By Phillip B. Rarick, Miami Asset Protection Attorney

The saddest and most tragic call I have ever received as a lawyer came when a parent called and said her teenage son, while operating a jet ski, had run over a young girl who happened to be about the age of my daughter.  I declined the case.   The young girl later died, and of course there was a large law suit.

These are the nightmare scenarios you never want to encounter.  Of course, the most obvious, common sense step to avoid such tragedies is to make sure that whoever is operating your boat or jet ski is well trained on operation of the vessel and in fact follows safe, recommended operating procedures. With the excellent and free Coast Guard training programs in south Florida there is no excuse not to take advantage of these programs.

By Phillip B. Rarick, Esq.,  Miami Trust Attorney

Quote: There are three things that are real – God, human folly and laughter.  The first two are beyond our comprehension.   So we must do what we can with the third.   –  John F. Kennedy

Here are five bad items of advice – that you hear all the time from otherwise smart persons:

By Phillip B. Rarick, Esq., Miami Trust Attorney

¿Qué es un fideicomiso de vida? ¿Cómo ayuda a evitar la legalización? ¿Por qué la mayoría de familias están usando un fideicomiso de vida en vez de un testamento para proporcionar para sus queridos? Estas preguntas y muchas más tienen respuesta en nuestro informe popular, Comprendiendo Fideicomiso de Vida Para Residentes de la Florida.

Gracias a nuestra asistente legal Jacqueline Bowden, y nuestra pasante Tamara Bauza, ahora tenemos disponible una traducción en español del informe. Para obtener una copia haga clic aquí: Comprendiendo Fideicomiso de Vida Para Residentes de la Florida.

By Phillip B. Rarick, Esq., Miami Probate Attorney

I.          Determining Survivors

The personal representative has a duty to bring an action for the wrongful death of the decedent.  F.S. 768.20.    The Act  provides for damages for the estate and “survivors”.   Survivors include the surviving spouse, “minor children” under 25 years of age, and in some instances parents.   

By Phillip B. Rarick, Esq.,  Miami Trust Attorney

Summary:

The following Alert discusses the Florida real estate form DR-430 required to be filed upon the cumulative transfer or control of more than 50% of the legal entity that owned the property, or transfer of more than 50% of ownership interest.

By Phillip B. Rarick

This summer my family had the opportunity to travel to France.   It was a busy trip, and we saw many spectacular works of art and architecture by past generations of artists.    

The most special trip was our visit Normandy, where a generation of Americans representing the diversity of this country, challenged and beat back one of the darkest forces ever assembled in human history.  Here are a few pictures from this trip.

By Phillip B. Rarick, Miami Asset Protection Attorney

Let’s face it.   If you have adult children, now married or considering marriage, you are a little concerned that your daughter’s husband could someday inherit your hard earned wealth. (Or maybe it’s your son’s wife.)

So, how do you protect your property, and make sure it goes to only your adult children (or your grandchildren) and not your child’s spouse?

By Phillip B. Rarick, Esq., Miami Asset Protection Attorney

Click Here: Part 3: The Asset Protection Ladder

 Note: PowerPoint Presentation will appear in bottom task bar.

By Phillip B. Rarick, Esq.,  Miami Asset Protection Attorney

Click Here:  Asset Protection in Florida – Part 2 – Tenancy By Entirety

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