miami trust attorney

2024 Property Tax Appeal Deadline: Read the Small Print!

Published on: August 29, 2024 | by Rarick & Bowden Gold

2024 Property Tax Appeal Deadline: Read the Small Print!

By: Phil Rarick, Miami Trust Attorney

You will miss this deadline if you do not read carefully – and you may need a magnifying glass to find it. Around the last weeks of August, you should have received in the mail a “Notice of Proposed Property Taxes” or “TRIM Notice” from your county property tax appraiser. This is NOT a bill but a notice. Buried at the bottom of your Notice in small print is an important deadline for appealing your tax assessment.

Florida Successor Trustee Checklist 2024

Published on: May 30, 2024 | by Rarick & Bowden Gold

Instructions
Florida Successor Trustee Checklist

By Phillip B. Rarick, Miami Trust Attorney

You are named the successor trustee and the trustmaker has just died. No doubt these are difficult times, but thankfully there are many resources to help. The following is a checklist of initial important tasks to help guide you after the funeral or memorial service.

File Your 2025 Annual Report – But Watch For These 3 Scams

Published on: January 16, 2024 | by Rarick & Bowden Gold

By Phillip B. Rarick, Esq., Miami Lakes and Weston Estate Planning Attorney

Its a New Year and time to file your 2025 Annual Report if you own a Florida LLC (limited liability company), corporation, or partnership. The deadline is May 1, 2025. The state will charge you a $400 late fee if you miss this deadline.

The official Florida web site is www.sunbiz.org. This site has “Consumer Notices” to alert you to bogus web sites that try to scam persons who file these reports.

Asset Protection Checklist For Married Professionals

Published on: October 17, 2022 | by Rarick & Bowden Gold

Asset Protection Checklist For Married Professionals

By Phil Rarick, Esq., and Jacqueline Bowden Gold, Esq., Miami Asset Protection Attorneys

If you have creditor threat, do you know what assets are easily exposed to creditors? Do you know what assets are already protected by Florida law? Take this three minute survey for a quick assessment.

Asset Protection Checklist For Single Professionals

Published on: October 17, 2022 | by Rarick & Bowden Gold

Asset Protection Checklist For Single Professionals

By Phil Rarick, Esq. & Jacqueline Bowden Gold, Esq., Miami Asset Protection Attorneys

asset protection checklist for single professionials
Florida has good laws to protect your business, real estate investments, and equity investments. Are you taking advantage of these laws? Take this three-minute survey for a quick assessment.

Contract Review: Does Covid-19 Excuse Performance?

Published on: April 21, 2020 | by Rarick & Bowden Gold

by: Phillip B. Rarick, Esq.

We have been helping small business owners survive and thrive – in good times and bad – for over 25 years. Here is how we may be able to help you in this current challenging business environment.

1. Contract Review and Force Majeure. A Force Majeure clause is a standard clause in many contracts. If you have a contract you are trying to get out of – or the reverse – if you have a person trying to nullify performance under your existing contract the interpretation of the “Force Majeure” clause will be a determining factor.

5 Quick Tips On Maxing Out Loan Forgiveness

Published on: April 17, 2020 | by Rarick & Bowden Gold

by: attorney Phillip B. Rarick

You can always count on the Americans to do the right thing – after they’ve tried everything else. – Winston Churchill.

Millions of small business owners and self-employed have filed for loans under the Paycheck Protection Program because part or all of the loan can be forgiven if you retain your employees and maintain their salary levels.

Florida Treasure Hunt: Check It Now! Florida Unclaimed Property Law

Published on: December 21, 2019 | by Rarick & Bowden Gold

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

If you have never checked Florida’s website for lost accounts and abandoned property you should do so – immediately. You may be pleasantly surprised!

You may think that it is not possible that you have any “unclaimed” property held by the State of Florida – and you could be wrong.

Florida’s Sweeping Elective Share

Published on: October 6, 2018 | by Rarick & Bowden Gold

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

Florida’s 30% elective share law was completely rewritten in 2001 because the old law could be easily circumvented by placing assets in a revocable trust or using non-probate transfers (e.g. life insurance, IRAs etc.) In an effort to curtail such tactics, the legislature overhauled the statute and broadened the share. The result is an expansive elective share that sweeps into the decedent’s “elective estate” many non-probate assets. See F.S. §732.201 —§732.2155.

What Is Included? Florida’s elective share statute retains the 30% share under prior law, but introduces the concept of the “elective estate” (sometimes referred to as “augmented estate”) that consists of the following property interests under F.S. §732.2035:

10 Point Checklist For Florida Corporate Entities

Published on: January 3, 2018 | by Rarick & Bowden Gold

By: Phillip B. Rarick, Miami Lakes and Weston Estate Planning Attorney

Note: This 10 Point Checklist is for those persons who have interests in one or more Florida corporate entities, such as a corporation, limited liability company (LLC), or limited partnership (LP).

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1. Annual Fees. In January the State of Florida will send notices via email reminding you that annual fees for each corporate entity are due no later than May 1. Do not wait to get an email notice from the state, as your fees are due regardless of whether you get a notice. Remember: The deadline to pay these fees is May 1 without penalty.