Articles Posted in miami estate planning lawyer

How Do I Choose a Trustee? By Phil Rarick, Miami Trust Attorney, and Jasmine Benitez, Legal Assistant Choosing a trustee is one of the most important decisions you will make when creating a trust.   A trust is simply legally binding instructions, and you must be confident that your trustee will follow these instructions exactly and…

Can a Florida Trust be Contested? By Phil Rarick, Weston Trust Attorney, and Jasmine Benitez, Legal Assistant Estate planning is essential for ensuring your wishes are carried out after you are gone. Today, the preferred choice for estate planning is a living revocable trust. But what happens if a qualified beneficiary disagrees with the terms…

Does a Florida Land Trust Provide Asset Protection? By Phil Rarick, Weston Trust Attorney, and Jasmine Benitez, Legal Assistant Many real estate investors wrongly believe that a Florida Land Trust can offer asset protection. While this type of trust is known for providing privacy and simplifying estate planning, they do not provide comprehensive protection from…

What is a Family Trust? By Phil Rarick, Weston Trust Attorney – Every family needs instructions in the event of disability or death. A Family Trust, also known as a Living Trust, is your detailed, legally binding instructions to care for you and your family in the event of mental incapacity or death. A trust…

The Importance of Your Adult Child Naming a Healthcare Surrogate and Power of Attorney By: Jacqueline R. Bowden Gold, Miami Estate Planning Attorney – When a child turns 18, they reach the legal age of majority. While they may still be living at home and supported by you, your child is considered an adult creating…

Is a Handwritten Will Valid Under Florida Law? By: Jacqueline R. Bowden Gold, Miami Lakes Estate Planning Attorney When planning for the future, a crucial step is ensuring that your wishes are respected after your death. This often involves creating a will. However, not all wills are created equal, and understanding the types of wills…

Keeping Peace in The Family: 5 Common Pitfalls By Attorney Phil Rarick, Weston Estate Planning Attorney As an estate planning attorney, I sometimes witness stressful family fights that break out upon the death of a father or mother or husband and wife. On some occasions, it’s outright family warfare! What is painful is that the…

Celebrities Who Died Without a Last Will The Importance of Estate Planning By: Jacqueline R. Bowden Gold, Miami Estate Planning Attorney When we think of celebrities, we often envision lives of glamour, wealth, and success. However, many high-profile individuals have passed away without taking a crucial step that could have spared their families years of…

By: Jacqueline R. Bowden Gold It is no surprise that Florida is different from the other 49 states. What is confusing to some probate attorneys outside the state is Florida’s unique Procedure for “Probating” Homestead Property. Pursuant to Florida Statute 733.607, protected Florida homestead property is not considered a probate asset, so why does it…

By Phil Rarick, Esq. and Jacqueline Bowden Gold, Esq., Miami Lakes and Weston Estate Planning Attorneys,with special thanks for comments by Rick Stockton, Esq. of Holland & Knight, a primary author of the Lawgic Florida Wills and Trust program. Editor’s Note: The following is a public service Alert from Rarick & Bowden Gold, P.A. This…