Estate planning is a topic that many people may be uncomfortable discussing, but everyone should realize they have an opportunity - now - to put their affairs in order so they can proactively secure the futures of their loved ones or intended beneficiaries. If you have elderly parents, you have a chance to ensure that they have not neglected steps in a way that could cause setbacks for your family.<\/p>\n
Contrary to what most people believe, estate planning is not just for wealthy people. As long as you have valuable assets to your name \u2013 a car, house, art collection, or even a handful of jewelry \u2013 estate planning is for you.<\/p>\n
In order to get your affairs in order, it is important to consult an estate planning attorney. You need to lay out your plans and preferences when it comes to distributing your assets. An attorney can suggest the right estate planning strategies that fit your goals.<\/p>\n
Contact the Family First Firm for an initial consultation to explore your estate planning needs and opportunities. If you want to know more about estate planning, our team can discuss the following with you:<\/p>\n
If you pass away without a will, your heirs might still receive their share of the estate. However, the allocation will be dictated by the laws of your state. In legal terms, this is what is called \u201cintestacy.\u201d<\/p>\n
In Florida, the rules of intestacy dictate that the surviving spouse would receive the whole estate if there are no children, or if all surviving descendants (children) are also shared by the spouse. If there are any descendants who are not shared by a surviving spouse, the estate would be divided into two, with one half going to the surviving spouse, and the other half subdivided among the descendants.<\/p>\n
If you pass on without a spouse or child, your estate would go to your parents. If they are also both deceased, the estate would be divided among your siblings. With or without a will, the property in your estate is required to go through probate before any property is transferred to the purported heirs. Speak with an experienced estate attorney at Family First Firm to avoid the disappointment of intended heirs and gain control of the distribution of your assets.<\/p>\n
Many issues can arise if someone in your family dies without a will or any estate plan. Your children or siblings might fight over their share, relatives might feel entitled to properties or other assets, and predatory creditors might take advantage and leave nothing to your intended beneficiaries. To avoid all of these from happening, it\u2019s smart to consult an estate planning attorney while you have the ability to do so. Plan diligently now to prevent these issues from happening to your family.<\/p>\n
An experienced and knowledgeable estate lawyer can suggest the right tools and strategies to help you preserve your family\u2019s assets. Moreover, you can make sure that your preferences and last wishes will be implemented once you pass on. You need to prepare for the unexpected so a valid and effective estate plan will be in place when it is needed. Call the Family First Firm today and schedule a consultation.<\/p>\n","extra_heading_1":"Protect Your Quality of Life","extra_content_1":"Proper estate planning ensures that you\u2019ll maintain a high quality of life and your dignity as well as peace of mind.","extra_heading_2":"Protect Your Loved Ones","extra_content_2":"Making your wishes known now will protect your loved ones from excessive taxes, debt, court fees, the heartache of the court system, and making medical decisions alone. It will also ensure that they\u2019re taken care of in your will.","extra_heading_3":"Protect Your Estate","extra_contanr_3":"We\u2019ll make sure that your plans are documented so that there are no mistakes and no one can challenge them. Your estate will go where you want it to, protected from excessive taxation along the way.","engagement_section_1_content":"
Probate is a court proceeding where a decedent\u2019s (someone who passed away) last will is reviewed and validated by a judge. This process is necessary to ensure that the last will is valid and created by the decedent with full knowledge and awareness of its contents.<\/p>\n
Some people seek to avoid probate because of the costs associated with it. Like any court proceeding, probate will require fees and a lawyer. The process can also take a long time.<\/p>\n
For those who want to avoid probate, setting up a trust is a better option than relying upon a last will.<\/p>\n","engagement_section_2_content":"
While estate planning is more concerned with the allocation or distribution of properties once you pass on, asset protection refers to an assortment of strategies geared toward ensuring your family\u2019s wealth is preserved and protected from irresponsible heirs, judgment orders, and various unfortunate circumstances that may involve creditors or other liabilities.<\/p>\n
Estate planning and asset protection can go hand in hand. To learn more about how asset protection strategies can benefit you and your family, consult an experienced estate planning attorney from the Family First Firm today.<\/p>\n","medicaid_extra_heading":"","medicaid_extra_text":"","single_practice_area_quote":"A great staff that knows their job to the fullest and goes far and beyond to make the client feel comfortable.","single_practice_area_quote_provider_name":"STAN","practice_area_video_below_lead_form":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=8b_puG5A7uI"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/familyfirstfirm.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/legal-services\/4542"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/familyfirstfirm.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/legal-services"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/familyfirstfirm.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/legal-services"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/familyfirstfirm.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/legal-services\/4542\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/familyfirstfirm.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4874"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/familyfirstfirm.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4542"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/familyfirstfirm.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4542"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}