ESTATE PLANNING PITFALL A revocable living trust compliments a will and enables your beneficiaries to inherit your wealth upon your death with no need for probate. But, the trust must be properly funded if it is to do any good. …
Blog
Are You Aging Solo?
AGING SOLO? BUILD A TEAM! Many of my senior clients live alone – some never married, some are widowed or divorced, and many of my clients never had children or their children are deceased or estranged. With no family member…
What is a Lady Bird Deed?
These deeds are also call “enhanced life estate” deeds. With a standard life estate deed, you could name a beneficiary to inherit your property while you keep ownership of it for your lifetime, but with significant restrictions. You wouldn’t have…
Why Should You Work with the Law Offices of Debra Simms?
Here at the Law Offices of Debra G. Simms, we provide complete Estate Planning services. Our revocable trust is not the “one size fits all” document that comes in an expensive leather binder. We consult with you, assess your situation…
Do You Have Questions About Advance Medical Directives?
COMMON QUESTIONS ABOUT ADVANCE MEDICAL DIRECTIVES Is a designation of health care surrogate the same as a living will? No. A healthcare surrogate is able to make decisions about the medical treatments which are not life support; such as medication,…
Talking To Your Family – Don’t Leave This Out of Your Estate Plan
An old saying goes that there are only two things that certain in life – death and taxes. While neither of these things is anyone’s favorite subject, they both point towards the importance of Estate Planning. When we talk about…
Have You Planned For Your Pet?
FLORIDA PET TRUSTS What will happen if your pet outlives you? Many pet owners, like me, consider our pets as part of our family. But, far too many of us neglect to make long-term plans for our pets. Each year…
Create Your Estate Plan
Create a valid will if you do not yet have one. A valid will may save your heirs from expensive headaches linked to probate. A solid will drafted with the guidance of an estate planning attorney will likely cost you…
More Do It Yourself Perils
More About the Dangers of “Do It Yourself” (DIY) Estate Plans I once had a widowed client who used an online do-it-yourself will that failed to mention what would happen if his only son predeceased him. Well, that is what…
Veteran’s Burial Benefits – Earned through Service!
As an attorney working with elders and their estate plans, I discuss my clients’ wishes for burial or cremation. I always encourage my veteran clients, as part of their estate planning, to plan in advance to make things easier on…