Estate Planning

The school season is right around the corner. If you are a parent, you have likely bought your little one some new clothes, book covers, pens, paper and other school supplies.  However, plenty of parents have not prepared for the possibility of prematurely departing this plane of existence.  Have you thought about how your kids…

If you are suddenly unable to care for yourself physically or mentally, do you know who will make medical decisions for you? Unfortunately, many people find themselves in this position because they haven’t discussed their plan with anyone – or perhaps have a plan at all.  Appointing someone to make medical decisions for you when…

If the pandemic has taught us anything, it is the importance of life decisions such as wills and estate planning. We’ve all heard that saying “Nothing is sure but death and taxes,” but we at the Law Office of Amy L. Phillips, PLLC would argue that confusion surrounding legal matters as we age is a…

No. A will is a formal legal document that contains instructions on which property or money goes to which person, but it doesn’t mean probate won’t be necessary. Your will is a set of instructions to the probate judge, telling him or her about your intentions with your property. Any assets that only have your…

Maybe—but do so carefully. One of the biggest benefits of adding a child (or children) to your deed is avoiding probate. If done correctly, at your death, your children would automatically own your home, saving them the expense and time of a probate case. Avoiding probate can also help eliminate problems with creditors after your…

No—that’s almost never the case. If you don’t have a will, your estate is what’s known as an intestate estate. That means you don’t have a last will and testament, but it doesn’t mean your family won’t inherit from you. The Florida Statutes on intestate estates assume that what most people will want is for…