Recent Blog Posts
Your Most Recent Will May Not Be Your “Last” Will
A last will and testament is an estate planning document specifying who you wish to receive your property upon your death. If you die intestate—that is, without leaving a will—your property will pass to your next-of-kin in accordance with Florida law. Your property may also pass intestate if your will is found invalid by… Read More »
Does a Seller Have to Disclose Problems With a House to the Buyer?
Historically the law when it came to buying or selling real estate was “let the buyer beware.” In other words, it was the buyer’s sole responsibility to learn about any potential defects in a house before closing. But in 1985, the Florida Supreme Court declared that “where the seller of a home knows of… Read More »
How an “Acceleration Clause” Can Affect Your Home Mortgage
For many Florida residents, a home mortgage is the biggest debt they will ever take on. A mortgage is not something to be entered into lightly. Most mortgages contain an “acceleration clause,” which means if you miss even one monthly payment, the lender can demand the entire balance outright. Miami Court Resets the Clock… Read More »
How Should I Revoke a Will or Trust?
A will or trust is not set in stone, at least as long as you are alive. As your Florida estate planning needs change throughout your lifetime, you may wish to revise or revoke prior estate planning documents. It is important to make your intentions to revoke a will or trust as clear as… Read More »
Selling Your Home With or Without a Real Estate Agent
Selling your home is a big undertaking. It is not as simple as posting a classified ad online and waiting for someone to show up at your door with a check. That is why many people choose to sell their home through a real estate agent—a licensed professional who assumes the responsibility of locating… Read More »
Should You Create a Revocable Living Trust?
A trust is a common Florida estate planning tool that can help reduce the time and cost of administering your estate. While you might think a trust is only for wealthy individuals, in fact anyone with assets of any kind—such as a house—can benefit from the flexibility afforded by a trust. And even though… Read More »
What Happens if a Homeowner Backs Out of a Sale at Closing?
A real estate closing represents the final stage in buying or selling a property. The closing is when the buyer presents the seller with a check for the purchase price and the seller signs a deed officially transferring ownership. And while most real estate closings are routine affairs, there are cases where one party… Read More »
Should I Use a Will or a Trust for My Estate Planning?
One of the most basic estate planning decisions you need to make is whether to rely on a will or a trust as the principal means of disposing of your assets. Every person’s financial and family situation is different, so there is not a single correct approach. Indeed, while people sometimes speak of the… Read More »
Family Maintenance Allowances During Estate Administration
Your spouse has recently passed. You have two children and a house to keep up. You are not sure what to do about the bills, as half of the income that was used to pay bills stopped when your spouse passed away. You are dealing with the emotional toll that follows after a loved… Read More »
Tiny Houses
There is a new and growing trend which started around 2012 for affordable and simplistic homeownership – tiny houses. These houses are generally between 100 and 500 square feet in size, and are often built on trailers, so the homeowners can move their houses with ease. With a growing number of Americans foregoing the… Read More »
