BLOGS

The pour-over will is the most misunderstood document in the estate planning binder. It is never the star of the plan, and it is quietly the reason the plan survives real life. This post explains what a pour-over will catches, why it does not avoid probate, how trust funding decides whether your plan works, Florida's strict will formalities, and the extra job this document does for families with a special needs beneficiary.

A Florida guardianship doesn't end when the guardian dies — the court appoints a successor, and without a plan, that decision goes to a judge who's never met your family. This post breaks down how a preneed guardian designation under Florida Statute 744.3045 lets you name your own successor in advance, when a standby guardianship makes more sense instead, and how this planning connects to your special needs trust, will, and power of attorney.

Most families plan for who has authority over their adult child's guardianship today, but few plan for what happens when the guardian is gone. In Florida, a guardianship does not end when the guardian dies. The court appoints a successor, and without a written designation, that choice is made without the family's input. Here is how guardian succession actually works, why an out-of-state guardianship complicates it, and how to make sure the right person steps in

When your child with a developmental disability turns 18, your legal authority to make decisions for them does not carry over automatically. Many Florida parents assume full guardianship is their only option, but guardian advocacy, a separate process under Florida Statute 393.12, often fits better. Here is how the two compare, who qualifies, and how to figure out which path is right for your family.

If your adult child is on SSI and you are approaching retirement, there is something you need to know before you file for Social Security. A Disabled Adult Child benefit may pay more, is not means-tested, and leads to Medicare. But a lump-sum back payment can put Medicaid at risk if you are not prepared. This post walks through what the change means and how Florida families can protect their child's benefits.

This post will help you understand how trustee abuse happens, what legal duties trustees owe under Florida law, how to detect red flags early, and, most importantly, how to build safeguards into your plan to protect your child’s trust from ever being misused.