Incorporating charitable giving into your estate plan is a meaningful way to support causes you care about while potentially reducing your estate tax liability. Whether you wish to leave a lasting legacy or simply give back to your community, there are several strategies to consider.

Pets hold a special place in our hearts, becoming cherished members of our families. Just as we plan for the well-being of our loved ones after we’re gone, it’s equally important to consider the future of our dogs, cats, horses and other animals. Estate planning for these special family members ensures that they will continue to receive the care and love they deserve even when we’re no longer able to provide it ourselves. In this article, we’ll explore the importance of estate planning for our four-legged friends and provide a comprehensive guide to help you secure their future.

A Florida Ladybird Deed, also known as an Enhanced Life Estate Deed, is an increasingly popular legal instrument used in estate planning. This type of deed allows property owner(s) to retain control over their homestead property without losing the homestead or tax benefits, while also designating beneficiaries who will inherit it upon their passing. Like any legal tool, there are advantages and disadvantages associated with the use of a Florida Ladybird Deed. In this article, we’ll explore the pros and cons of this estate planning option.

I’ve had several new clients come to my office with legal documents they downloaded off the Internet, or legal documents they paid some online service for (Legal Zoom, etc.) that created huge, expensive problems for them, or could have caused problems for them if they hadn’t taken these documents to an attorney for review before they passed away.

The problem with Internet legal advice is that sometimes things that look like perfectly good facts are actually just data picked up and presented either by some artificial intelligence bot or a person who is not licensed to practice law in that state. That information is often, at best, erroneous, and at worst, downright wrong.

Many people want to know how to avoid paying federal estate taxes upon the death of a spouse. The “DSUE” is one of the means by which we can either completely eliminate or at least lessen a person’s federal estate tax liability.

In short, no. But that doesn’t mean a person has to go through the full probate process in order to inherit real property in Tennessee.

If someone dies and the only thing they own is real estate and some personal possessions, meaning they have no bank accounts, stocks or bonds, retirement accounts, or other similar assets, a beneficiary can claim title to the real estate in a very simple proceeding versus a full probate process.