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Attention Gen-X and Millennials: estate planning is not just for “old” people. Even Young Adults Should Start Estate Planning. 

Attention Gen-X and Millennials: estate planning is not just for “old” people. Even Young Adults Should Start Estate Planning. 

Don’t think you need to worry about your estate plan because you’re “too young”?  Too busy to worry about it because you’re getting ready for college or just starting your career? Without proper planning, your parents won’t be able to see your medical records if you’re in an accident and won’t be able to participate Read More

LGBTQ ESTATE PLANNING IN FLORIDA

PRIDE month is coming to a close, but here at Longa Law we are committed to providing LGBTQ estate planning every day.  Unfortunately, while recent advancements in equality have expanded protections in some areas, complete legal equality is not guaranteed for all in our society. We help LGBTQ community members ensure that their wishes are Read More

4 Estate Planning Documents No Entrepreneur Should Be Without

What would happen to your business upon your death? What happens if you become incapacitated?  Although most entrepreneurs understand the value of effective business planning, fewer are aware of the critical role estate planning plays in their company’s ongoing success. Estate planning is one of the single-most important things you can do for your business. Read More

Protecting Children with an Estate Plan

According to a 2019 survey, 57% of adults in the United States have not prepared any estate planning documents, such as a will or trust, despite the fact that 76% viewed them as important. Many believed mistakenly that it was not necessary because they did not have many assets.  Estate Planning is not just for Read More

UPDATE ON REMOTE NOTARIZATIONS OF WILLS AND TRUSTS

Longa Law is implementing new protocols to minimize face-to-face contact to complete traditional signing ceremonies for Wills and Trusts with witnesses and a notary in the safest manner possible.  While we cannot offer you a signing ceremony that is completely online or remote today, we expect that to be a reality by this summer. Florida’s Read More

TAX UPDATE & EXTENSION

As of Friday, March 20th, the deadline to file tax returns has been extended to July 15th to file or pay 2019 income taxes (up to $1 million). During this time, filers will not incur interest on unpaid taxes or be subject to tax filing penalties. Taxpayers tend to procrastinate and wait to prepare their Read More

TRUST BASICS: HOW MANY WITNESSES ARE NEEDED FOR A TRUST?

A Trust is essentially an agreement between the Grantor (sometimes called the Trustor) and the Trustees, who maintain the Trust in accordance with its terms.  I tell clients to think of a Trust as a private treasure chest or safe deposit box for assets.  Trust law is state specific, so in Florida, the Florida Trust Read More

10 Tips for Guardians of Older Adults

In my practice, I often help people make decisions for themselves about who will make decisions for them if they are incapacitated.  This is an important part of estate planning and can avoid formal guardianship proceedings.  Regardless, sometimes there is no other alternative for caregivers of older adults with capacity issues than to seek a Read More

SECURE Act New IRA Rules: Change Your Estate Plan – Forbes

It’s time to update your will or trust, if your estate includes IRAs and certain retirement benefits! The new SECURE Act and its IRA rule changes may make your current will or trust designations invalid or obsolete.  This article from Forbes sheds some light on the new law:  https://www.forbes.com/sites/martinshenkman/2019/12/25/secure-act-new-ira-rules-change-your-estate-plan/

Avoiding Probate Through Joint Ownership and the Exemption on Deeds Between Spouses

One way to avoid probate is through certain types of joint ownership or joint tenancy.  When a married couple buys a property, they own it as a tenancy by the entirety, and the property will automatically pass to the surviving spouse without probate.  Florida law was updated last year to allow for the exemption of Read More