Category: Estate Planning

Estate planning is the process of anticipating and arranging, during a person’s life, for the management and disposal of that person’s estate during the person’s life and after death, while minimizing gift, estate, and income tax.

Are you competing with your partner’s estate plan?

Are you competing with your partner’s estate plan? estate planning attorney

What makes a good “life partner”? I say “life partner” because many couples in our area live together and/or work together, but have not yet married. Maybe your loved one has an estate plan but has not taken the time to update it to include you in it. You both are too busy to focus […]

Keeping in Contact with Loved Ones During COVID19

Keeping in Contact with Loved Ones During COVID19

The Coronavirus, or COVID-19, is impacting hospice care facilities, nursing homes, and rehabilitation facilities all across the country.  Loved ones are not able to visit their family members or friends in person.  However, there are other ways to show your love.  Many facilities in Florida are implementing helpful measures.  If the facility your loved one […]

4 critical estate plan tips for the small business owner

4 critical estate plan tips for the small business owner

As a business owner, you are busy – busy running your business, running your household, running your children around.  Most business owners are focused on short term gains and goals.  The focus is mostly about what can be done in the next 24 hours to level up the business – but what are you doing […]

What You Must Know Before Choosing Your Personal Representative

What You Must Know Before Choosing Your Personal Representative

In Florida, choosing a personal representative (commonly called “executor”) to be in charge of your estate is a very personal decision. While you might think you have the final word in your will, there are certain criteria each personal representative must meet in order to be appointed.  Your decision is secondary to the Florida Statutes. […]

The Florida Health Care Surrogate: name the person who will make your health care decisions if you cannot.

The Florida Health Care Surrogate: name the person who will make your health care decisions if you cannot.

Your right to self-determination and to make ethical decisions about your own medical treatment are protected under Florida law. What many people do not realize, however, is that these rights can be entrusted to a loved one, should you lose the capacity to make health care decisions yourself. In fact, the Designation of Health Care […]

A Family’s Guide to Florida Probate

A Family’s Guide to Florida Probate

What is Probate? Probate is the court supervised process that begins after a person’s death (“decedent”) and is done for the purpose of: 1) confirming the validity of the will, if any; 2) identifying and taking possession of the assets; 3) paying the decedent’s debts, and 4) distributing the assets to the beneficiaries. References to […]

Without a will, you may be surprised who will get your property under Florida law.

Without a will, you may be surprised who will get your property under Florida law.

In Florida, what property is inherited by your family if you die without a will (“intestate”) depends on what type of property you own at your death. Property is passed to your heirs in two ways: either outside of probate (“non-probate”), or through a court-supervised process called “probate”. Property Passing Outside of Probate: In many […]

Florida Wills : Requirements That May Impact You & Your Family

Florida Wills : Requirements That May Impact You & Your Family

A Last Will and Testament is the document that is used to specify what will happen to your property after you die. A will is valuable to reduce confusion, stress, and conflict among surviving family members to whom property may be gifted or given upon your passing. Ideally it should clearly states your wishes for […]

A To-Do List for Estate Planning in St Johns County, Florida

A To-Do List for Estate Planning in St Johns County, Florida

At the Preddy Law Firm, P.A. our goal is to help families in St. Johns County, Florida and the Jacksonville area avoid frustration and fear when it comes to estate planning. By being proactive instead of reactive, a family can save time, anxiety, and money in the case of a loved one’s death. Estate planning […]

New to Florida? Are Your Estate Plan Documents Still Good?

New to Florida? Are Your Estate Plan Documents Still Good?

Many people move to Florida. Some move here for the sunshine, warm weather, and the beaches. Others come for new opportunities. We welcome all of you. Many who relocate to Florida are concerned that estate plan documents they had prepared in another state may not be valid in Florida. These documents could include last wills, […]