Estate Planning Attorneys in South Florida

What Are the Benefits of Having an Estate Plan?

An estate plan is a vital part of financial management and provides peace of mind. Everyone’s circumstances are unique, so having an estate plan tailored to your circumstances can provide clear direction on how assets are to be divided upon death or in the event of incapacity.

Having an estate plan can:

• Ensure that your wishes are respected and followed
• Protect your assets from being depleted by taxes and other expenses
• Provide for family members who are dependent on you financially
• Help to reduce the amount of time it takes to transfer assets upon death or incapacity
• Provide clarity over the distribution of assets to beneficiaries
• Minimize taxes payable on the estate by utilizing strategies such as gifting and trusts
• Protect your interests if you become incapacitated by appointing a trusted person to manage your affairs
• Help establish guardianship for any minor children or disabled dependents

By having an estate plan in place, you can protect yourself, your family and your assets from unnecessary stress and disruption. An estate plan provides a way for you to take control of your financial future. It is in everyone’s best interest to have an estate plan tailored to their individual circumstances.

How Often Should I Update My Estate Plan?

Updating your estate plan is an essential first step in ensuring that your goals are accurately conveyed and legally binding. As experienced Pompano Beach estate planning attorneys, we recommend regularly reviewing and adjusting your estate plan to account for any changes in legal or personal circumstances. Generally, it's advisable to review your estate plan every three to five years. However, certain life events and changes may necessitate more immediate updates. 

Here are a few key instances where you should consider revisiting your estate plan:

• Marriage or Divorce: Changes in your marital status can significantly impact your estate plan, requiring updates to wills, trusts, and beneficiary designations.
• Birth or Adoption of a Child: When welcoming a new member to your family, it’s essential to update your estate plan to include guardianship provisions and adjust asset distribution.
• Significant Changes in Assets: Ensuring your estate plan accurately reflects any major asset sales or acquisitions is crucial.
• Relocation to a New State: Estate laws vary from state to state. If you've recently moved to Florida, consulting with South Florida estate planning lawyers can help you adjust your plan to comply with local regulations.
• Changes in Tax Laws: Tax laws can change, impacting your estate plan. Regular check-ins with your attorney will keep you updated and allow for necessary adjustments.
• Health Changes: Major health changes, particularly for those designated in your healthcare proxy or power of attorney, warrant a review of your estate planning documents.

Regularly updating your estate plan and staying proactive guarantees that your assets will be protected and your intentions fulfilled. The dedicated estate planning attorneys at Bilu Law in South Florida are here to assist you in keeping your estate plan both up-to-date and effective.

Wills & Trusts

Too many people wait to establish wills and trusts because they simply don’t want to think about them. But it is so important to put your wishes in a legal document so that they can be carried out and not challenged. Frankly, if your wills and trusts are not set up correctly, you might as well not have done them.

Who Needs A Will?

Often, people think that if they don’t yet have children, they don’t need a will. Everyone should have a will regardless of how many relatives they have or how they’re related to them. You may have assets you aren’t aware of that can be safely passed on to someone you care about, even a friend. If you die without a will, a court will decide how to distribute those assets.

One quite common situation occurs when one spouse dies, followed shortly by the death of the surviving spouse. Florida law says the first spouse’s assets go to the surviving spouse. But, when that second spouse dies, all of the assets go to the second spouse’s family. The first spouse’s family gets nothing.

How Does a Trust Work?

A simple will can make sure your assets go to whomever you wish. Trusts are also a vital planning tool. In many cases, trusts can save an estate a good deal of money on taxes. Our estate planning attorneys in South Florida can advise you on whether your estate and your goals warrant establishing a trust.

Then we can draft a trust that will achieve those goals. We handle revocable and irrevocable trusts and living trusts. We also will administer trusts on clients’ behalf.