If there is one silver lining to the craziness that was 2020, it is that many people have realized the importance of estate planning. However, according to a 2020 survey by Caring.com and YouGov, something is holding many back from actually drafting an estate plan. In...
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Riddell Law Group Blog
Defects in deeds can lead to disaster
We tend to think about property as things that are owned by people, but the law regards property as a set of rights people have over things. If you have the deed to a piece of real estate, it shows you have title to that property, meaning that you have all the rights...
Creating a financial power of attorney
When people create a will or trust in their estate planning, they usually include a living will or durable power of attorney as part of the estate planning documents. But another important advanced directive that sometimes gets overlooked is a financial POA that will...
Disinheritance and the elective share
We all have heard stories about people who learn only after the death of a close family member that they had been written out of the person's will. Sometimes disinheritance comes as a complete shock, and other times it comes after many years of arguments. In some...
Title issues that can prevent real property transactions
When a Floridian buys a new home, the title to the property is transferred to them, if they pay the price in full, or to their lender. A property’s title provides important information about it and the scope of land that the holder of the title owns. Unfortunately,...
How to avoid last-minute issues before closing on a home
Closing on a home is exciting. It doesn’t matter whether you’re a first-time homebuyer or a retiree who is looking for a warm-weather getaway, it’s a thrill to have a place that you can call your own. However, what was thrilling can quickly turn terrifying if...
How do I start the estate planning process?
Oh boy, what a seemingly loaded question, but really, it is not. Times are tough right now, for some financially, but for all, psychologically. Every day feels like 2020 just piles it on, and the world seems crazy. We are bombarded by the reality of our own mortality...
Probate process in Florida
If a person residing or owning in property dies and leaves assets behind, their estate will go through the probate process. The probate process can be complicated, depending on the size of the estate and whether the decedent had a will. However, an attorney with...
Real estate sales and refinancing are growing in areas of Florida
Businesses in Florida and across the nation have been impacted by the current health situation. Financial concerns, downsizing and weighing options has been ongoing for much of 2020. Still, it is important to be aware of real estate trends and to take advantage of...
Estate planning and the generation-skipping trust
A lot of people think that estate planning is nothing more than drafting a will that evenly divides their assets amongst their children. But estate planning can be much more than that if you want it to be. In fact, the process is highly customizable so that your needs...
