WHAT IS PROBATE
Video Summary
What is probate? Probate is the court proceeding, that you use to pass the deceased person’s assets to their errors or beneficiaries. If they have a will it designates who the beneficiaries are. If they die without a, will, it passes to decedents and probate only deals with assets that are just the decedents name alone. So they are not, assets are not subject to probate. If they’re jointly held or they have a designated beneficiary. Also the probate process has the rights of creditors and creditors only have a right to collect their debts from the property that is owned by the decedent at their death. And so that is a purpose of the probate is to see that the beneficiaries receive the assets and that the creditors are of the decedent are paid from those assets. If you have any questions about probate, give me a call at (727) 847-2288.
Can I Contest the Handling of Money By My Power Of Attorney Representative
Video Summary
Can I contest the handling of money by my power of attorney representative? The answer is yes, under Florida law. The power of attorney who is now called an agent is responsible to prepare an accounting of the handling of any of your monies. I find that most of the time they do not do that, particularly if they’ve mishandled it, but certainly you can sue them for if they used the money improperly and that they have a, what they call it. They’re in a position of trust called a fiduciary relationship and they don’t use the money for your behalf or what they’re authorized to use it for. They are reliable to you for any abuses of the power of attorney. You have any questions, give me a call at (727) 847-2288.
- Published in Estate Planning, Videos, Wills
When Should I Make Updates To My Estate Plan
Video Summary
When should I update my estate plan? You should update your estate plan when there’s a change in circumstances. This is usually whenever the beneficiary passes away. Particularly whenever you have a husband and wife situation and you lose your spouse, that’s a good time or a reason to update your will to them. Look at your designated beneficiaries to see if they’re still the same. And also as far as selecting who your personal representative, if you want to be and do further estate planning in order to avoid probate. Also, if your personal representative becomes disqualified or dies, that’s another change in circumstance that you may wish to change your will or update your estate planning documents. Also, there can be changes as far as your children or your beneficiaries are concerned, their life, changing situations such as, alcohol or drug abuse. And if you wish to eliminate them while you should update your estate planning documents, or even who you wish to have as your power of attorney, or can make medical decisions for you. So if you have any questions, give me a call at (727) 847-2288.
- Published in Estate Planning, Videos, Wills
Does My Will Have To Be Probated
Video Summary
Does my will have to be probated? Your will does not have to be probated unless you have assets that are just in your name alone by having a will designating, the beneficiaries does not avoid probate. What avoids probate is titling your assets with a beneficiary designation or holding those assets jointly. So whether or not your will has to be probate depends on whether or not you die owning any assets that are titled just in your name. Most of the time that I see is it’s real estate that is in the decedent’s name and there’s no beneficiary designated on the deed. So to avoid probate, you can do estate planning. So if you have any questions about probate or how to avoid probate and estate planning, call me at (727) 847-2288.
- Published in Estate Planning, Probate, Videos, Wills
How Do You Avoid Capital Gains On A Sale Of A Home
Video Summary
How do you avoid capital gains on the sale of your home when you sell your home? If you’ve lived in the home for two out the past five years owned and lived there, you can exempt up to $250,000 of gain. So that may avoid any capital gains tax. If you have a larger gain than the $250,000, then you will have to pay capital gains tax on any amount over and above that amount. If you’re married, you can exempt up to $500,000 in gain. And so if your house sells for less and you’ve lived there for two out of the past five years and owned it during that period of time, you can exempt it from even reporting to the IRS. However, if you do have to report the sale, you exempt the $500,000, of gain. And then if you have gained more than $500,000, you must pay long term capital gains. When you sell your home, it’s not subject to a tax deferred exchange that is only for investment property. And it is there’s many times a myth that people evidently this Smith’s been around for 50 years or more that if I sell my house and then I turn around and take the money and buy another house for that money, I don’t have to pay any gains on it. That is simply a myth and not true. If you have any questions, give me a call at (727) 847-2288.
- Published in Real Estate – Selling, Videos