Equitable distribution is easily misunderstood. One of the reasons for this may be that people associate equitable distribution with a 50/50 division of assets and debts. However, equitable distribution does not mean an equal 50/50 split. That would only occur in a state that has community property laws. Community property states assume that everything acquired during a marriage (debts, liabilities, and assets) are Read More

Some of the terms used during the divorce process may generate more questions than answers. For instance, when inquiring about how your assets get divided, you may discover that Florida is an equitable distribution state. Though some people could interpret that to mean an even 50/50 (i.e., equal) split, that would be inaccurate. “Fair” would be a more accurate way to describe the term—which could ultimately be 50/50, Read More

Is your divorce contested? Your lawyer may ask you this during your initial consultation if you are beginning the process. The difference between an uncontested divorce and a contested one is whether there is anything left for the court to decide. Have you and your former spouse reached an agreement on the following issues? Child custody Child support Visitation Spousal support How you will Read More

Probate can be challenging for many people. Not only is it something that most people are unfamiliar with, but it comes on the heels of an emotionally difficult time—the passing of a loved one. If you have recently learned that someone has passed away and their assets will pass through the probate courts, the following is meant to provide you with some valuable information about what the road ahead looks like and how Read More

If you have made the responsible decision to create an estate plan, you may be eager to get started—and this is understandable. Many people live without an estate plan simply because they aren’t aware of the potential consequences and complications for those who haven’t created one. Even if you have called an attorney and booked a consultation, there are several things you can do in the interim. Build A List Start Read More

Estate planning is about preparing for the future. It centers around someone who wishes to make the hard decisions now so that their families and loved ones are not left to manage or argue over an estate and its assets. There are numerous reasons as to why anyone with property or a bank account should create an estate plan. The complexity of each person’s plan varies depending on their assets. If you have children Read More

Though there are many misconceptions about estate planning, one of the more common ones is that having a will excludes you from going through probate. However, you still have to go through probate when there is a will and no living trust. Some are firmly against probate simply because they have been told to avoid it. Make the educated choice by first understanding what probate is and having a discussion with your Read More

Your Estate Plan is uniquely crafted to fit you. It should reflect your personal life experiences, goals, and relationships. The funny thing about life is how often those change – and, consequently, your Estate Plan should be changing along with them. Here are 5 times when you need to update your Estate Plan as soon as you can: You Moved To Another State Since probate is handled differently in every state, your Read More

While most people have heard of a Will, they probably do not know the full extent of Estate Planning. Estate Planning is the process of working with an attorney to create a legally binding plan for what will happen to your belongings and property (known as your estate) and your remaining money (known as your assets) after you pass away. It also has many more benefits and uses beyond just that. Estate Planning is not Read More

In this article, we will discuss how time-sharing agreements have been affected by Covid-19 and what can be done moving forward to limit disagreements in the wake of the pandemic. The concept of time-sharing exists in Florida to reduce the confusion surrounding the “custody” of a minor child and the various complexities that arise out of deciding how the child should spend time with each parent. Florida Statute 61.13 Read More