Florida Estate Planning Lawyer Blog

October 20, 2011

Problems with Domestic Asset Protection Trusts

Domestic Asset Protection Trusts (DAPT) have become the latest rage in estate planning and asset protection. We have generally found that there are better ways of protecting assets from creditors by using traditional estate planning that has case-law history.

In a recent US bankruptcy case, a DAPT was invalidated and the 10-year bankruptcy statute of limitations in regards to trusts was upheld. This was an Alaskan case using an Alaskan DAPT but similar results should be expected in other jurisdictions.

If you are interested in Florida Asset Protection or Asset Protection in Jacksonville, contact a Florida Asset Protection Lawyer to discuss your circumstances and options that are available to help protect your assets from creditors or increase the ability to negotiate with creditors.

October 20, 2011

Florida Medicaid and Durable Powers Of Attorney

by David M. Goldman

DCF will reject Medicaid planning involving trusts and personal service contracts where a power of attorney is executed after 10/1/11 and the DPOA does not specifically authorize the ability to execute trusts or personal services contracts.

If you are using forms for a POA or DPOA, you should have them reviewed by an attorney as the may not be valid with the recent law change. In addition, the forms may not let you accomplish what needs to be done in regards to planning for a nursing home or Medicaid eligibility.

October 17, 2011

Trust Advisor Blog & Steve Jobs

by David M. Goldman

Here is a link to the article I previously mentioned on the Trust Advisor Blog where they interviewed me on my thoughts on Steve Jobs Estate.

October 17, 2011

Protecting Assets with No Equity

by David M. Goldman

I recently had a client inquiry with us regarding the transfer of real property which was upside down or had negative equity. Typically when one transfers property of value to another to avoid a creditor’s reach, the creditor can seek to have the transaction reversed under the theory of a fraudulent transfer.

Florida statute 726.102 seems to define assets which are subject to this to only include those which have a value on the date of transfer. If the property had a negative equity, it would appear that a future increase in value would not subject the property to the fraudulent transfer statutes. Given this a property transferred when there was no equity in the property should be protected if the property’s value later increased. There does not appear to be any case-law that is directly on topic and of course there is no guarantee that this would protect the asset. If you are trying to structure your assets for protection from creditors you should talk with a Jacksonville Asset Protection Lawyer to review your circumstances and what options you have.

October 6, 2011

Steve Jobs Will Reading and His Estate Plan

by David M. Goldman

Today there is much speculation about what Steve Jobs’ will reading will reveal about his life. Steve Jobs has always been very quiet and protective about his personal life and we all know that he has been very good at protecting business secrets.

I was interviewed today about what Steve Jobs’s will and the potential huge estate tax that will be paid. I think if you look at how he managed his life and businesses, it is likely that if Steve had a will, it will not be read and there will be no probate. I believe that none or almost none of his assets will pass under a traditional probate and that there will be no boom to the economy from his huge estate. Steve was married at the time he died and as such jointly held assets or those in a joint trust will probably not be subject to any estate taxes.

It is unlikely that we will hear anything in the next few months and may never know about Steve’s estate.

October 3, 2011

Florida Probate Changes

by David M. Goldman

IN RE AMENDMENTS TO FLORIDA PROBATE RULES

IN RE: AMENDMENTS TO THE FLORIDA PROBATE RULES.

No. SC11-1575.

October 3, 2011

Intro to Death Taxes

by David M. Goldman

I received an email regarding a video on Death and Estate Taxes. While most of these seem to be SPAM, this one actually had some decent background information that many of you may find valuable. The video states that 2% of the US population are subject to Death Taxes. I think the actual number is closer to 0.3% at the current level and it was as high as 2% when the estate tax exemption was 2 Million.

September 28, 2011

Zsa Zsa Gabor to be a new mother at age 95?

by David M. Goldman

Zsa Zsa Gabor, currently 94, is in the process of becoming one of the oldest new mothers ever. In law school we learn about a theory involving a fertile octogenarian with the point being that no one is too old to have a child so it is important to plan for future children.

Today this is most common with grandparents who adopt children, Zsa Zsa is going about this a little differently. She is reportedly in the process of selecting an egg donor, surrogate mother, and after a succesful artificial insemination she could become a new mother. Zsa Zsa’s only previous child predeceased her.

What if the artificial insemination takes but the child is not born before she dies? Hopefully we will not have to answer this question. Historically an unborn child is considered a child of the parent if born within 9 months of death. Obviously this has historically applied to the father. What would the courts decide about a artificially inseminated child using a surrogate mother? I have no idea what a court would rule or what rational they would use, but it sounds like a law school or bar exam question.

September 26, 2011

LGBT Legal Issues for Military in Florida

by Patricia Davis

As of September 20th 2011,the old “don’t ask, don’t tell” rule that has been in force for about 18 years is gone. The end of this policy marks a victory for Mayport gay and lesbian military personnel.

Now Mayport gay sailors and soldiers who don’t have to fear the loss of their military career because of their sexual orientation can feel free to obtain the legal advice and

LGBT legal documents

September 25, 2011

Estate Planning in a Nutshell

by Patricia Davis

We all need someone to look after us and care for us when we become part of the eldery population. We also need to take care of our spouses, our children, and our loved ones, when we have passed away. Looking to, and preparing for our future is in a nutshell, what Estate Planning in Jacksonville is all about.

Florida Estate Planning can be as simple as having your Florida Will, Florida Living Will, Florida Designation of Health Care Surrogate, and Florida Durable Power of Attorney prepared. You can also have different types of trusts prepared if you would rather have your assets managed by a trusted individual, after your death. In Florida, Trusts are also a great way to minimize your taxes as well as to manage your assets.

Preparing for future medical and financial decisions to be made on our behalf in the event of our incapacity, or illness, is the reason we prepare a Living Will, Do Not Resucitate Order, Health Care Surrogate Designation, and Power of Attorney.