SARASOTA ESTATE PLANNING ATTORNEY
Wills | Revocable Trusts | Power of Attorney | Health Care Surrogate | Living Will

I represent a diverse clientel of Sarasota (Longboat Key, Siesta Key, Casey Key, Bird Key, Venice, Osprey and Englewood) and Bradenton (Lakewood Ranch, University Park, River Club, Palm Aire, Meadows, River Wilderness, Parish and Ellenton) Florida residents, in different life situations, that can benefit from basic to sophisticated estate and tax plans. I design Florida  estate plans (Wills, Revocable Trusts, Powers of Attorney, Health Care Surrogates and Living Wills) to minimize federal estate taxes, achieve tax efficiency,  maximize wealth transfer to future generations, and ensure that the final distribution of our Sarasota and Bradenton Florida clients' assets are in accordance with their goals and objectives. For same sex couples, I draft estate plans to ensure their partners are protected from family disputes. For non-resident aliens, living in Sarasota or Bradenton Florida, I work with your advisors to plan transfers in light of U.S. tax laws. My experience and knowledge permits me to assist clients with creative solutions to reach their goals and objectives.

Our Florida estate planning documents are drafted to protect the needs of special needs individuals, and contain creditor, drug and alcohol protection provisions.  These provisions insure that "special needs individuals" do not lose eligibility for government benefits, creditors can't attack a beneficiaries inheritance, and protect an addict from wasting an inheritance.   

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THE FLORIDA ESTATE PLANNING DOCUMENTS YOU NEED:

Last Will & Testament: A Florida Last Will & Testament ("Florida Will") is a writing, signed by a Florida resident ("Testator") and two attesting witness, which meets the formal requirements set forth by Florida law. A Florida Will designates the individual(s) or entity that will serve as Personal Representative (executor) to administer the decedent's estate and the beneficiaries who will receive the Florida probate assets. A Florida Will can also establish a trust and designate who will serve as its trustee. A properly drafted and attested Florida Will controls over the automatic inheritance provisions set forth under Florida probate law. In the absence of a valid Florida Will, or if the Florida Will fails in any respect, Florida probate law will designate the beneficiaries and the method for selection of the Florida personal representative.

Revocable Trust: A written declaration in which a Florida resident (the "Grantor") transfers his or her property (real estate, brokerage and bank accounts, art, etc.) into a Revocable Trust, for the benefit of his or her self, during their lifetime. During the Grantor's lifetime, the document will reserve unto them complete control over the Revocable Trust and its assets, including the right to amend or revoke the trust at any time.  No income taxes are due on the transfer of assets into the trust.

A "Trustee" will hold legal title to the trust property for the benefit of the Grantor, during his or her lifetime, and the ultimate recipients of the assets (the "beneficiary"). The terms and conditions under which the Trustee operates are defined in the Florida Trust instrument. 

Florida Trusts fall into two basic categories: testamentary (created under a Florida Will and does not come into existense until the Testator passes away) and inter-vivos (created during the Testator's lifetime, typically a "Florida Revocable Trust").  Florida Revocable Trusts are generally used for the following purposes: (i) Asset Management - Permit the trustee to administer and invest the trust property for the benefit of one or more beneficiaries; and (ii) Probate Avoidance - at the death of the Grantor, the trust property will pass to whoever is named as a beneficiary of the trust and avoid the Florida probate court process. While the assets of a Florida Revocable Trust will be included in the grantor's taxable estate, the trust can be drafted so that the assets will not be included in the estates of the beneficiaries, thus avoiding taxes when the beneficiaries die.

The role of a Florida Revocable Living Trust is to (i) avoid probate when you die (especially if you own real property in multiple states), and (ii) avoid a guardianship if you become incapacitated.  A Florida Revocable Trust does not provide (i) creditor protection to the grantor, or (ii) income tax savings benefits. 

Power of Attorney:  Written instructions which designate another individual (the "agent" or "attorney-in-fact") to make financial decisions on a Florida resident's behalf. The document is typically utilized in the event that you: (i) are rendered incapable of making your own financial decisions; (ii) are unavailable; or (iii) require assistance. The powers granted to the agent may be limited to a particular activity (real estate transaction) or be overly broad (cover everything). The agents powers may: (i) take effect immediately or upon the occurrence of a future event (springing power); and (ii) be temporary or permanent authority to act on your behalf. The purpose of a durable family power of attorney is to provide a means by which the family members can help a potentially disabled or incompetent person in handling that person's legal, business and property affairs and to avoid the time, expense and embarrassment involved in having to establish a guardianship for that person.

Health Care Surrogate Directive:  Written instructions that set forth what actions should be taken for your health in the event you are unable to make health care decisions on your own behalf (due to illness or incapacity). The document appoints the individual ("health care surrogate") to make all necessary medical decisions in the event you are unable to express your preferences.

Living Will: Written instructions which allow you to determine how you want to be treated under certain medical conditions (given life-sustaining treatments in the event you are terminally ill or injured or provided food and water via intravenous devices). The document may appoint an individual to make decisions on your behalf if you are unable to do so.

"Life-sustaining treatment" means the use of available medical machinery and techniques, such as heart-lung machines, ventilators, and other medical equipment and techniques that will sustain and possibly extend your life, but which will not by themselves cure your condition. In addition to terminal illness or injury situations, most states permit you to express your preferences as to treatment using life-sustaining equipment and/or tube feeding for medical conditions that leave you permanently unconscious and without detectable brain activity.
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NON-US CITIZEN SPOUSE PLANNING:  Estate planning when a non-US citizen spouse is involved is a lot more complex. Lifetime gifts to a non-citizen spouse are capped at $134,000 plus $13,000 annually. It is important to utilize a Qualified Domestic Trust (QDOT) to maximize the maximum amount that can be passed estate tax free. 
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            PASSING ON YOUR WEALTH
               DURING YOUR LIFETIME:

Gifts: If you give any individual more than $13,000 (in 2012), you must file a gift tax return and report the gift to the IRS.  Gifted amounts above $13,000 will count against each individual’s $5.12 million lifetime tax exclusion for gifts (2012).
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                    FEDERAL ESTATE TAXES:

22 states and District of Columbia have state estate or inheritance taxes in place for 2012. Thirteen states and D.C., have estate taxes only. Six states levy only an inheritance tax  with the tax rate depending on the relationship of the heir to the deceased and the taxes kicking in, in some cases, on the first dollar of bequest. New Jersey and Maryland levy both estate and inheritance taxes.
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      SPECIAL NEEDS BENEFICIARIES:

Supplemental Needs Trusts:  A Florida Supplemental Needs Trust or Special Needs Trust will enable a donor to provide for the continuing care of a disabled spouse, child, relative or friend (the “beneficiary”).  When properly drafted, the beneficiary will have access to the trust assets for purposes other than those provided by government (federal and state) benefit programs. This will ensure the beneficiary will not lose eligibility for government benefits (Supplemental Security Income, Medicaid and low-income housing).