Month: September 2019
Your Car… Do You Know Who Is Liable?
For many of us the most dangerous item we own is our car. Consequently the most likely area where we will face a lawsuit is from driving the car. Most of us are fine with our own driving responsibility but what about the acts of others when they drive our car. You may...
Quicky Divorce.. What Happens In Vegas Stays in Vegas?
A rather interesting case was just decided in Broward County regarding the validity of a divorce in Nevada and the effect of the divorce upon inheritance rights in Florida. In Kelley, III v. Kelley and Northern Trust, a grandfather, Gordon Kelley, created an...
Be Careful To Protect Grandfathered Generation Skipping Exempt Trusts!
Not only is a taxpayer subject to the estate tax, the income tax and the gift tax but also a generation skipping transfer tax (“GSTT”). The GSTT is imposed on certain transfers of property by a taxpayer to a grandchild or to an individual 2 or more generations below...
Hurricane Relief by IRS!
Unfortunately, many of us have been affected by Hurricane Irma. Fortunately the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) recognizes the devastation caused by these natural disasters which affect taxpayers, not only emotionally and physically, but financially. In a recent news...
Linda S. Griffin’s New Book!
We are pleased to announce that our very own Linda Suzzanne Griffin is the proud author of “The Survivor’s Navigator: A practical guide for dealing with the death of a loved one in Florida.” Linda wrote The Survivor’s Navigator for the non-legal person to help...
Paternity Action Denied In Probate Case
Section 732.108 of Florida Statutes(2)(b) , provides that the paternity of the father can be established by an adjudication before or after the death of the father. Section 742.011 of the Florida Statutes permits such a paternity action. Prior to 2009, Florida law...
Did You Get Advice When Completing Your Beneficiary Designation? Should You?
Many people designate beneficiaries for their IRAs, 401(k)s, and life insurance without any advice even though these designations can pass tremendous amounts of wealth. This lack of advice could cost money after someone dies and the beneficiary has to “fix” the...
Who Owns the Homestead Upon Death When There is a Surviving Spouse AND a Marital Settlement Agreement with a Prior Spouse? ?
Florida homestead is a very specific legal term and with it comes many favorable attributes, one of which is that, if properly devised, the homestead is not subject to a decedent’s creditors. For example Mom devises homestead to Son. At her death Mom had $20,000 in...
Making a splash protecting marine life
Our very own Linda S. Griffin is featured in a September 15, 2013 Florida Bar News article titled Clearwater lawyer makes a splash protecting marine life. The article explores Linda’s dedication to helping marine life at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium. Read the entire...
New Revenue Procedure Makes It Possible for Younger Beneficiaries in a Charitable Remainder Annuity Trust
Many people have charitable desires which can be met either by outright gifts to charities or gifts in trust for a charity’s benefit. For a taxpayer to receive a charitable deduction for gifts to a trust, the trust must meet stringent guidelines established by the...