Estate Planning
There is more to estate planning than writing a simple will. Wills may be simple or complicated, depending on the family income, assets, number and age of family members, tax status of the family, and many other considerations. While there are many “do-it-yourself” packages on the market for “estate planning,” it is always best that wills and trusts be drawn up by an attorney knowledgeable in the latest state and federal statutes and tax laws. Today, many attorneys also prepare for their clients a durable power of attorney and a health care proxy. If applicable, they also prepare the forms required under the Anatomical Gift Act. Since these forms are statutory, the legal secretary/paralegal can prepare these forms for the attorney. Wills and Codicils, Trusts, Intestate Succession, Estate Planning and Administration all must follow the Florida Probate Code and the Florida Rules of Probate and Guardianship Procedure, which together with FS Chapters 731, 732, and 733, all fall under the jurisdiction of the Circuit Court. Working alone or in tandem with the client’s existing estate planning attorney, Solkoff Legal PA is well equipped to prepare a comprehensive estate plan for its clients. We focus on what your goals and desires are, educate you as to the various planning methods, and assist in the implementation of that plan.
Unlike traditional estate planning which focuses on what happens after death, Solkoff Legal, PA approaches estate planning from the perspective of meeting lifetime needs first and then developing an after-death plan.
One primary purpose of estate planning is to distribute your assets according to your wishes after your death but good planning means dealing with lifetime needs first. As part of your estate plan at Solkoff Legal, PA, we therefore focus on long-term care needs, incapacity planning, asset preservation, access to health care and other matters. After first dealing with lifetime needs, successful estate planning transfers your assets to your beneficiaries quickly and usually with minimal tax consequences.
The process of estate planning often includes inventorying your assets, making a will and/or establishing a trust, preparing a durable power of attorney and other advanced directives. Matters such as minimizing estate taxes, spendthrift children, children with unstable marriages, charitable inclinations, or preserving your assets against catastrophic illnesses are additional issues that may need to be dealt with either by us alone or with your tax counsel.
Need Estate Planning Help? We Can Help.
Contact us today by calling our Delray Beach, FL office at (561) 733-4242 or click the “book a consultation” box below to schedule a time.
Attorney Scott Solkoff has worked together with the Florida Department of Elder Affairs on three significant projects designed to benefit Florida’s seniors. The first was the development of the Florida Guardianship Education Coalition which Mr. Solkoff co-chaired with the late Honorable Thomas E. Penick, Jr. The second was the development of a pooled special needs trust managed by a legislatively-created direct service organization. The trust is the first of its kind to provide legislatively-authorized protection for assets of persons with disabilities while also providing funding for indigent people who require otherwise cost-prohibitive guardianship. The third project is the housing of SHINE volunteers in the offices of Solkoff Legal, P.A.
Solkoff Legal, P.A. was selected as a counseling site where seniors can meet with trained volunteers who provide consumer guidance on Medicare and other insurance choices. Solkoff Legal, P.A. provides complimentary space and support services for the Florida Department of Elder Affairs SHINE program. For more information on the SHINE program or to set an appointment with a SHINE representative, visit the SHINE website. The fact that the SHINE program meets in the law offices of Solkoff Legal, P.A. does not imply any legal advice or endorsement by Solkoff Legal, P.A. of advice provided by SHINE representatives and nor does this program infer any endorsement of Solkoff Legal, P.A. by the SHINE program or the Florida Department of Elder Affairs. This program is part of the charitable mission of Solkoff Legal, P.A.
