Blog | Lauren Richardson Law, PLLC | Florida Estate Planning Blog

Powers of Attorney: Not Just for Seniors

Each year, around 2 million young adults pack up their belongings and head to college in pursuit of higher learning. While for most parents this migration marks the long-awaited absence of loud music and teenage rebellion, many parents don’t realize that something else may very well go missing: their power to make medical and legal decisions for their children. As some find out the hard way, this departure can mean the loss of certain parental rights regarding access to a child’s medical care and records. Jo, a mother, learned this lesson after receiving a call from her daughter’s college notifying her that the freshman had been in a car accident and suffered a head injury. Because Jo’s daug

Why Should You Prepare Advance Directives?

Did you know that only one-third of Americans over the age of 18 have signed advance directives? This 2014 study, conducted by the American Journal of Preventive Medicine (AJPM), analyzed the factors associated with advance directives completion. The AJPM discovered that 25 percent of Americans who did not prepare advance directives simply weren’t aware of its importance or know what the documents were to begin with. Others did not prepare advance directives because they were young and healthy, seeing advance directives as unnecessary. The lack of preparation when it comes to advances directives stems from a lack of education. Advance directives outline a person’s wishes and specifies what

How Powerful is a Power of Attorney?

In our previous blog posts, we have reiterated over and over the importance of creating a power of attorney. It is the most inexpensive way to designate a person to act on behalf of someone who is incapacitated or disabled. However, there are also circumstances where a power of attorney can fail. Paul Sullivan’s article highlights a case where a woman was given power of attorney from her brother. However, her childhood name was used to designate her power of attorney. Her middle name, the name she goes by, was not present on the power of attorney document. When she presented the document to the bank, the bank denied her power of attorney even after she explained her situation. Because her le

What I Should Know About the Florida Probate Process

Did you know that the probate process differs from state to state? In Florida, in order begin the probate process, a lawyer is necessary to assist and give you legal guidance. Having an attorney for probate court proceedings is a state requirement. People are often weary about probate and want to avoid it at all costs. This is because the probate process can be expensive, time-consuming and stressful. The attorney fees are typically the biggest costs in probate court proceedings. “Under Florida Law, as compensation for administering a probate estate, a lawyer can charge up to 3 percent of the entire estate value,” according to Robert D. Schwartz, a lawyer who specializes in Florida wills, tr

June is Elder Abuse Awareness Month!

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Beware of Elder Abuse

Powers of Attorney: Not Just for Seniors

Why Should You Prepare Advance Directives?

How Powerful is a Power of Attorney?

What I Should Know About the Florida Probate Process