The Oscar nominees for the 86th Academy Awards are in,  including Cate Blanchett, Sandra Bullock, Meryl Streep, Christian Bale,  Leonardo DiCaprio, and Matthew McConaughey. There’s no denying that these nominations do not come to a surprise to anyone, beyond the GEICO caveman living under a rock. While the Academy Awards provide us with the expected, it is unlikely that life will follow suit; as the unknown future is full of surprises.

Fortunately,  there are plans you can set in place to ensure that you maintain control in the event of life’s unexpected surprises. The following 5 documents can be incorporated into your estate plan, to allow you the same comfort and control that you had in predicting the preceding nominees:

 

1. Living Trust – the best way to maintain control over all of your assets and distributions, while avoiding the hassle, expense, and lack of privacy associated with probate.

2. Assignment of Property – this is exactly that, assigning your property to your trust. In other words, placing your property into the trust. This includes both real & personal property. A trust does not do anything for you if there is no property in it.

3. Last Will & Testament – this is your traditional will that is used upon death to distribute property to beneficiaries, specify last wishes, and name guardians for minor children.

4. Durable Power of Attorney – this allows you to designate and authorize someone to legally act on your behalf, in the event that you become incapacitated.

5. Combination Living Will & Designation of Healthcare Surrogate – this outlines important healthcare decisions in advance, and appoints a healthcare surrogate to make healthcare decisions for you when you become unable to do so yourself.

 

For more information on successful Florida estate planning and asset protection techniques, please contact the South Florida law firm of Wild Felice & Partners, P.A. at 954-944-2855 to schedule your free consultation.

It’s a Wild world. Are you protected?SM