Posted in Asset Protection,Real Estate Law,Wills, Trusts & Estate Planning

A recent study conducted by Experian anticipates about $265 billion in home equity lines of credit (HELOCs) will begin entering a repayment period, affecting millions of consumers. HELOC originations, which continued to increase from 2005 until the start of the housing crisis, are generally divided into two periods. For the first ten years, a HELOC remains in the draw period, which allows consumers to use the line of credit while making minimum, interest-only payments. After ten years, many HELOCs enter the repayment period. This may cause a hike in monthly payments, sometimes as much as triple or quadruple the monthly payment amount during the initial draw period. Debt-relief consultants anticipate defaults to skyrocket as these HELOCs enter the repayment period.
Continue Reading »

Posted in Asset Protection,Probate & Trust Administration,Wills, Trusts & Estate Planning

One of the many complicated facets of planning for a possible divorce as part of estate planning is the division of property. When a marriage dissolves, property that is classified as a marital asset will generally be equitably distributed between the parties. On the other hand, property that is classified as a nonmarital asset will not.
Continue Reading »

Posted in Asset Protection,Probate & Trust Administration,Tax Law & IRS Defense,Wills, Trusts & Estate Planning

1. Not Understanding the Purpose of Asset Protection: Asset protection will not make you “judgment proof.” Someone can still obtain a judgment against you.  You must distinguish obtaining a judgment and collecting on a judgment, which is typically only done after a judgment is rendered.
2. Waiting Too Long To Begin Planning: Preventative planning is both most effective and least expensive before you have legal problems.
3. Believing That It Is Too Late To Protect Assets: It’s never too late to improve protection. Anything is better than doing nothing.
4. Thinking Creditors are Lazy or Not Smart: Don’t underestimate the skill and intelligence of your adversaries. Creditors and their attorneys are not lazy or thoughtless.  The court system can be a slow process.
5. Failure to Comprehend Vulnerability of Your Business: The shares of stock or membership interests you own are vulnerable to creditor attack.
6. Fraudulent Transfers and Conveyances: You cannot protect assets by giving them to family members.
7. Misunderstanding Salary Exemption: Salary exemptions can be complicated. Don’t be trapped into misunderstanding these concepts, especially for business owners.
8. Confusing Estate Planning With Asset Protection: Asset protection is oftentimes part of estate planning, but a living trust or will does nothing to protect your assets from creditors.
9. Confusing Bankruptcy Law and Asset Protection Law: The new bankruptcy law does not affect Florida’s unlimited homestead exemption and other exemptions outside bankruptcy court.
10. Giving Up Control Over Your Assets: The easiest asset protection plan is to give someone else control over your assets. This is all too often a poor solution.

If you own assets and are concerned about protecting them, avoid making the mistakes mentioned above.  For more information on developing an asset protection plan that is thorough and unique to your particular situation, we encourage you to contact a qualified, licensed attorney.

Posted in Asset Protection,Real Estate Law,Tax Law & IRS Defense,Wills, Trusts & Estate Planning

In a previous blog (click here), we posted about the Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act (“MFDRA”) and how it had yet to be extended by Congress to cover mortgage debts forgiven in 2014.  MFDRA prevents homeowners who went through a short sale, foreclosure sale, a principal reduction, or some other type of waiver of a deficiency regarding their primary residence from being taxed on the amount of mortgage debt cancelled or forgiven.
Continue Reading »

Posted in Asset Protection,Probate & Trust Administration,Wills, Trusts & Estate Planning

A power of attorney is a written instrument pursuant to which an individual (the “principal”) grants to another (the “agent”) the authority to act on behalf of the principal, primarily for financial and business matters.  Powers of attorney and similar instruments are governed by Chapter 709 of the Florida Statutes, also known as the Florida Power of Attorney Act (FPOAA).
Continue Reading »

Posted in Asset Protection,Probate & Trust Administration,Wills, Trusts & Estate Planning

Florida Gun Trusts, also known as NFA Trusts, Class 3 Trusts, Title 2 Trusts, or Firearms Revocable Trusts, are a great way to deal with the unique issues of owning, transferring, and possessing gun suppressors, silencers, fully automatic rifles, short barreled rifles and shotguns, or other Title 2 or Class 3 weapons.  Listed below are some key benefits of a Gun Trust:
Continue Reading »

Posted in Asset Protection,Probate & Trust Administration,Wills, Trusts & Estate Planning

Section 736.0708 of the Florida Statutes governs the compensation available to Florida trustees.  Most trust documents provide reasonable compensation to the named trustee.  However, if the trust document is silent on the matter, Chapter 736 provides that the trustee is entitled to reasonable compensation under the circumstances.[1]  Accordingly, a Florida court may award reasonable compensation when the trust documents neglect the issue.
Continue Reading »

Posted in Asset Protection,Real Estate Law,Tax Law & IRS Defense,Wills, Trusts & Estate Planning

The Florida Department of Revenue is authorized to levy a documentary stamp tax on deeds, bonds, promissory notes, written obligations to pay money, mortgages, liens, and other evidences of indebtedness.  Florida law authorizes different taxation rates depending on the type of transaction.  The documentary stamp tax is typically $0.70 per every $100.00 of consideration for instruments conveying an interest in real property including, but not limited to, deeds, easements, and contracts or agreements for deed.[1]  Alternatively, the documentary stamp tax for bonds, mortgages, liens, promissory notes, and other written obligations to pay money is generally $0.35 per every $100.00 of consideration.[2]  The documentary stamp tax for promissory notes or other written obligations to pay money typically may not exceed $2,450.[3]
Continue Reading »