One of the questions we're asked almost every week by new clients is: “Do I really need a living trust, or is it fine to just put my kids (or whoever) as beneficiaries/POD on my bank and retirement accounts?” It sounds like a simple shortcut. After all, both methods avoid probate. But in practice, relying only on beneficiary designations (also called TOD for stocks or POD for bank accounts) is one of the most common and costly estate-planning mistakes I see. Here’s the plain-

If you co-own a home or land in Florida and you’re worried about whether the other person can secretly create a new deed that takes you off the title without your knowledge or consent , you’re not alone. This is one of the most common estate questions Florida property owners ask. Short answer:  It depends entirely on how  you and the other person hold title on the deed. In many cases — especially if the deed is silent or says “tenants in common” — the other owner can  transfe

If you're a property owner with multiple real estate assets, like an individual with 26 properties considering a living trust, you may be...