Do You Pay Taxes on Your Inheritance in Florida? Only a few states in the United States impose an inheritance tax (or estate tax). But Florida is not one of those states. Beneficiaries and heirs do not pay income tax on assets or monies acquired from inheritance because Florida does not have its own (non-federal)...Continue Reading

Why You Need Probate Once someone passes away, their assets (including property, investments, bank accounts, etc.) go through a court-supervised process called probate. The decedent’s (deceased person’s) assets become part of an estate, and probate courts handle the administration of the decedent’s estate whether or not they have a will. But is probate necessary? Probate...Continue Reading

What If There Is No Will? When a person passes away with titled assets, probate is necessary to pass the assets down to heirs. During probate, a will is checked for legitimacy. If the will is found to be valid, the probate assets (like real estate, bank accounts, stocks, cars, etc.) are distributed accordingly. If...Continue Reading

The Truth About Getting Taxed on Zelle and Venmo   As of January 1, 2022, mobile payment apps like Zelle and Venmo are required to report “commercial transactions” totaling more than $600.00 per year to the Internal Revenue Service. However, the Internal Revenue Service will not be taxing transactions between family or friends, which is...Continue Reading

The Dangers of Do it Yourself The Dangers of Do it Yourself Aretha Franklin’s long-standing $7.8 million debt to the Internal Revenue Service has finally been paid in full. The Internal Revenue Service filed a claim against the singer for unpaid taxes after her death, but have now struck a deal. However, the battle between...Continue Reading

How to Handle Your Finances as Newlyweds 5 Tips to Keep Your Relationship Strong Congratulations, you’re married. Now, the real work begins. Managing your finances as a newlywed is one of the biggest challenges. Disagreements over money are one of the leading causes of divorce in this country.   These 5 finance tips for newlyweds...Continue Reading

Probate literally means the official proving of a will. If a person passes away with a will, the process involves legitimizing the contents of the will and then distributing assets to the beneficiaries of the will.  If someone passes away without a will, the process involves locating the heirs of the estate and ensuring that...Continue Reading

Yes.  Estate planning is always essential.    An estate plan is essential for many reasons. Estate planning ensures that if one day you are unable to make sound decisions, care for yourself, or care for your family, you have a plan in place to ensure that you and your loved ones are taken care of.  A...Continue Reading