Author Archives: Larry Bray
Title Insurance: Do You Need It?
So it’s time to close on a home and you look at your closing statement, with everything you will have to pay at closing that adds to the price of the home, and you see a line item called title insurance. It looks like a decently sized expense. You ask if you can do… Read More »
Can Your Business be Closed and Dissolved Against Your Will?
You would probably expect that if and when it is ever time to close up your business, that at the very least, it would be a voluntary decision. After all, it’s your business, and thus, your choice whether to close it up or not. But there are cases and situations when your business can… Read More »
Does a Seller Have a Right to Know Who the Buyer of Property Is?
If you’re buying property, you probably expect that both your broker, and the seller, may have to disclose certain things about the property that could affect your willingness to buy the property, or the price that you pay for that property or sell it for. But there’s one thing that you may not have… Read More »
Estate Planning and Separation From a Spouse
It often happens that married couples separate, but legally, they never finalize their divorce. They may live like this for years, putting off legal divorce whether out of procrastination, or purposely, for whatever benefit they may see the maintenance of the marriage providing. Either way, when someone passes away, there can be problems when… Read More »
The Financial and Emotional Cost When Someone Passes Away
Aside from the other drawbacks, dying has another negative: it isn’t cheap. Yes, the cost of dying can be expensive for both the deceased and those left behind. Good estate planning can alleviate these expenses, but a new study highlights just how much dying can cost. How Much Time? A recent study looked at… Read More »
The Basics of Florida’s Homestead Exemption Laws
Florida is unique in the nation as one of the few states that has an almost unlimited homestead exemption. In practical terms, this means that so long as your property meets the definition of a homestead, and you meet a few other requirements, a creditor cannot take your home. One caveat to this are… Read More »
What is a Residual Clause in a Will?
When you’re creating an estate plan, one of the biggest challenges is actually remembering to include everything that you own so that you can dictate where it goes or to whom it goes to. In everyday life, we may not remember all of the items, assets, or property that we own. In fact, we… Read More »
Don’t Assume You Have Access to Land That You Purchase
Is it possible to buy land and then not have any way to get to it? Well, it is legally possible—and one couple here in Florida is now filing a lawsuit over this exact scenario. Lack of Access We tend to assume that if we buy property or land, the purchase includes the right… Read More »
New Realtor Rules and Paperwork Are Coming
One of the biggest complaints at real estate closings is all the paperwork that’s required to be signed. That is, by the way, one reason to have a closing attorney at your side—to help you navigate and understand what you are signing. But recent changes in laws, and specifically, a court settlement, will now… Read More »
Could Your Estate Plan Use a Trust Protector?
Every trust that you set up must have a trustee, and for most trusts, it’s just as easy as that: you’ll establish a trust (whichever type works for your situation), name a trustee to oversee and administer the trust, and fund the trust. But there are some situations where trusts get a bit more… Read More »
