Estate planning is for everyone. It’s important to state that because many people and families believe they don’t have enough to constitute an “estate,” but that’s very rarely the case. What’s true is that estates can be big or small, and each estate deserves the delicate planning needed to take care of your hard work. We can boil this thinking down further and instead of looking at an “estate” we can look at Read More

“Buyer beware” is an overriding principle in many purchases. It has historically been associated with real estate purchases. However, buying a house or condo is an extremely complex transaction. Few people are structural engineers, architects, or home inspectors, so are homebuyers supposed to simply trust that sellers will tell them everything they need to know?  Thankfully, no. Florida’s disclosure requirements for Read More

While there’s a general understanding of what probate is for those who have an estate plan, the process itself isn’t well understood. What is generally known about it tends to be negative: people believe it erodes the financial value of the state and can drag on for years, making probate something that needs to be avoided at all costs. The truth is that under some circumstances, probate can be a good thing for an Read More

We’re inching ever closer to 2023. As the clock ticks by, 2022 dwindles to a close, and all our New Year’s Resolutions become front and center. But, our team believes you shouldn’t completely write this year off year yet. It can be easy to mail it in during the month of December and just coast through the holidays, but there are a few items you should consider knocking off your estate planning to-do list before we Read More

When you call our firm or visit our website you’ll notice we use the phrase “Security Title and Escrow.” That last word can be a point of confusion for those who are new to the real estate market. Whether you’re looking to buy a home for yourself/your family or you’re looking to become a long-term real estate investor, it’s time to become familiar with the concept of escrow. Escrow introduces a third party to your Read More

At Schlegel Livingston, we take pride in sitting down with our clients and making sure their estate plan is fulfilling the goals of the whole family. We take a holistic approach to estate planning and want to provide you with the information you need for a successful and thorough estate plan. During our introductory meetings to discuss these plans, we often get asked what documents will be necessary. Ultimately, Read More

Real estate purchases can be a long, grueling process for both sides. There are many financial, legal, and other hoops to jump through to get to the closing process. If you’ve made it this far, congratulations on nearing the completion of your purchase – but there’s still some work to do. The closing process can often just be crossing some t’s and dotting some i’s as you and the seller complete necessary Read More

Over half of Americans don’t have an estate plan, which raises an important question: What happens if you die without one? The answer is heavily dependent on your personal circumstances – but it’s important that you have a clear understanding of what may happen to your assets if you die without an estate plan in place. The probate court administers estates in Florida when a person dies without a will or other Read More

We’re just a few weeks into the summer, and the housing market is likely to be as hot as the weather over the next couple of months. During the early summer, demand is often sky-high with families out of school and time off to make a move for many families. This often leads to more sellers listing their homes to take advantage of the higher demand and negotiating power. So, what happens when it all slows down? We Read More

Cryptocurrency is a relatively new phenomenon, even if Bitcoin and other popular forms have actually been around for nearly 15 years now. The practice is catching on for a lot of investors, and some view it as a great investment to make and pass on to heirs and other loved ones. When planning your estate, crypto holdings can create a slightly more tricky plan as you’ll need to consider several options in passing Read More