One of the most fundamental questions I help clients answer is what should serve as the foundation of their estate plan: a Will or a Trust?
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Trust vs. Will – Which Is Right for You?
by Rachel Drude-Tomori on April 22nd, 2020 in Estate Planning Law
Tags: Estate Planning, Pinellas County, St Petersburg, Trusts, Will

How to Prepare for the Coronavirus: An Estate Planning Attorney’s Perspective
by Rachel Drude-Tomori on March 17th, 2020 in Estate Planning Law
Tags: coronavirus, Estate Planning, Living Will, Pinellas County, St Petersburg
Without a doubt, these are uncertain times. How can you prepare for the possibility that COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, may affect you or someone you know?…
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Your Guide to Irrevocable Life Insurance Trusts (ILITs)
by Rachel Drude-Tomori on December 3rd, 2019 in Estate Planning Law
Tags: Estate Planning, ILIT, Irrevocable Life Insurance Trusts
If your estate’s value is worth more than the federal estate tax exemption, you may be a good candidate for an Irrevocable Life Insurance Trust, known as an “ILIT” for short.
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Top 5 Key Ingredients in Will Preparation
by Rachel Drude-Tomori on November 25th, 2019 in Estate Planning Law, Wills, Trusts and Probate
Tags: Estate Planning, Pinellas County, Will Preparation
A Last Will & Testament is a fundamental part of any comprehensive estate plan; likewise, will preparation is one of the most basic skills of a seasoned estate planning attorney.
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Safeguarding Your Assets from Creditors & Lawsuits
by Rachel Drude-Tomori on November 18th, 2019 in Estate Planning Law, Wills, Trusts and Probate
Tags: Asset Protection, Estate Planning, Pinellas County, Probate, Real Estate
An integral part of estate planning should always include an assessment of the client’s liability exposure, regardless of their profession.
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Incorporating Art & Collectibles into Your Estate Plan
by Rachel Drude-Tomori on July 23rd, 2019 in Estate Planning Law, Wills, Trusts and Probate
Tags: Collectibles, Estate Planning, Fine Art, Income Tax Benefits, Pinellas County, Real Estate, St Petersburg, Trusts
Whether investing in art for love, money, or both, collectors of all types of art and collectibles should incorporate their collections into their overall estate plans.
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How to Save Taxes with Qualified Charitable IRA Rollovers
by Rachel Drude-Tomori on April 22nd, 2019 in Estate Planning Law
Tags: IRA, Save Taxes
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 increased the standard deduction in 2019 to $12,200.00 for individuals and to $24,400.00 for those married filing jointly. This means that less…
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Power of Attorney Pitfalls & Pointers FAQ’s
by Rachel Drude-Tomori on July 3rd, 2018 in Estate Planning Law
Tags: Estate Planning, Pinellas County, Powers of Attorney, Real Estate, St Petersburg
Recently I’ve come across several “durable powers of attorney” prepared by lawyers who do not regularly practice in estate planning or elder law. In some instances, the power of attorney does not allow the agent to perform certain acts that the principal intended; in others, improper execution renders the document entirely invalid. Presumably, this is because the preparer of the power of attorney is not familiar with the major overhaul Chapter 709 of the Florida Statutes underwent in 2011.
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Frequently Asked Questions – Revocable Living Trusts
by Rachel Drude-Tomori on March 10th, 2016 in Estate Planning Law
Tags: Pinellas County, St Petersburg
The ultimate goal of funding a Revocable Living Trust is to ensure that the Settlor’s property is governed by the terms of the Trust Agreement.
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Battaglia, Ross, Dicus & McQuaid, P.A.
St Petersburg Lawyers
5858 Central AveSt. Petersburg, FL 33707
(727) 381-2300