November 2021 Newsletter - Slonim Law | Estate Planning in Melbourne, Florida

Lets Talk Legal Plans with Jamie

Is legal plan insurance really worth it?

Insurance, like taxes, is a necessary evil. We all pay for car and health insurance hoping to never have to use it. However, in the case of legal plan insurance, there is a silver lining. This is a resource that can assist with the cost of proactively establishing estate planning documents (i.e. wills, trusts, advanced directives) that can protect you, your family and your assets. They can also cover or reduce the cost of the time consuming and usually overwhelming tasks required for other life changing events such as guardianship (when a loved one’s capacity diminishes) and probate (handling someone’s estate after they pass).

Like most insurance, legal insurance plans are paid via a monthly premium. Many corporations include this type of supplemental insurance as part of their benefits package. Typically a portion of the premium gets deducted from each paycheck. According to IRS rules, this is a post-tax deduction. Legal insurance plans are much like health insurance plans in that the more coverage you want, the higher the monthly premium. Coverage can extend from as little as discounted hourly rate coverage all the way through family law, real estate, traffic and personal injury. Coverage can be customized based on an individual’s needs.

Often times we don’t see the value in something until we are in a precarious position. Legal plan insurance is a fraction of what the out of pocket legal fees will cost. Some of the most common legal plan insurance companies are Metlife (formerly Hyatt), ARAG, Workplace Options, US legal and Legal Resources. Talk to your HR department about this possible supplemental benefit that you could be missing out on. Even if it is not part of your benefits package, you can always contact these companies directly for individual coverage.

-Jamie Berthold, Slonim Law’s Bookkeeper Extraordinaire

Book Online Now!

Hey Angie!

I was privileged to join Slonim Law in January 2016. I am the “middle woman” between the client and the attorneys.

My duties include, preparing all the pleadings needed for a guardianship matter from start to finish and beyond. I coordinate hearings with the judicial assistant and attorneys. I prepare annual reports for each client. I contact clients as needed and explain, in non-legal ease terms, the guardianship process and what they should expect. I also prepare residential leases for local realtors. I am fluent in Spanish and can help translate if it’s ever needed.

When I am not working, I enjoy spending time with my husband and pets. We are avid Disney fans and spend a lot time at the parks. We also have annual passes to Universal Studios. If you don’t find us at Disney World, you’ll find us at Universal Studios or Islands of Adventure!

Understanding Guardianship

Lets break down Guardianship!

What is Guardianship? Guardianship is when the Court appoints a guardian (family member/friend or professional guardian) to oversee the person or property or both of an individual (the ward) who has been deemed incapacitated due to mental/cognitive issues or physical disabilities.

Guardianship changes with the ward’s age. When adults are involved there are two types – voluntary and involuntary. Some adults recognize that they need help in handling their affairs resulting in a voluntary guardianship. Involuntary appointments are made by someone other than the incapacitated adult. The court then appoints an examining committee, made up of 3 examiners, one of which is a physician to help the court decide if guardianship is needed and if so what type.

If both parents die or develop a disability, then a guardian is needed for a minor. This type of guardianship ends when the child reaches 18. Regardless, the court shall appoint a guardian of the property of a child when the minor is entitled to an inheritance of his/her parents’ estate or when a minor receives a monetary settlement from a lawsuit exceeds $15,000.

Plenary Guardian or Limited Guardian?

Plenary Guardian: This is a person who has been appointed by the court to exercise all delegable legal rights and powers of the ward. This happens after the court has found that the ward lacks the capacity to perform all the tasks necessary to care for his or her person or property. The guardian is responsible for all required person and property and reports to the court.

Limited Guardian: This is a guardian who has been appointed by the court to exercise the legal rights and powers specifically designated by court order after the court has found that the ward lacks the capacity to do some, but not all, of the tasks necessary to care for his or her person or property. Here, the person has voluntarily petitioned for appointment of a limited guardian. The guardian is also responsible for reports ordered by the court.

What do the attorneys do? The attorneys of Slonim Law are here to: counsel on case related issues, draft pleadings for client review, the filing of pleadings, provide copies of filed pleadings to client for their records, assist with education on responsibilities of guardianship, respond to client questions, assist with client preparation for hearings, representation at hearings, coordination with all parties, obtain information from client needed for court ordered reports, the preparation and filing of court ordered reports, and providing copies of invoices for client review.

How do you cook a turkey for Thanksgiving?

The Traditional Way!

Select

Fry it!

Select

We go out for dinner!

Select

We don’t participate!

Select

No turkey for us!

Select

Baked Brie: A Family Favorite!

Ingredients:

1 (5-inch) round brie
Celery sticks
Carrot sticks
Sliced apples
Crackers
Sliced baguette

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Wrap the brie in a piece of foil to enclose it completely and put it on a sheet pan. Bake until the cheese is gooey like fondue, about 20 minutes. Serve with celery, carrots, apples, crackers, and bread for dipping.