Page 20 - The Jewish Voice - December '22

Page 20, The Jewish Voice

Lifestyles from page 18

Myths and FAQs: Estate If you have questions about this or your estate plan and relied upon without review of your specific circumstances by
Planning for LGBTQ Families what documents are necessary schedule a consultation today competent legal counsel. Reliance on the information herein
by calling our office at (561) 694-7827, Anné Desormier-
is at your own risk, as it expresses no opinion by the firm
Cartwright, Esq., Elder & Estate Planning Attorneys PA, on your specific circumstances or legal needs. An attorney
Submitted by Anné 480 Maplewood Drive, Suite 3, Jupiter, FL 33458. client relationship is not created through the information
Desormier-Cartwright, Esq. The content of this article is general and should not be provided herein.
Myths
B e c a u se sa me - se x
marriage is recognized in Experience Dentistry with a Woman’s Touch
all 50 states, I do not need to
worry about estate planning,
as my spouse will receive
everything when I die. Cosmetic & Comprehensive Restorative Dentistry
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distribute most (if not all) of
your money and property to your spouse. However, this may Nitrous Oxide/Oxygen Sedation Available
not be the best way to pass on your money and property. If
everything passes to your spouse outright, there is no protection
for the property or money your spouse receives. Even if you Joanne Green, D.D.S.
want your spouse to be free to spend their inheritance from
you as they please upon your death, your money and property 10887 N. Military Trail, Suite 6
would become 100 percent your spouse’s, and they could do Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410
whatever they want with it — including lose it to creditors or
to an unanticipated lawsuit. By creating a trust, the money and (561) 622-2815 • www.joannegreendds.com
property can be available for your spouse’s use, but you can
provide protections to ensure that creditors, or a second spouse, Medical College of Virginia School of Dentistry - Cum Laude
do not have access to what you have worked so hard to earn. Hospital of the University of Penn - General Practice Residency Training
Additionally, without estate planning, including the creation Harvard Dental School - Former Instructor
of a trust, your money and property may have to be distributed Boston Brigham and Women’s Dental Group - Staff Dentist
through the probate process. Probate is a court-supervised
process where an appointed individual gathers your money and
property, pays your outstanding bills, and then distributes the
remainder to the appropriate individuals. Depending upon the
situation, the level of court involvement can vary, but no matter
what, the details of this process can be found out by anyone
because probate is a very public process. You’re Retired
FAQs
My family and I have not spoken in years. How do I prevent Your Money Isn’t.
my family from causing problems for my spouse after I die?
One solution is to create a trust and title your accounts and
property in the name of the trust. This will allow you to have To learn why consolidating your
access to and enjoyment of your money and property, as you retirement accounts to Edward Jones
can name yourself as both the current trustee and the current makes sense, contact your Edward
beneficiary. However, in the trust, you can designate what will
happen to all of the accounts and property once you have passed, Jones nancial advisor today.
as well as who will be in charge of carrying out your wishes.
Then, upon your death, the terms of the trust will be carried out
and the accounts and property will be distributed to the named
beneficiaries by the person you have selected, without court Sally S Stahl, AAMS® www.edwardjones.com

involvement. Financial Advisor M e m b P I S r e C
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your wishes, memorializing them in a proper legal document Jupiter, FL 33458
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My partner and I have been together for 20 years but have
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If you choose to remain unmarried, a properly executed estate
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