Page 4 - PGA Community News - December '24

December 2024
Page 4, PGA C.A.N.! 2 Spaces December 2024

Ask The Juris Doctor

James A. Cioffi J.D., been told that, if I die without a Will, the State of Florida will your property and if restrictions or limits should be placed on the
Attorney-At-Law receive all my assets. Is that true? distributions. Your Last Will and Testament can be customized if
Michael in Palm Beach Gardens you have spendthrift or drug or alcohol dependent beneficiaries.
Do I Need A Dear Michael. then you can determine which estate planning documents are
Your personal circumstances need to be evaluated and
Will? I have heard that question so often and the answer is No – best for you. You should evaluate Last Wills and Testaments,
in most cases. If you die without a Will you are intestate under Estate Taxes, Revocable and Irrevocable Trusts, Gifts, Family
Dear Juris Doctor, Florida law. In that case the Probate Court Judge decides who Partnerships, Joint Ownership of Property, Payable on Death
I am 70 years old and I administers your estate and Florida Statutes direct to whom Accounts, Powers of Attorney, Living Wills and Do Not
have never had a Last Will and your probate assets will be distributed. You have no choice in Resuscitate Orders.
Testament. Last week I married a woman I have known for 14 the matter. Your wife and children will receive the percentages Sincerely, J.D.
years. She was a friend of my deceased wife and me. I have outlined by the law. With a properly executed Last Will and
two children from my prior marriage. I have grandchildren Testament, you select the Personal Representative, and you If you have a legal question in the area of real estate,
who are minors. My investments dwindled after 2012. I own decide who will be the beneficiaries of your assets. You decide estate planning, wills, trusts or probate, please submit it to
my home, some bank accounts and personal property. I have how your wife, your children and grandchildren should share this newspaper.

Let Me Tell You

Autumn, A Season Of Change of the seasons was more pronounced, brilliant color often the magic of life lies on the cusp of old and new. We
changes that led to dull earth tones followed by freezing learn new things yet the old can become new with a bit of
By Marie Pinschmidt temperatures. Not so nice. effort. We experience transformation through exploration
Whether a change of In the autumn of a life cycle, transformation can be when stimulation challenges us to try the untried. New
weather or a period of a more difficult with the onset of health problems, the ideas, new inventions, new anything, almost always come
lifespan, autumn is a time of kids leaving the family nest and seemingly constant about from disruption and change. We need to be alert
transformation. Remember adjustments. However, it can also be a time for learning and willing to embrace change with enthusiasm as it may
the old song: “There’ll be a something new about oneself or the world in which we live. never be offered again in the same way. I hope for all who
change in the weather and Perhaps a change or rearranging our living space or pulling read this, only positive order out of chaos.
a change in the sea, and ourselves out of our circumstances and into something Grinch season is once again upon us. (Or whatever
from now on there’ll be a more positive. Decisions should be of our own making, term you wish to use.) Welcome back and Happy Holidays
change in me. My walk will not something forced upon us. New experiences and new to all our residents and winter visitors, human or fowl
be different and my talk and learning can lead to a more fulfilling life. Without growth (ducks, songbirds, blue jays, and doves). To our new
my name; nothing about me we experience stagnation which prevents us from reaching residents, may your relocation and transformation be
gonna be the same. Nobody wants you when you’re old our highest potential. Our “comfort zone” can become too everything you hoped for. I love hearing your summer
and gray, etc.” Can you recall when you last felt that way comfortable. Before we know it, life is as boring as pond travel stories, exotic faraway places or a cozy cottage in
and vowed to do something about it? scum, and we feel trapped and useless. We can do better the mountains.
Season changes can be gentle, particularly for us by denouncing social media and all else that does not serve Until next time, hang tight as the only certain thing in
Floridians, but a change in our life cycle can be harsh. It our need for a safe, happy, and useful life. life is change.
can be a change in appearance, character, lifestyle, health, Most of us are set in our ways, comfortable where we Marie Pinschmidt,
or outside influence. We are now facing a change in the are or perhaps just not wanting to be uncomfortable. But MariePin001@comcast.net
political landscape of our country and perhaps the world.
Let’s hope it will be a positive change.
A transformer is a changer — a person or thing that
transforms, i.e. a device for changing an alternating
electrical current into one of higher or lower voltage. On
the human side, we can change or transform ourselves
and others by our character, the decisions we make and
our actions, good or bad.
I love the autumn season, partly because October is my
birth month, despite being as old as sliced bread, but also
because of the palpable drop in humidity, the crispness
of the air, and the sharpness and clarity of the moon and
stars. The sun seems to shine more brightly. During my
early years, I lived in the north where the transformation

Commissioner’s Update from page 1

If property owners believe their property has been
incorrectly identified as an SFHA, they can submit
an application to FEMA for a formal determination
of the property’s location and/or elevation relative
to the SFHA. There are two types of determination
documents you can seek in your Letter of Map Change
(LOMC) request.
• Letter of Map Amendment (LOMA): A letter from
FEMA stating that an existing structure or parcel of
land — that is on naturally high ground and has not
been elevated by fill — would not be inundated by the
base flood.
• Letter of Map Revision Based on Fill (LOMR-F):
A letter from FEMA stating that an existing structure
or parcel of land has been elevated by earthen fill and
would not be inundated by the base flood.
Residents in unincorporated areas can request flood
zone determinations from Palm Beach County, which
provides written confirmation of zone designations.
Additionally, the county offers consultations for
retrofitting existing buildings to improve flood
resilience. Municipal residents should defer to their
municipal floodplain or town/city manager.
For questions, property owners can call the Palm
Beach County Flood Zone Hotline at (561) 233-5374
for personalized assistance with the new maps, flood
proofing options, and more.