So you are getting married…now what?
Marriage is a big step in one’s life, usually the biggest up to that point. Once married though it is important that the newly married couple set up their estate planning documents.
Most states do not allow you to disinherit your spouse and state that the spouse must receive a stated percentage of the estate. Here in Florida, a surviving spouse must receive at least 30% of the deceased spouse’s estate, absent a prenuptial or postnuptial agreement of course.
It is also important to have your health care power of attorney and durable power of attorney in place so that you can make sure that your spouse can make decisions if you cannot make them for yourself.
Also, now that you are married, you have a new estate tax exclusion that you may use to pass on assets to beneficiaries! It is important that you pass your assets onto them in a tax and asset protected manner which you can only do through a proper estate plan.
To learn more about estate planning for a newly married couple, please contact our Jacksonville Florida estate planning law firm.
