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October 2023
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MAKE SURE TO UPDATE YOUR ESTATE PLAN Protect Relatives From More Heartache
When planning for those with special needs, some believe they can leave money and resources in a will or another legal document. However, if your relative is receiving benefits from Medicaid or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and you leave them money, life insurance, or other assets in a standard legal document, the government will take away your loved one’s benefits — and cause more stress and heartache down the road. The best way to ensure your loved one continues to receive their needed benefits from the government and also leave them assets and other funds like property or life insurance policies when you pass away is by creating a special needs trust. With this kind of document, the trust itself holds legal title to the assets in the trust. Therefore, the assets are not included when determining eligibility for benefits. Another area worth looking into as you review your estate plan is the new estate tax laws that will take effect in 2025. Currently, you can give gifts to your family members worth up to $12 million, and they won’t need to report it to the IRS or pay taxes on it. However, this will all change very soon. Starting in less than two years, if your gift is more than $7 million, your loved one must report it to the IRS and file Form 709. It’s important to mention that the estate tax is different than a gift tax. I will be more than happy to review the processes with you during your next visit. To prevent your relatives from jumping through IRS hoops, it’s vital that you make adjustments that align with the upcoming tax law. I recommend placing your bequests in an irrevocable trust to avoid the consequences of estate taxes. Because of the twists and turns life throws our way, it’s more important than ever to update your estate plan and ensure the wishes and assets you’ve outlined are still accurate. I would hate
It breaks my heart when a family walks through my doors and tells me they are going through probate because their estate plan failed to meet their needs and wishes. Usually, when I get this news from a client, I immediately pull out their documents to look for cracks in the plan and see if I can spot what went wrong. I almost always discover the same problem: They never updated it! Your estate plan is a living document — you can review it any time and make adjustments that fit where you and your family are at in your lives.
This function is important, because your life is never stagnant! I recommend reviewing your estate plan every two years. What may have fit your needs in the past may not resemble where you are today or where you’re heading. A lot can happen in just a few years! You could remarry, go through a divorce, or lose a spouse. Your adult children may marry or have kids of their own. Or you or a loved one may be diagnosed with an illness that alters life’s trajectory. You need to update your estate plan to accommodate these changes and ensure it continues to protect your assets, wishes, and needs. Over my years of practicing law, I’ve found two areas that tend to give people the most trouble when determining if they need to update their estate plans: special needs planning and upcoming tax laws.
to see your family go through the turbulence that probate creates. So, please take action today to reduce the chance of risk and more heartbreak for your family in the future. I’m here to help you in any way I can.
–Horacio Sosa
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A Greener Future for All
EXCITING ADVANCES IN THE WORLD OF SUSTAINABLE ENERGY
of Transport to proceed, as concerns have been raised regarding the durability and reflectivity of the panels.
The hunt for sustainable energy sources continues! Throughout the past two decades, we have seen countless efforts around the globe to develop more environmentally friendly energy practices. You may have noticed solar panels appearing on roofs around your community or watched news reports about wind turbines offshore. These are far from the only efforts organizations, governments, and individuals are making. Two large-scale sustainability projects were announced that could lead to a more sustainable future. Solar Railways In many areas of Europe, the best way to get from point A to point B is by train. Switzerland alone has a national railway network that stretches over 2,000 miles. A startup called
New Wind Turbines Offshore wind farms are nothing new. They first appeared in 1991, but the technology has evolved immensely. The Spain-based startup X1 Wind has created a new floating wind turbine prototype that could change the entire industry. Located off the Canary
Islands, the X1 floating turbine is more efficient and environmentally friendly than other turbines. The best news? In March, it generated its first kilowatt- hour of power, opening the door for further manufacturing. These are just a couple of the many sustainability projects recently introduced. As long as we continue to develop and discover environmentally
Sun-Ways recently announced a plan to outfit Swiss railway lines with solar panels to generate additional power. Sun-Ways developed a specialized train car to lay down solar panels between the rails of the track using minimal labor. The company estimates
that its solar panels can generate 2% of Switzerland’s annual energy consumption. At the time of writing this article, Sun-Ways is still waiting for a sign-off from the Federal Office
friendly practices, we can look forward to a greener future for all.
SAFEGUARD YOUR FAMILY’S FUTURE WITH A TRUST
categories: revocable and irrevocable. A revocable trust can be changed anytime during the owner’s lifetime. An irrevocable trust is set in stone as soon as you sign the agreement. One of the best parts about trusts is how they help keep your money in the family for generations. Many don’t realize it until they go through probate, but extreme taxes and fees arise after you pass away. Without proper planning, the value of your estate can dwindle to nothing as your family pays these fees, leaving minimal amounts for them. This is not what you want to happen to your loved ones. While trusts can be slightly more expensive than other estate planning options, their benefits are endless. Call us if you have any questions about trusts or want to create one to protect your family and assets.
only need a will, and everything else is just extra, but this is rarely the case.
When people begin the estate planning process, they usually do so to protect their assets and set their children and grandchildren up for success. An estate plan helps you safeguard everything you worked for and distribute your assets to your loved ones. However, many people believe they
Wills have become synonymous with estate planning thanks to pop culture, but in reality, wills are the bare minimum for most people’s estate planning needs. A will only comes into effect after you’ve passed away. If you become incapacitated, your health care and durable powers of attorney act in your place, which can complicate things. Having a will does not guarantee you’ll avoid probate, either. If you want to safeguard your family and assets fully, consider establishing a trust instead of just having a will. With a trust, you have more freedom and control over the management of your assets. There are different types of trusts to fit everyone’s specific needs, but they all fall into two
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Say Goodbye to Pet Hair Woes Tips and Tricks for a Hair-Free Home There’s no doubt about it: We love having our furry friends by our sides each day. Dogs, cats, rabbits, and other small animals make great companions, but they also come with their own challenges. One obstacle nearly every pet owner has to deal with is an overabundance of pet hair throughout their homes. Pet hair sticks to surfaces, and it’s not uncommon to find it on your clothes, on your carpets, or even in your car. You shouldn’t have to pat yourself down with tape or use a lint roller to remove hair whenever you leave the house, so here are a few methods to remove pet hair around your home. Fabric Softener Spray It’s no secret that fabric softener helps remove pet hair from clothes when used in a washing machine, but it can also free up the pet hair trapped in your carpets, rugs, and car seats. Mix 2 tablespoons of fabric softener with water in a spray bottle before applying the mixture to the hair-heavy area. This will cause the hair to clump together, which you can then sweep up with a broom. Run a vacuum cleaner over the area, and it will look (and smell) as good as new! Drill Brush You might not think your power tools would come in handy for this chore, but you’d be surprised. Using a brush attachment on a power drill is one of the best ways to loosen up pet hair. All you have to do is run the brush over the hair-covered area and follow behind it with your vacuum cleaner hose or crevice attachment, and the surface will look pristine. Brush attachments for drills are reasonably inexpensive and can be bought online or in home improvement stores. Prevention You don’t have to limit where your furry friends can go in the house, but using easily washable furniture and car seat covers will make pet hair cleanup much easier. Frequent passes with your vacuum, broom, and mop can also prevent pet hair buildup, but so can getting your pets groomed regularly! Whether you brush your furry friend down every day or take them to a professional groomer, these acts can help remove loose hair and stop it from ever reaching your floors.
ONE-BOWL PUMPKIN MUFFINS
Inspired by NoraCooks.com
Ingredients
• 1 tbsp baking powder • 1/2 tsp salt
• 15 oz can pumpkin purée • 1/3 cup melted butter (or vegetable oil) • 1/2 cup unsweetened plant- based milk • 1 1/4 cups brown sugar • 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 tsp cinnamon • 1/2 tsp nutmeg
• 1/2 tsp ground ginger • 1/4 tsp ground cloves
Directions 1. Preheat oven to 375 F. Prepare muffin pan by greasing and placing paper liners. 2. In a large mixing bowl, add pumpkin, melted butter (or oil), milk, and brown sugar, then whisk until well combined and smooth. With a sifter, sift the flour, baking powder, salt, and spices over the wet mixture. 3. Using a large wooden spoon, mix until just combined (do not over-mix). 4. Fill the muffin cups and bake for 22–25 minutes. Let cool for 30 minutes and enjoy!
TAKE A BREAK
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954-532-9447 www.SosaLegal.com 2924 Davie Rd., Ste. 102 Davie, FL 33314 INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Are You Prepared for the Upcoming Estate Tax Changes?
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All Aboard the Green Energy Revolution
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Future-Proofing Your Assets With Trusts
One-Bowl Pumpkin Muffins
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Pet Hair Takeover? Not Anymore! Top Solutions for Hair-Free Living
Lessons From Anna Nicole Smith’s Billion-Dollar Drama
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THE ANNA NICOLE SMITH STORY Costly Consequences of Neglected Estate Planning:
didn’t make this change in his will or any other estate planning document. Instead, his $1.6 billion estate went to his son, Pierce Marshall. The matter went to probate, where it was determined that Smith would inherit nothing. The following year, she filed for bankruptcy in California, and the California court disagreed with the probate results, stating that Smith was entitled to $449 million. The case then proceeded to the federal level and was eventually presented to the U.S. Supreme Court. The Supreme Court ruled in Smith’s favor, but when all was said and done, there were no winners. Pierce passed away in 2006, and Smith passed away the following year. Smith’s son also passed away in 2006 and was the only beneficiary on her estate plan, as Smith had failed to add her 5-month-old daughter to it before she passed. There were several more legal battles between Smith’s and Pierce’s estates — one of which made it in front of the Supreme Court again — before finally, the last of Smith’s
Whenever a prominent celebrity, entrepreneur, or athlete passes away, there’s usually quite a bit of money left on the table. Most of these individuals put careful consideration into their estate plans to ensure their assets are distributed appropriately, but that’s not always the case. In 1995, Anna Nicole Smith found herself in the middle of a probate case that would haunt her for the rest of her life. In 1991, a 23-year-old Smith met 86-year-old petroleum tycoon J. Howard Marshall. Marshall was worth over $1 billion at the time and quickly became smitten with Smith. In the following years, Smith appeared in TV shows, movies, and advertisements, and her popularity exploded. In June 1994, Smith and Marshall married in Houston, but their wedded bliss was short-lived. Marshall passed away 13 months after the wedding at the age of 90. Before passing away, Marshall promised Smith half of his estate. Unfortunately, he
cases was closed on Oct. 24, 2022, over two decades from when the disputes began. There are many lessons we can learn from this situation, but the most important one is to update your estate plan whenever you experience a life change. It’s also wise for celebrity couples to have a prenuptial agreement. It would have saved everyone years of struggle if Smith or Marshall had done either.
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