Gulf Beaches Law, PA - Karen S. Keaton, Esq

10/28/2026

Older Adults Living Alone Still Need an Estate Plan -

Takeaways:
~ The number of older adults living alone (solo agers) in the U.S. is rapidly increasing, making proper planning more critical than ever, especially since many lack immediate support.

~ Living alone presents specific risks, including delayed care and amplified consequences when health issues or accidents occur, which can be made worse without legal decision-makers in place.

~ Solo agers can use estate planning tools like a financial power of attorney, medical power of attorney, and a will or trust to formally name trusted individuals (friends, family, or professional fiduciaries) to manage their finances, make health care decisions, and handle assets if they become unable to do so.

Read the full article here: https://attorney.elderlawanswers.com/newsletter/actions/view-content/type/ela/f/11434/id/21485/is-content-hub/5430

Living alone presents specific risks, including delayed care and amplified consequences when health issues or accidents occur, which can be made worse without legal decision-makers in place.

10/27/2026

What to do When someone is Contesting a Will -

Takeaways:
~ A will contest occurs when someone challenges the validity of a deceased person’s will, potentially delaying probate, increasing costs, and straining family relationships.
~ Common grounds for challenging a will include undue influence, fraud, improper ex*****on, and disinheritance.
~ If your loved one’s estate is facing a will contest, consult an estate planning attorney, gather relevant documents, and understand the contest timeline.
~ Mediation or settlement is often preferred over litigation when seeking to resolve disputes over a will. If unresolved, the probate court decides the will’s validity. A court may invalidate only parts of a will, leaving the rest intact.
~ To minimize contests, use an experienced attorney, medically evaluate the testator’s capacity, videotape the signing, avoid last-minute changes, and consider a no-contest clause (where enforceable).
Read the full article here:
https://attorney.elderlawanswers.com/newsletter/actions/view-content/type/content-hub/f/11434/id/9775/is-content-hub/5430

Takeaways A will contest occurs when someone challenges the validity of a deceased person’s will, potentially delaying probate, increasing costs, and straining family relationships. Common grounds for challenging a will include undue influence, fraud, improper ex*****on, and disinheritance. If you...

10/26/2026

Wills - A Last Will and Testament (“Will”) is a written legal document that specifies your wishes for how you want your estate to be handled when you die. Among other things, a Will commonly indicates how your property and assets will be distributed, who you want to administer your estate, who you want to be appointed as a guardian for any minor children, and who you want to manage any trusts that you may have created under the Will.

If you die without a Will, your property will be distributed according to state law. State law will dictate what shares to divide your property into and who will receive those shares. If you are married and/or have children, your estate will be distributed among your spouse and/or children according the applicable state intestacy laws. If you have no spouse or children, your estate will be distributed among your other relatives according to the applicable state intestacy laws. The only way to fully ensure that your wishes will be followed is by creating a valid estate plan with a Will or Trust.

Some clients choose to only create a Will rather than a Trust. Wills are sometimes used to save on up-front costs. Because Wills are typically less complex than trusts and do not require funding, Wills are less expensive to prepare. For simple plans that may involve estates of smaller net worth, no foreseeable family complications, and no foreseeable estate tax implications, a Will may be a sufficient plan.

It is important to understand that creating a Last Will and Testament will not avoid probate. Rather, if there are assets to be distributed, the Will be must filed with the probate court which will oversee the administration of the probate estate. It is also important to note that a poorly drafted Will can lead to unexpected pitfalls. Further, an improperly executed will may not be valid or accepted by a Florida probate court.

Gulf Beaches Law, P.A. will work with you to create the best plan for your needs.
https://gulfbeacheslaw.com/wills/

10/23/2026

Home Safety for Aging in Place; A Guide For Older Adults -

Takeaways
~ Aging in place involves making modifications to ensure safety, comfort, and accessibility for older adults.

~ Home modifications, measures for preventing falls, and fire and carbon monoxide safety are crucial for creating a safer environment.

~ Maintaining social and mental well-being is also essential for older adults’ safety and quality of life.

Aging in place, the ability to live safely and independently in one’s home as long as possible, is a goal for many seniors. However, as we grow older, our homes may require modifications to ensure safety, comfort, and accessibility.

Whether you are planning to live in your home as long as you can or want to help an aging parent stay in their home longer, ensuring home safety is a top priority. Here are some practical steps you can take to create a safer living environment for older adults.

Read all the Tips in the Guide here: https://attorney.elderlawanswers.com/newsletter/actions/view-content/type/content-hub/f/11434/id/9087/is-content-hub/5430

Takeaways Aging in place involves making modifications to ensure safety, comfort, and accessibility for older adults. Home modifications, measures for preventing falls, and fire and carbon monoxide safety are crucial for creating a safer environment. Maintaining social and mental well-being is also....

10/22/2026

What is a Family Limited Parnership and Should I Form One?

A family limited partnership (FLP) is a business structure that allows family members to pool assets for business and investing purposes. Family limited partnerships can also protect personal assets, reduce taxes, and be used for estate planning and business succession. Their potential estate and tax advantages make FLPs an option for families that want to retain control of assets for multiple generations.

Read the full article here: https://attorney.elderlawanswers.com/newsletter/actions/view-content/type/content-hub/f/11434/id/8874/is-content-hub/5430

A family limited partnership (FLP) is a business structure that allows family members to pool assets for business and investing purposes. Family limited partnerships can also protect personal assets, reduce taxes, and be used for estate planning and business succession.

10/21/2026

Estate Planning for a Vacation Home -

If you are fortunate enough to own a vacation home, you need to figure out what will happen to it after you are gone. Many people in this situation hope to keep vacation homes in the family. Guaranteeing that can be tricky, though.

Meant to be fun and relaxing places to get away from everyday life, vacation houses can cause problems between, for instance, siblings after their parents pass away. Some siblings may want to use the house, while others may need cash and want to sell. There may also be disputes over who pays maintenance costs or when different families can use the house.

Estate planning can help to ensure that your property is handled according to your wishes and doesn’t become a source of conflict or financial burden for your heirs. Here are key considerations and strategies for including a vacation home in your estate plan.

Read the full article here: https://attorney.elderlawanswers.com/newsletter/actions/view-content/type/content-hub/f/11434/id/8916/is-content-hub/5430

If you are fortunate enough to own a vacation home, you need to figure out what will happen to it after you are gone. Many people in this situation hope to keep vacation homes in the family. Guaranteeing that can...

10/20/2026

Business Succession Planning -

No business can survive without someone to run and direct operations. Many small businesses function on only a handshake, or the reliance on someone’s word. What happens if the person at the helm becomes disabled or passes away and no succession plan has been put in place? When the leader has died or is no longer able to run the business, and no succession plan exists, the operations often cease to run or cease to run efficiently. The business may be inherited by the beneficiaries of the estate plan or legal heirs, or be absorbed by the shareholders. Often, where the business is distributed amongst the owner’s surviving children, disputes arise among those children. The children that have been involved in running the business may be the most qualified and best suited to run things, but the remaining siblings want to run things differently, or sell the business and divide the proceeds. Perhaps the children who have been the most involved simply feel some sense of entitlement to the company and wish to shut out the other children.

Once these problems have begun, it is often hard to remedy them. Solutions are available to avoid these problems from the outset. Succession plans can reassure shareholders and/or provide family members with a well-mapped out plan as to how the company is to be run, and how the company should proceed. Shareholder agreements can outline the business succession plan. Buy-sell agreements can help to avoid many of these problems as well. Gulf Beaches Law, P.A. can help identify some common pitfalls, explain the options to avoid these problems, and create a custom plan suited to your business’ and family’s needs.

Business Succession planning overlaps with estate planning in several ways. A family business often represents a great deal of the owner’s assets which need to be taken into consideration when constructing the estate plan. Also, some common problems can be avoided by the implementation of trusts which can help the business run smoothly during the disability or death of the owner or managing partner. Without documents in place, a disability or death can stop a business in its tracks and a lengthy probate administration may keep the business in a position where it cannot generate income during an indefinite period.

Gulf Beaches Law, P.A. is experienced in handling all of these matters, and help create a business succession plan to avoid these problems and help keep your business going into the next generation.

10/19/2026

It's the first day of Early Voting in Pinellas County - learn more about locations to vote in the link:
https://www.votepinellas.gov/200/Early-Voting

View Early Voting dates, times, locations, and wait times.

10/16/2026

Proper Retirement Planning Avoids Underestimating Care Costs -

Takeaways
Many people misjudge how much they will need for retirement health care expenses.

Failing to properly account for these costs can severely affect retirement security, leading to financial strain and potential reliance on government assistance.

It can be easy to underestimate the amount of money we will need for health care and long-term care after we retire. Not knowing exactly what care we will need and with the costs of all types of care rising, it is nearly impossible to know exactly how much to save and invest for retirement. Knowing this, one would think people would err on the side of caution and set aside more rather than less. However, the opposite appears to be true.

According to a 2024 study conducted by Jackson National Life Insurance Company and the Center for Retirement Research at Boston College, nearly two-thirds of pre-retired individuals surveyed are underestimating their expected retirement health care expenses. The survey also found that only 27 percent of those surveyed believe they will require long-term care, yet nearly three-quarters of people over 65 are likely to need such care.
https://attorney.elderlawanswers.com/newsletter/actions/view-content/type/content-hub/f/11434/id/9086/is-content-hub/5430

Takeaways Many people misjudge how much they will need for retirement health care expenses. Failing to properly account for these costs can severely affect retirement security, leading to financial strain and potential reliance on government assistance. It can be easy to underestimate the...

10/15/2026

Should Aging Parents Live With Their Adult Children?

Takeaways:
Multigenerational living, with adult children and older parents living together, is becoming more prevalent.

Factors to consider before moving a parent into your home include household harmony, lifestyle compatibility, space availability, and accessibility.

Alternatives to having a parent live with you include shared living with other seniors, retirement communities, and professional in-home care.

Aging in place continues to increase in popularity. However, what to do when you notice an older loved one having trouble living safely at home is an issue many families eventually face.

https://attorney.elderlawanswers.com/newsletter/actions/view-content/type/content-hub/f/11434/id/9159/is-content-hub/5430

Takeaways Multigenerational living, with adult children and older parents living together, is becoming more prevalent. Factors to consider before moving a parent into your home include household harmony, lifestyle compatibility, space availability, and accessibility. Alternatives to having a parent....