Law Office of Heather McInnis

05/24/2024

Congratulations Lady Bucs on your win today! 🥎

Wishing our BHS varsity softball team a successful day on the field as they compete for the FHSAA state championship. Go Bucs! 🧡💙

10/29/2021

Congratulations to the Marching Buccaneers on your “Excellent” MPA Rating!

Good luck to our district champ Lady Buccaneer golfers, headed to regionals Monday!

09/29/2021

Clients and Friends: Now is a good time to contact your CPA regarding potential upcoming changes in *gift and estate tax exclusions*, *trust taxation*, and other proposals which may effect even moderate estates and inheritances.

You may wish to discuss the potential advantages of making lifetime gifts in this tax year vs. the tax advantages of property passing at your death.

You may also wish to discuss with your CPA the advantages of establishing a trust or modifying the nature of an existing trust before the end of this tax year, as it appears there may be a grandfathering in under existing tax regulations.

Anyone counting on the use of the step-up in basis on appreciated property, IRA tax advantages, or income earning trusts should be monitoring these proposals closely with your tax professional and be prepared to make any changes before the end of 2021.

As many people are aware, Congress is considering changes to the federal tax code to support President Biden’s Build Back Better spending plan. As of...

05/31/2021

We will be closed Monday, May 31, in observance of Memorial Day. 🇺🇸

08/25/2020

Florida Veterans: Are you aware that your VA benefits include access to free legal advice and assistance?

For 24-hour counsel, call the National Veteran Crisis Hotline at 1-800-273-8255. You are NOT alone!

Florida Veterans Legal Helpline: (866) 486-6161 The Helpline provides assistance to veterans on a range of legal issues such as housing, family law, consumer and veterans benefits matters.

For access to legal, counselling, and other support resources:

Veterans in Florida, call the Florida Veterans Support Line at 1-844-MyFLVet (693-5838) or 2-1-1.

National Call Center for Homeless Veterans: 1-877-4AID VET (877-424-3838)

08/19/2020

From Medicare: Be aware of scammers pretending to be COVID-19 contact tracers.

Legitimate contact tracers will never ask for your Medicare Number or financial information. If someone calls and asks for personal information, like your Medicare Number, hang up and report it to us at 1-800-MEDICARE.

08/13/2020

Excellent support resources for those mourning a loss or acting as a caregiver to an elderly or disabled loved one. There are specific groups for children, young adults, and spouses, as well as groups dedicated to managing care-giving for Covid-19. You are not alone!

Our staff has personally accessed some of these resources, and highly recommends "Camp Bear Hug" for children navigating a close family loss. Read about it at https://www.vitas.com/family-and-caregiver-support/vitas-stories/2019/october/first-ever-camp-bear-hug-helps-nature-coast-children-understand-grief/

08/07/2020

Congratulations to BHS Senior Sydney Holder, the winner of our first "Liberty, Justice, and the Rule of Law" Essay Contest!

In recognition of her excellent work, Sydney will receive a senior photo session with our co-sponsor, Studio386 Photography!

Or runner-up, Marie Henderson, will receive a $50 gift card to a Branford restaurant or retail store. Congratulations Marie!

07/28/2020

The Suwannee County Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller’s Office has a new service available to assist pro se litigants (parties accessing the courts without an attorney) called TurboCourt.

This is an interactive online program that assists the public in completing the Supreme Court approved legal forms to be filed with the court. This is a Do-it-Yourself electronic forms service (for a fee) and does not require a lawyer.

This service is presently available for the following types of cases: Domestic Violence Injunctions; Dissolution of Marriage with or without children; Landlord/Tenant Disputes. See turbocourt.com/fl or http://www.suwgov.org/index.php/32-uncategorised/105-turbocourt for more information. It may also be available in other counties, and may include other types of cases in those counties.

Please remember that assistance with forms is not a substitute for the advice of a qualified attorney in the applicable area of law. This resource is a useful and cost-effective tool, but it is always beneficial to discuss your case with an attorney prior to filing or responding to any court action.

07/02/2020

“LIBERTY, JUSTICE, AND THE RULE OF LAW”, An Essay Contest on the U.S. Constitution in Celebration of Independence Day.

Open to Branford Area High School Seniors. Win a senior photo session or a $50 gift card to your favorite Branford restaurant or retailer!

Presented by Law Office of Heather McInnis and Studio386 Photography.

Hard copies of rules can be picked up at our office in downtown Branford by appointment. PDF copies can be requested via messenger.

06/26/2020

Here are two things you can do TODAY, without legal assistance, to help your family avoid unnecessary expense and hassle in the event of your death or incapacity:

1. Designate beneficiaries.

Most types of accounts allow you to name a beneficiary to receive the balance of the assets remaining in the account at the time of your death. Except in certain limited circumstances, these accounts bypass probate are paid directly to the beneficiary.

This includes banking accounts, investment accounts, life insurance policies, and retirement accounts. It may also include certain physical assets such as some safe deposit boxes, storage lockers, cemetery plots, etc. Name at least one primary and at least one contingent beneficiary for each account. If your beneficiary is a minor child, inquire as to naming a custodian or trustee of the asset.

If the option “per stirpes” appears on the form, this means the asset will descend in equal parts to the children of the person named, should that person predecease you. If you do not select this option, the asset will pass to the surviving beneficiaries named on the form. If there are no other surviving beneficiaries named, the asset will pass to the estate of the predeceased beneficiary or to your estate. Try to name sufficient beneficiaries to avoid this outcome.

Verify and update your beneficiary designations no less frequently than every three years, as well as anytime a beneficiary dies or becomes incapacitated, and anytime the account changes hands. Lost paperwork due to a bank transition can cost your family thousands of dollars in probate expenses.

2. Designate Authorized Contacts.

In the event that you are incapacitated due to an accident or medical event, a trusted person may need to be able to access your banking information, bills, and medical records in order to provide for your care. If you have not established a durable power of attorney and health care proxy, the legal process for accessing that information can be prohibitively expensive.

Ask your ongoing service providers and account holders about designating an authorized contact person or agent to access your information and communicate on your behalf in the event of your incapacity. Contact your banks, utility providers, medical providers, pharmacy, mortgage and loan companies, cell phone provider, investment agent, life insurance company, homeowners insurance agent, and other agents and account holders to find out whether these options are available to you.

For social security recipients, complete form SSA 4547-Advance Designation of Representative Payee - to elect someone to communicate with social security on your behalf and manage your benefits in the event of your incapacity.

Bonus: Start contributing to a prepaid funeral and burial or cremation plan. This will save your family heartache and stress at an already difficult time, and you are much less likely to overspend on your own arrangements.