Your Caring Law Firm

05/04/2026

The Devil Wears Prada 2 event was SO much fun. No spoilers, but the movie had a ton of estate planning and succession issues for Merrell to explore in future videos.

05/04/2026

When your child turns 18, the rules change overnight. Parents are no longer the legal decision-maker, and you may not be able to access medical or financial information when it matters most.

That is why we offer our college student package for young adults. It is built around the core documents that let a trusted adult step in during an emergency, including a Health Care Surrogate, a Durable Power of Attorney, and a Living Will.

We also talk with families about whether a pre-need guardian designation makes sense for that young adult. It will keep a judge out of the decision of “who is in charge” if something goes wrong.

If you want a quick overview of why these documents matter, our free ebook “18 and On Your Own” can be a great resource for you to share with your teenager or adult child.

If your adult child is ready to get started, please have them call our office at 407-622-1900. They will be our client and speak to us about who they would like to choose in their documents.

04/28/2026

Password lists don't work in the era of 2FA.

Even with the perfect estate plan and documents in place, your agents and fiduciaries are still going to need to be able to get into your accounts. The documents we provide will help them, but if you plan to rely solely on those documents, it could be a process full of frustration and delays.

We used to recommend password books, but in the era of 2FA or two-factor authentication (those little codes sent to your text and email, even after you enter the right password), we are updating our advice. We don’t want your agent to struggle through reading your handwriting, an updated password not being recorded, or your agent not being able to get past the 2FA prompts.

How to help your Agents: https://yourcaringlawfirm.com/passwords-and-your-estate-plan/

04/27/2026

When is a gift taxable? Are gifts from employers to employees ever really just gifts?

Join the firm this Thursday for our private showing of The Devil Wears Prada 2! Details and tickets - YourCaringLawFirm.com/Events

The Devil Wears Prada Gift & Income Tax Issues

04/20/2026

If it has been three to five years since we did your plan, it is smart to take a fresh look. Even when life feels steady, families change, relationships change, and the people you named years ago may no longer be the right fit.

A review is also wise if your wealth has grown, you bought or sold real estate, you started a business, or you are thinking about estate tax planning. Those are the moments when a “simple update” can turn into a real strategy conversation.

If you just need straightforward updates and you do not need legal advice, you can schedule a complimentary call with our staff. We can often handle clean changes like updating agents, beneficiary names, or practical details, and we do those updates for a flat rate.

If your questions involve planning choices, tax planning, or anything that feels like “I’m not sure what I should do,” then you’ll want a consultation with attorney Bailey so she can give you legal advice and help you choose the right path.

04/14/2026

If you've never been to one of our movie nights, we have a lot of fun dressing in character and catching up over light bites at The Hangry Bison before walking to our private theater together. Past movies have included Barbie, Boys in the Boat, Wicked, and Beetlejuice 2. Get your tickets and all the details here: https://yourcaringlawfirm.com/events/

02/27/2026

Attorney Merrell Bailey has been selected as a 2026 Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent Attorney, Martindale-Hubbell’s highest peer-rated distinction.

We are honored by this recognition and grateful for the trust our clients place in us every day.

01/27/2026

Your Caring Law Firm is committed to staying on the leading edge of tax law changes and planning strategies, because that is how we protect our clients and their families.

That is also why we are proud to sponsor the upcoming Financial Planning Association of Central Florida Symposium. Attorney Bailey will be presenting two sessions while she is there.

This builds directly on the continuing education she just completed at the Heckerling Institute on Estate Planning in Orlando, one of the most respected gatherings in the profession. It is where estate planning attorneys, accountants, trust officers, and wealth professionals go to stay current on what is changing, what is coming next, and what we should be doing about it for the people we serve.

01/19/2026

Today we honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s legacy with gratitude.

12/08/2025

Although there's no hard deadline to open a probate, the original will must be deposited with the clerk within 10 days of learning of the death.

Most of our clients spend at least ten days grieving and dealing with the immediate tasks surrounding a loss before they even learn about this deadline.

Before you panic, here are a few things to keep in mind:

It’s a legal duty, not a hard stop. Florida law says the will’s custodian “must” deposit the original with the clerk within 10 days after learning of the death. Probate can still proceed if it’s filed later.

How is it enforced? A court can order the custodian to produce the will. If the judge finds there was no reasonable cause for the delay, the court can make the custodian pay costs, damages, and attorney’s fees to the person who had to file the petition.

Is it criminal? No, but civil liability is possible if someone is harmed by the delay (for example, increased costs or missed deadlines).

Practical reality: In many cases, nothing dramatic happens if you’re late, especially when everyone cooperates and no one is prejudiced. But if there’s a dispute, the delay can become an issue and the court can step in.

Tip: If you’re ready to open probate, filing the original will with your petition counts as “depositing” it.

Basically, if you haven't withheld someone's Last Will and Testament for a self-serving reason, and other beneficiaries are not looking for a reason to litigate, everything should be okay.