Florida Estate Planning.
Protect your assets and your legacy.
Put simply, estate planning is:
Making sure WHAT you own is passed on to WHO you want, WHEN you want, and HOW you want — all while AVOIDING unnecessary taxes, legal fees, and family disputes.
WHO NEEDS AN ESTATE PLAN?
EVERYONE, but especially the following:
- Parents with minor children
- Parents with adult children
- Newlyweds or Divorcees
- Blended families
- Retirees
- Homeowners and Business owners
- Life Insurance or Retirement Beneficiaries
- Individuals with Special Needs
- Young adults going off to college
- Pets (yes, Pets!)
“A Goal Without A Plan Is Just A Wish.”
– Antonie de Saint Exupéry
Although the thought of planning for incapacity, disability and/or death can be uncomfortable and worrisome, it is a necessary procedure for yourself and your loved ones. That is why working with an effective, innovative and dedicated Florida Estate Planning Lawyer to prepare your estate planning documents is highly recommended to ensure protection of your assets and your legacy.
There is no one-size-fits-all estate plan. Each person is unique and their estate planning goals and needs are different. Therefore, every estate plan is based on each person’s specific assets, family size, marital status, intended beneficiaries, and any special circumstances.
Due to an ever-changing economy, updates in the law, and unforeseen events that life throws at you, it is critical to have the proper estate planning protections in place to ensure that you and your family will be taken care of now and in the future.
If you fail to plan for the future interests of your family and loved ones, the Florida probate courts have a plan for you. The way in which the court will dispose of your hard-earned assets may be the opposite of your ultimate goals.
Whether you are looking to protect your assets, plan for incapacity, appoint guardians for your minor children, ensure a smooth transition of your business, or designate charitable gifting, I can assist you to design an estate plan that helps to avoid lengthy and costly probate, minimize estate taxes, and privately pass on your assets and legacy to your heirs.
WHAT TYPE OF ESTATE PLAN DO YOU NEED?
Probably a Florida Will, if:
- your estate planning wishes are simple
- you want to leave everything to only your spouse (and then your children)
- you want to leave everything to a only a significant other, friend, relative or charity
- you have minimal assets and do not own real estate
- you want to ensure your property is not lost to the state of Florida
- you cannot afford a more complex estate plan
- you just want to have some plan in place and are not sure what else to do
Probably a Florida Trust, if:
- your estate is more complex
- you have assets over $75,000 or own real estate
- you want to ensure your heirs’ inheritance is protected for life from outsiders
- you want to make specific distributions of assets and possessions to different people
- you want to avoid probate court
- you want to keep your estate and beneficiaries’ identity private
- you want to set up charitable gift giving program
- you own a business or have investments
- you own life insurance and have retirement accounts
Kids Protection Plan®
Leave your kids in the right hands.
Not sure what you need to do to protect the people you love and the things you own?
See what estate planning documents are right for you.
See how the pieces fit.
Do you know how a Last Will & Testament works? Ever wonder if a Living Trust is better for your family? Want to make sure your health care decisions are carried out if you’re seriously injured? Do you require more complex planning?
Check out my Estate Planning Toolbox to learn more about a variety of estate planning tools to customize your own plan today.
See how the pieces fit.
Do you know how a Last Will & Testament works? Ever wonder if a Living Trust is better for your family? Want to make sure your health care decisions are carried out if you’re seriously injured? Do you require more complex planning?
Check out my Estate Planning Toolbox to learn more about a variety of estate planning tools to customize your own plan today.
WHAT MAKES MY ESTATE PLANNING SERVICES DIFFERENT?
Your Title Goes Here
Flat Fees
Availability
Understandable Terms
In addition, every successor trustee or agent named in your plan will be provided with written instructions so they understand their duties if something should happen to you.
Kids Protection Plan®
The Kids Protection Plan® includes the naming of multiple short-and long-term guardians, confidential exclusion of guardian, written life-care instructions to each guardian, children’s health-care instructions, medical power of attorney, identification cards that will be seen and used by first responders and healthcare personnel in the event you cannot communicate (our client favorite), and much more!
Legacy Planning
This is accomplished through handwritten notes, audio recordings, and video legacy interviews conducted during different stages of your life. This way, you can continue to provide your loved ones with insight into who you are and what is important to you long after you are gone.
Each client’s first legacy interview session is included with their plan and at no additional cost. I also provide each of my estate planning clients with an 8GB flash drive that has enough storage space to upload a large number of photos, videos, songs, passages, and letters.
Plan Review
Trust Funding Toolkit
Virtual Estate Planning Services
If you are unable to meet in person, for whatever reason, I am available to virtually assist you to review an old plan, discuss your current estate planning goals and needs, or create and design a new estate plan that is customized to fit you and your family. There are no robo-assistants, no automated responses, and no worries!
FLORIDA ESTATE PLANNING PROCESS
Complete your Inventory & Assessment.
Schedule an estate planning design session.
I draft your documents while you build your legacy.
Sign your documents and get on enjoying life.
VIRTUAL ESTATE PLANNING SERVICES
An affordable option for those who need more than basic estate planning, but prefer virtual, rather than in-person assistance from an estate planning lawyer.
Fill Out Online Intake Form
Schedule Virtual Consult
I Draft and Send Your Plan
You Review, Sign and Fund
Estate Planning Related Services
TRUST ADMINISTRATION
Individuals whom have been designated as a trustee of another’s trust may need a lawyer’s assistance with the administration of the trust estate. Part of my services as a Florida Estate Planning Lawyer include a comprehensive review of the operative estate plan documents, review of trustee obligations, organization of asset inventory and accounting, assistance with escrow and distributions to beneficiaries, informal and formal probate proceedings (if applicable), and post-death administration of the decedent’s trust (if applicable). Learn more about Trust Administration
PROBATE ADMINISTRATION
Utilizing effective estate planning tools can help avoid Florida’s stressful, costly, time consuming and pubic probate process. However, depending on the nature and amount of the assets involved, some estates may be better suited to involve the use of probate. As a Florida Estate Planning Lawyer, I represent those whom have been named as personal representative or executor in another individual’s Last Will and Testament and help guide both the personal representative and the decedent’s family Florida’s probate administration process. Learn more about Probate Administration
PROBATE ADMINISTRATION
Utilizing effective estate planning tools can help avoid Florida’s stressful, costly, time consuming and pubic probate process. However, depending on the nature and amount of the assets involved, some estates may be better suited to involve the use of probate. As a Florida Estate Planning Lawyer, I represent those whom have been named as personal representative or executor in another individual’s Last Will and Testament and help guide both the personal representative and the decedent’s family Florida’s probate administration process. Learn more about Probate Administration
GUARDIANSHIP
Oftentimes, a family member or loved one who did not plan ahead may need assistance during their incapacity. I provide assistance to individuals seeking guardianship and/or conservatorship of a loved one who is unable to make their own decisions and did not execute a power of attorney, health care directives, or other estate planning documents prior to their incapacity or incompetence. These processes are required to go through the Florida courts, and generally require a lawyer’s assistance. Learn more about Guardianship
Let’s Plan.
Ready to go? Schedule your estate planning design session with me today.
Contact Me.
If you have a question or just want to connect, get in touch today.