Wills, Trusts, & Estate Planning

Estate planning is more than just a will or a trust—it’s legacy planning. It includes deciding how and to whom you want to leave your estate. It’s also about anticipating who will make medical and financial decisions for you during your lifetime if you become incapacitated. If you have minor children, estate planning also involves appointing healthcare surrogates and guardians for them if something happens to you.

Most importantly, everyone can benefit from an estate plan, regardless of how many or how few assets you own. Talking with an experienced estate planning attorney near you can ensure you leave your legacy as intended.

A revocable trust (sometimes called a “living trust” or an “inter vivos trust”) is a flexible estate planning tool that avoids the probate process and offers excellent protection to your beneficiaries after you pass away. Revocable trusts provide creditor protection, protect your beneficiaries in the event of disability, avoid guardianship for minor children, and allow your estate to be held in trust until your beneficiaries reach a certain age. A wills and trust lawyer can guide you on the options.

A Will only controls assets that must go through the probate process—it does not avoid probate. If you make a valid Will, it must be admitted to the Florida probate court to effectively pass ownership of your probate assets to the beneficiaries you named in the Will. A wills and estate planning attorney can guide you in managing your investments to reduce probate concerns.

A health care surrogate designation is a document that appoints someone to make health care decisions for you if you’re unable to speak for yourself and receive health care information on your behalf.

Living wills are often confused with a do-not-resuscitate order (DNR), which allows you to choose whether you would want to receive CPR in an emergency. On the other hand, a living will specifies if and when you would like to forgo life support.

A durable power of attorney gives someone the legal authority to make financial decisions for you if you cannot make them yourself. Authority extends to paying your bills, speaking with your insurance or credit card companies, selling property, etc. Without a durable power of attorney, no one (not even your spouse) has the legal authority to act on your behalf regarding your finances, and you could potentially need a court-appointed guardian.

If you don’t make a Will, your probate assets will be subject to Florida’s intestacy law. The intestacy law is a default inheritance scheme based on Florida statutes and family relationships. However, sometimes this scheme doesn’t always match a person’s wishes. That’s why it’s essential to enlist the support of a qualified estate planning attorney to reduce these concerns and ensure your assets go to those you love.

Death can be difficult to discuss, but we can’t emphasize enough the importance of having an estate plan in place when the unexpected happens. Without an estate plan, you risk subjecting your beneficiaries and your estate to the probate process, estate taxes, disputes among family members, and a waste of time and money. Estate planning gives you peace of mind by protecting your family and your loved ones. It ensures that your wishes are followed when you are gone.

Our Remote Estate Planning Service allows you to complete your estate planning no matter where you reside in Florida. Gone are the days of traveling to our office to speak with an estate attorney! Now, you can collaborate seamlessly with our experienced attorneys and legal support staff through our digital channels from your home.

At SJF Law Group, our estate planning lawyers work hard to ensure that your wishes will be followed and your loved ones are cared for when you are gone. As trusted estate and probate lawyers, we serve individuals and families in the vibrant communities of Broward, Miami-Dade, and Palm Beach Counties. We are also delighted to provide the flexibility of both in-person and virtual appointments across the State of Florida, ensuring that our services are easily accessible regardless of your location.

Call us today at 954-580-3690 with any questions, or complete the easy form below, and we’ll call you to schedule a consultation. Our estate planning attorneys take pride in responding to all inquiries promptly.