Estate Planning

Overview

A working estate plan answers three questions: who decides for you if you can't, who gets what when you're gone, and how do those things happen without a courtroom fight or a tax bill that didn't need to exist. Wills, revocable trusts, durable powers of attorney, healthcare surrogates, and living wills are the instruments. The work is in fitting them to your actual family and assets.

For Florida residents in particular, the homestead exemption and the realities of probate in Lee and Collier counties make planning concrete and worthwhile rather than theoretical.

What we handle

• Wills and revocable living trusts
• Irrevocable trusts; special-needs trusts; charitable trusts
• Durable powers of attorney
• Healthcare surrogate designations and living wills
• Guardianship designation for minor children
• Asset protection using Florida exemptions and entity structuring
• Business succession planning

Frequently asked questions

What's the difference between a will and a trust?

A will tells the probate court how to distribute your assets after death. A revocable living trust holds those assets during your life and distributes them outside probate at death. A trust costs more to set up; it can save much more later.

Do I need a trust?

Below roughly $300,000 in non-protected assets, the cost of probate in Florida usually doesn't justify a trust. Between $300,000 and $500,000, it's worth a real conversation. Above $500,000 or with out-of-state property, a trust is usually the right answer.

What happens if I have no will?

You're intestate, and Florida's statute decides who inherits — typically spouse, children, parents, then siblings. Your property does not go to the State.

Can I disinherit a child?

Yes. State the omission clearly in the will. Florida does not require leaving a child even one dollar.