What is Estate Planning?
Planning for the unexpected regarding your potential incapacity or death is a topic many people prefer not to discuss. Should the unexpected arise, having a basic estate plan can greatly reduce the uncertainty of what you would want. A basic estate plan can consist of a Last Will & Testament, Durable Power of Attorney, Designation of Health Care Surrogate, Living Will, and Declaration Naming Preneed Guardian. Often, a certain type of trust such as a revocable living trust may be a good idea as well.
Why is Estate Planning Important?
(1) You get to state your wishes and instructions in the estate planning documents helping to protect your desired outcome in the event of incapacity or death instead of Florida Statutes being the main source to help decide the outcome;
(2) Second, you can designate a person you want to handle your estate affairs upon death, called the personal representative, and name beneficiaries or heirs of certain assets in your Will;
(3) In the declaration naming a preneed guardian for minor, you can designate who you would want to become the guardian for the minor child in case of your incapacity or death. Also, you can state in a declaration naming a preneed guardian for an adult, who you would want to be your guardian in the case of your incapacity.
(4) In a Durable Power of Attorney, you can designate a person to handle your affairs, as a less restrictive alternative to a guardianship, in the event you’re unable to do so.
(5) In a Living Will, you can make known your desire that your dying not artificially prolonged when you have a terminal or end-stage condition, or are in a persistent vegetative state. In summary, all the foregoing documents also help to reduce the interfamily uncertainty about what you would want because you tell us in the estate plan documents.
Why You Should I Hire a Lawyer For Estate Planning?
Provide Legal Guidance to make sure the estate plan documents are properly Drafted and witnessed.
Ensure that certain exemptions from creditors are not lost.
Fully Customized Documents Tailored to Your Specific Needs and Desires
A Resource for Loved Ones at a Difficult Time
Frequently Asked Questions
Have any questions? We have answers. Check out our FAQs below:
Our Process
Our step by step process gives you a transparent and guided timeline so you may know what were doing at all times.
1. Initial Consultation
During your initial consultation, the attorney will discuss your specific matter and determine how best to proceed and what documents to draft. Fees to prepare the estate plan documents and an estimated timeline for when the documents will be ready for review will also be discussed.
2. Collect Documentation
Once you are retained as a client, you may simply scan and email related and requested information to our secure online mailbox or fax. From that information, we will prepare your estate plan documents.
3. Review & Sign
Once the documents have been reviewed by you and any necessary changes made, you will schedule a time to come into the office to sign your estate plan documents.
Testimonials
Let our clients speak for themselves. We strive to provide an excellent and transparent service. Take a look for what others have said about us.
Grant and his team did a great job. They quoted a fair price and finished the work in a very timely manner. They listened to our concerns and we were very happy to have them working with us!
Grant Leggett was fantastic. Quick to respond to my million questions. He guided us through the whole process painlessly and professionally. I would highly recommend him to anyone.
Grant is an amazing attorney. Extremely professional and very responsive. He guided me through my mothers probate case with laser precision. Very highly recommended!
