The significance of our lives is in the legacy left to our loved ones after we are gone. We work a lifetime to build assets and wealth with the hopes of making life easier and sweeter for ourselves and our family.
And while no one likes to contemplate their own mortality, it’s important to consider how you want your estate distributed after your death. An experienced Florida estate planning attorney can help you draft a sound legal plan that will ensure your wealth and final wishes are protected.
3 Reasons Why You Need an Estate Planning Attorney
1. Each state has specific laws governing the distribution of assets. Estate planning attorneys specialize in navigating state probate and trust laws that impact trustee selection, beneficiaries, tax planning, and distribution of assets.
If you’re a Florida resident, working with a Florida estate planning attorney to draft your will, trust, and other estate planning documents is essential. Your local estate planning attorney will ensure that your estate plan is legally valid and will stand up under scrutiny in Florida courts.
2. Every estate plan is unique and requires customization.
- Blended Family
- Minor Children
- Endowments
- Philanthropic goals
- Family business succession
- Special care provisions
Online self-help kits and standardized will and trust forms offer predetermined options that are often too narrow or much too broad. When relying on these resources, there is a high likelihood that confusion will set in, and you will select the wrong option for your circumstances, undermining the entire intent behind your estate plan.
It’s best to seek the advice of a seasoned Florida estate planning lawyer with previous experience and a varied clientele. Working closely with your attorney, you can rest assured that the complexities of your situation are understood, your intentions are well defined, and your documents are compliant with Florida state law.
3. Updates and modifications are part of the process.
Estate planning can be emotional and complicated, especially as life presents change and challenge. Shifts in personal circumstances necessitate modifications to your will and trust, and in such times, no one wants to start over with a new advisor.
Have you married or divorced? Has a charitable endowment become part of your legacy? Or has your child taken a wrong path, rendering a large inheritance unwise?
A long-term relationship with your estate planning attorney offers peace of mind that you are not back at square one or standing alone amid change.
Familiar with your plan, your estate lawyer will advise you regarding any requested changes or needed compliance with changes in the law.
Speak With a Florida Estate Planning Attorney Today
You need an estate plan to protect your legacy, and it’s never too early to establish provision for your family.
Using a one-size-fits-all plan that doesn’t consider Florida state law or your particulars risks your wishes going unfulfilled and puts your heirs at the mercy of the probate court.
For help with wills, trusts, and comprehensive estate planning in Florida, it’s best to have an experienced Florida estate planning attorney on your side. Schedule a consult with us today.