Estate Planning
Florida estate planning tailored to your family's needs.
A plan that protects what you have built, names the people you trust, and avoids the courtroom whenever Florida law allows.
Estate planning is the work of putting your wishes on paper in a way Florida law will honor. At its best, it is a quiet, careful process that gives your family certainty during the moments when certainty matters most. We have guided more than 55,000 Florida families through that process over the last forty years.
It is not only for the wealthy. Anyone with minor children, a spouse, real estate, retirement accounts, or even a strongly held wish about end-of-life care benefits from a written plan. Without one, Florida statutes determine who inherits, who serves as personal representative, and who is appointed guardian of any minor children. A modest, well-drafted plan keeps those decisions in your hands.
The process at our office begins with a conversation, not a questionnaire. We listen first, then we walk you through the tools that fit your situation. Those tools may include a revocable living trust, a pour-over will, durable powers of attorney for finances and healthcare, a living will, gifting strategies, life insurance trusts for larger estates, and special-needs trusts where a beneficiary requires one. We assemble the right combination, draft the documents, and walk you through every page at signing.
Beyond the documents, a complete plan addresses incapacity. Many families think of estate planning as a death plan, when in truth most plans are used during life: when a parent develops dementia, when a spouse can no longer manage finances, when a hospital needs to know who can make decisions. Our plans cover these situations clearly so your loved ones never have to guess.
Finally, our plans are designed to avoid Florida probate wherever possible, to minimize estate and income tax exposure, and to keep your private affairs private. We are widely known as one of the most reasonably priced estate planning firms in the state, and our flat fees are quoted before any work begins.
What a plan does
Six things a careful Florida plan accomplishes.
Avoid Florida probate where possible
Keep family matters private
Reduce estate and income tax exposure
Plan for incapacity, not just death
Protect a surviving spouse
Provide for minor or special-needs children
Common questions
Questions families ask us first
Do I really need an estate plan if I am not wealthy?
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Yes. Estate planning is far less about money than it is about clarity. Without a plan, Florida law decides who receives your property, who manages it, and who raises any minor children. A short, well-drafted plan keeps those decisions in your hands and saves your family time, expense, and conflict.
What is the difference between a will and a living trust?
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A will speaks at death and must usually pass through Florida probate court. A revocable living trust can hold your property during your lifetime, provide for management if you become incapacitated, and pass assets to beneficiaries without probate. Most of our clients use a combination of both, with a pour-over will that backs up the trust.
How long does it take to complete an estate plan?
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Most plans are signed within two to four weeks of your initial meeting. Complex situations involving business interests, blended families, or special-needs beneficiaries may take longer. We tell you the realistic timeline at the first meeting.
How often should I update my plan?
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Review every three to five years and after any major life event. Marriage, divorce, the birth of a child or grandchild, the death of a beneficiary, a move to or from Florida, or a substantial change in assets all warrant a review.
Can you help if I already have an out-of-state plan?
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Yes. If you have moved to Florida, we will review your existing documents to confirm they work under Florida law and recommend updates only where they are genuinely needed.
What does estate planning cost at your firm?
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We are widely recognized as one of the most reasonably priced estate planning firms in Florida. We quote a flat fee at the first meeting, and the price does not change unless the scope of work changes.
Speak with an attorney
Your first conversation with our office is always free.
Call our Largo office or send us a note. We answer questions in plain language, and we will tell you honestly what your situation needs.