WHAT ARE COMMON ESTATE PLANNING DOCUMENTS?

Having a few simple documents allows you to direct the management of your affairs (before and after your death) and to decide who will receive your assets upon your death. The instruments noted below are the most common estate planning documents:

• Will
• Trust
• Power of attorney
• Health care surrogate
• Living will
• Preneed guardian

WHAT HAPPENS WITHOUT AN ESTATE PLAN?

In Florida, if one dies without an estate plan, Florida’s intestacy laws govern who will be entitled to receive your assets. Having a plan in place before and after death can preserve your assets and provide you with peace of mind that, in the event of illness and/or death, your affairs will be in order.

WHAT IF I HAVE A PLAN IN PLACE ALREADY?

If you already have an estate plan and are looking to make changes, we can assist you in reviewing your current documents in order to come up with an appropriate plan that best fits your needs. Most changes can be made without the necessity of starting over. For instance, if you desire to make a change to your will, this can be accomplished through the preparation of a short document called a codicil and for a trust through a document called an amendment.

Having a skilled attorney prepare your documents is essential.

Preparing documents on your own or without the assistance a knowledgeable drafting attorney could result in litigation concerning your estate, which can quickly deplete your assets. In order to protect your legacy against unnecessary and costly litigation, it is important to use a skilled attorney to ensure your future or current estate plan clearly reflects your intent and was executed with proper formalities.

What are the costs of putting together an estate plan?

Our goal is to ensure that you have the right plan to manage your assets so the prices will vary depending on the particular needs of the client and the complexity of estate plan. However, many simple estate plans (i.e. will, power of attorney, health care surrogate, and living will) can be prepared for less than $2000.