Wills
A Will is a written directive that controls the final disposition of your property at your death. Without a Will, Florida law provides for who will get what and a judge will decide who will be in charge of your estate. Relatives that you do not know could be one of your heirs under the law, and the law does not provide for friends, pets, or charities. Additionally, if one of your heirs is a minor, the court may order a formal and court supervised guardianship for that minor's inheritance.
If you do not have a Will, the lawyers at Adams & James, P.L., can help! If you have a Will and live in Florida, but your Will was made in a state other than Florida, it is important that you have your Will reviewed by a Florida attorney, who is able to determine if the Will is valid in Florida.
Florida has strict formal requirements for the execution of a Will. At your death, your Will must be proved in and allowed by the probate court in order to be considered valid and effective. It is also a good idea to review your will periodically, and when you experience significant life events: marriage, divorce, new baby, retiring, winning the lottery, etc. If you are 18 years or older and live in Florida, we can help you have a voice with the Court about whom you wish to be guardian of your minor children, to whom you direct your property to be distributed at your death, about how your pets will be treated at your demise, and as to whom you would like to be in charge of seeing that your final wishes are honored.
We can help you by listening to your desires about these things, and drafting a Will that is right for you. Your attorney will be able to determine if you need a simple Will or a more complex Will that may contain trusts for some or all of your beneficiaries, depending upon your concerns about them. In addition, at Adams & James, P.L., our attorneys are able to assess whether you would benefit from estate tax planning, a revocable living trust, or ancillary documents (such as a Power of Attorney, Living Will, Designation of Healthcare Surrogate, Pre-Need Guardianship).
It is typically less expensive to create all of your beneficial documents in one transaction, rather than individually, so we will let you know which documents may be right for you. At the very least, it is important for you to make a Will, so that can express your directives as to your property and your preferences as to guardians for your children, instead of relying on the law and the court to decide for you and your loved ones.
Contact us to schedule a free initial consultation at our office in Winter Park, Florida.
