ESTATE PLANNING
OUR ESTATE
PLANNING PROCESS
01
Intake Questionnaire
Once you call our office, we help you schedule your initial design meeting through our intake process. During the call, we will email you a welcome packet with important information and an initial questionnaire for you to complete prior to the initial design meeting.
04
Phone Call to Review Drafts
It is important to us that clients understand their documents and what they are signing. This scheduled phone call is with Amy to review the documents and answer any of your questions. If there are any changes that need to be made, those changes will be done before you come into sign.
02
Initial Design Meeting with Amy
At your initial design meeting, we will discuss your estate planning goals and work with you to design your specific estate plan. This is a great time to ask a lot of questions and meet our team.
05
Sign Your Documents
Once your documents align with your goals, we have a meeting for you to sign your documents. This meeting is with our estate planning paralegal or law clerk and is usually physically in the office. If you are unable to come into our office, please just let us know and we would be more than happy to schedule an out-of-office signing.
03
We Draft Your Documents
After your initial design meeting, our team will begin working on drafting your unique estate planning documents. Within a few weeks, you will receive drafts of your documents for your review.
06
Pick Up Your Portfolio
After your signing, our team will prepare your estate planning portfolio. The portfolio includes your original signed documents, a set of copies, and a summary of your documents and assets. Along with the portfolio, you will receive a gift bag as a thank you for coming to our office.
Then We Are Here For Whenever You Need Us!
Even after you have signed and picked up your portfolio, our office is here for you whenever you need us. There are many difference circumstances that could occur where you will want to update any or all of your estate planning documents. When that time comes, we make it simple and easy to make those changes, just give us a call.
If you ever need our office for long-term care planning, Medicaid planning, or probate and trust administration work, we are more than happy to continue representing you in those matters.
Have other legal issues outside of our wheelhouse? You can always still give us a call and we will help you find another attorney best to help you.
MEET YOUR ESTATE PLANNING TEAM
ESTATE PLANNING
DOCUMENTS
LAST WILL & TESTAMENT
The Last Will and Testament distributes probate property. Probate property are assets owned by the decedent that were not jointly owned with another individual or assets that did not have a designated beneficiary. In the will, you will designate the beneficiaries of your estate as well as who you want to administer your estate.
DURABLE POWER OF ATTORNEY
Under the Durable Power of Attorney, you will designate an Agent to act on your behalf, if you are unable. The Power of Attorney is designed to make it possible for an agent to manage your financial affairs. Florida law mandates the power of attorney detail the powers for the agent. Florida Durable Power of Attorney is active upon signing, and continues to be effective if you are incapacitated.
TRUST
All assets titled in the Trust are jointly owned by both of you. You both are the primary beneficiaries, and the surviving spouse continues as primary beneficiary after the death of the first spouse. When you are both deceased, the named successor Trustee will be the Trustee to administer the Trust.
ADVANCED HEALTH CARE DIRECTIVES
Advanced health care directives fall into three categories: Designation of Health Care Surrogate, Living Will, and HIPAA Authorization. Designation of Health Care Surrogate designates an agent(s) that you wish to make health care directives on your behalf; a Living Will states your end of life health care wishes; and a HIPAA Release lists individuals you authorize to obtain your health records.
