Wills, Trusts & Estate Planning

Estate Planning is the process of preparing a strategy to preserve and manage assets and wealth during a person’s lifetime while maximizing retention of control and benefit with the least amount of Federal and State tax implications. Estate planning also involves coordinating a plan to transfer the owner’s estate to their designated beneficiaries at death while taking into account each family’s unique situation and dynamics. Estate planning concerns minimizing or eliminating Federal and State income, estate, gift, & GST Taxes; preparing for incapacity; reducing or avoiding probate; asset protection and facilitating a plan for the most efficient estate settlement.

We understand that each client and situation is unique and that “off the shelf” documents and legal planning will not do.  Instead of squeezing the client into a particular planning technique and form, each client and their personal, economic, psychological, financial, tax and other attributes are examined to carefully create a comprehensive and complete estate plan to meet the client’s goals and objectives.  Proper estate planning and well drafted documents are the cornerstone to insuring your family’s legacy and wishes.

We represent Floridians in all aspects of their estate planning, from simple wills to very complex and sophisticated planning that addresses our clients’ tax, business and personal goals.

DO YOU HAVE A WILL? – FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
THE RECOVABLE TRUST IN FLORIDA – FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
WHAT IS A POWER OF ATTORNEY? – FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Our firm has extensive experience in estate planning including the following services:

  • Preparation of Last Wills and Testaments, Revocable “Living” Trusts, Irrevocable Trusts, Life Insurance Trusts (ILITS), Qualified Personal Residence Trusts (QPRTS), Grantor Retained Annuity Trusts (GRATS), Family Limited Partnerships (FLPS), and other Advanced Estate Planning Documents
  • High Net Worth Estate Planning
  • Wealth Preservation
  • Asset Protection
  • Business Succession Planning
  • Estate, Gift and Generation Skipping Transfer Tax Planning
  • Durable Power of Attorneys
  • Healthcare Documents including Health Care Surrogates, Living Wills & Declaration of Pre-need Guardians
  • Special Needs Planning and Special Needs Trusts
  • Nuptial and Marital Agreements
  • Estate Planning for Second Marriages and Remarriages
  • Estate Planning for Unmarried Couples and Partners
  • Estate Planning for Same Sex Couples and Partners
  • Charitable Planning and Organizations
  • Post-Mortem Estate Planning
  • Planning for Unexpected Wealth including Inheritances, Jury Awards, Lawsuit Settlements, Windfalls and Lottery Winnings
  • Estate Planning for Families with Young Children
  • Transfer of Wealth
  • Gift Giving
  • Tax Planning for Charitable Giving
  • Annual Gifting to Minimize Estate and Gift Taxes
  • International Tax and Estate Planning
  • Estate Planning for Persons with Assets in Foreign Countries
  • Qualified Domestic Trusts for Non-Resident Spouses
  • NFA Gun Trusts
  • IRA Planning

You should consider a review of your estate planning documents in the following situations:

  • If you recently moved to Florida to make sure your existing estate planning documents conform to Florida Law;
  • Have not had your estate plan reviewed in the last 3-5 years;
  • Marriage, divorce, birth or death of child, death or any major change in your finances or family;
  • There has been a change in the laws since your last documents;
  • or have no estate planning documents.

Begin your estate planning today by contacting us to schedule an appointment.  Please complete the appropriate estate planning questionnaire and bring the requested items to your appointment located on our resources page.