Florida Estate Planning Attorney | Wills & Trusts Lawyer
Estate Planning is the process by which a person arranges their affairs to accomplish their goals by utilizing various legal strategies which can include, but are not limited to, will preparation; establishment of trusts; structuring of business entities; gift, generation-skipping or death tax planning; durable power of attorney and health care directives("living wills"). Any estate size can benefit from estate planning.
Attorney Craig F. Snyder can help prepare a will, trust, living will, durable power of attorney and health care directive and provide related estate planning services to clients in Palm Beach, West Palm Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, Boca Raton, Jupiter and the entire Southeast Florida area.
Frequently asked Questions about Estate Planning
Q. Why do I need a will?
A. Remember, if you have no will, the State of Florida has one for you, and you may not be happy with what it says. Everyone should have a will.
Q. Why do I need an estate planning attorney?
A. An experienced estate planning attorney has the knowledge to ensure that your wishes are properly spelled out in your will. Even if you consider yourself to have a small estate, if the will is not properly worded, the people that you intend to receive your assets, may not receive them, or have to fight to inherit them.
Q. Can I do my own will?
A. That certainly is a possibility if you know what you are doing. Will it be valid or carry out your wishes as you intend? I do not know. Is it recommended? Absolutely not(not even with all of the computer software out there). The validity as well the effectiveness regarding your wishes are only very few of the unknowns regarding a self-made will. While commercially available drafting software exists, it is unlikely that a software program will interact with you regarding all the implications upon which a specific, informed and complete estate plan will be made.
Q. If I have a will, is my estate planning complete?
A. A will is only part of a complete estate plan. A will cannot give your family the power to make decisions with respect to your health and property while you cannot speak for yourself. These documents are called Durable Powers of Attorney and are a very important part of your overall estate plan. While wills are important, they do not control many types of assets. For example, a will has no legal affect regarding retirement accounts or other assets that have transfer clauses. In fact, a well drafted will should coordinate with all other transfer methods effective at death.
Q. Do revocable(living) trusts avoid estate taxes after death?
A. No. It is a common misperception that these trusts save estate taxes. Rather, these trusts are a method to avoid certain judicial involvement in controlling a persons property during incapacity and after death. In the appropriate circumstance, provisions may be added to preserve what is known as the estate tax exemption amount in the same manner as may be done under a will.
Q. How do I know if I should have a will or revocable(living) trust?
A. Consultation with an experienced estate planning attorney is the best approach as certain assets may be inappropriate for tax and/or non-tax reasons. For example, an IRA should never be owned by a revocable trust while very specific language is required for a post death subtrust(s) to qualify as IRA designated beneficiaries.
If your questions are still unanswered, please email us at: Info@estatebiz.net
We serve clients in Palm Beach, West Palm Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, Boca Raton, Jupiter and the surrounding communities. We thank you for visiting our site and welcome the opportunity to serve your legal needs.
