Estate Planning Wills Trusts
Providing for your family’s future is a very loving and carefully though-out act. An estate planning lawyer will prepare a will, codicil, an advance directive, power of attorney, and any other document that provides for the distribution of your estate when you die or are gravely ill. Without a will, you run the risk of allowing the court decide who receives an inheritance from your estate. An estate planning lawyer will protect your wishes should someone try to contest your will and initiate a settlement for your estate that you did not want.
Estate Planning in Jacksonville
Essential Lifetime Documents for Florida Estate Planning
When estate planning, in addition to a trust or will to administer your estate upon death, every person should consider completing these following legal documents to guarantee that your affairs are handled properly during your lifetime.
- Durable Power of Attorney (for financial matters)
- Designation of Health Care Surrogate
- Living Will
- Declaration of Preneed Guardian
Durable Power of Attorney
This document appoints another individual, known as your “attorney-in-fact”, to make business, financial and legal decisions for you in the event you are incapacitated or otherwise unable to act. A Durable Power of Attorney can reduce or eliminate the need and cost incurred to secure a court-appointed guardian to manage your affairs in the event you should become permanently or temporarily incapacitated.
Designation of Health Care Surrogate
This document enables you to appoint another individual known as your health care surrogate, to make medical decisions for you in the event you are incapacitated or otherwise unable to consent to medical treatment.
Living Will
This document is essential for anyone who takes estate planning in Jacksonville seriously. It provides a health care surrogate for you, as well as health care binding instructions concerning the circumstances in which life-prolonging medical procedures which provide no curative benefit may be withheld or withdrawn.
Declaration of Preneed Guardian
This document enables you to appoint who will serve as your guardian in the unlikely event your affairs cannot be properly administered by your attorney-in-fact and health care surrogate.
Contact Todd Watson of the Jacksonville estate planning law firm to further discuss the significance of each of these important legal documents, and how to tailor them to fit your personal needs.
At what age should you start thinking about estate planning?
At what age should you start thinking about estate planning?
People interested in developing an asset protection plan with an estate planning attorney are sometimes unsure at what age the process should begin. A lot of people think they are not old enough to need an estate plan. Unfortunately some unexpected occurrences happen and it’s always good to be prepared.
There is no "right" age to begin considering the development of an estate plan. Everyone over the age of 18 should consider established an estate plan to monitor their assets, especially those who are married and are starting or have started a family. Whether you’re 22 years old with $100 to your name or 50 years old with many more assets, it’s important to consider estate planning as an option for you.
Typically, the older a person gets the more he or she begins to think about estate planning prior to death. However, death can come at any age, and it’s important that you are prepared, sooner rather than later.
Estate planning is a good idea for people who want to control where their assets end up after they pass away. No matter how old you are or what you own, it’s never too early to start thinking about where you would like to see your assets go, whether it’s to a spouse, sibling, friend, child or charity.
It's also very important to know the benefits of using an estate planning attorney that is experienced, handles multiple plans, and stays current with the laws. If you would like more information about estate planning, contact our Chicago attorneys wherever you are located. We’re here to help.
Sawyier & Williams
205 North Michigan Avenue, Suite 2600
Chicago, IL 60601
Phone: 888-213-9120
Understanding Wills
Why You Need a Jacksonville Wills Attorney
Although most of us understand what a will is, it is just as important to recognize that wills are not all created equally. A legally sound, up-to-date will can avoid a host of issues and problems that a poorly crafted one cannot. To create such a key document in a clear and instructive way, you need a qualified wills attorney in Jacksonville.
The importance of having a valid will
Your heirs have no way of knowing what your wishes are for your estate if you do not leave behind a will. Personal effects may be divided in a way you did not intend, and family members and other loved ones may become engaged in arguments over the will. Important assets you wanted to protect and preserve for certain individuals, or for charitable causes, may be spent elsewhere. Creditors may take significant amounts you intended to have used in other ways, or the value of the estate may be significantly reduced by heavy taxes. If you have not updated your will in many years, you may find that heirs, assets, and wishes for the future have changed, but your final documents do not reflect those changes.
All these issues and more can cause a great deal of stress and frustration for your heirs. This is especially true if they must complete the arduous legal process required to probate wills in Jacksonville. In essence, probate refers to how the courts administer the estate of a deceased person. This administration can become necessary if the deceased does not leave a will (sometimes called dying intestate), or leaves a will whose unclear wording makes requests open to debate. Probating wills in Jacksonville can be time-consuming, complicated, and financially burdensome. Taking the time to complete a straightforward and concise will helps avoid the concerns associated with probate.
Seeking professional assistance can simplify the process of creating or updating a will
Making out a will does not have to be an overwhelming task. At Grady H. Williams, Jr., LL.M., Attorneys at Law, P.A., we simplify the process, ensuring that the will you make accurately reflects your wishes for the future. We can also examine a draft of a will you have already made, and discuss if changes are necessary. Most importantly, we use our knowledge and experience of estate planning and probate law to avoid legal pitfalls associated with wills. We know the types of issues likely to lead to probate, and so we work to minimize the chances of your will going through that process. With more than fifteen years of practice in estate planning law, we know how to structure or update a will that gives you peace of mind in the years to come.
Contact a wills attorney in Jacksonville today
When it comes to selecting a Jacksonville wills attorney, you need one who can provide confident legal guidance. Our team at Grady H. Williams, Jr., LL.M., Attorneys at Law, P.A. has the experience and the compassion to partner with you in the journey ahead. Contact us online or at 904-264-8800.
Estate Planning, Probate, Wills and Trusts, Asset Protection and Guardianship
Articles and Seminars
Estate Planning, Probate, Wills and Trusts, Asset Protection and Guardianship
Chris Phillips was a guest on the Legal Hour with Malcolm LaVergne on KLAV on May 6, 2010. Malcolm hosts a call in show on Thursday nights 6:00 -7:00 pm. He asked Chris to join him to discuss estate planning, probate, wills and trusts, asset protection and guardianship.
Family Law and Matrimonial Law
- A Comprehensive Guide to Divorce - las vegas family law attorneys
- Preparing for Court/Mediation
- Post Judgment Modifications
- The Nevada Domestic Partnership Act
Child Custody & Support
- Custody—Fantasy and Realism
- Child Support and Custody Issues
Estate Planning
- ESTATE PLANNING: Battle of Wills
Trent, Tyrell & Phillips - estate planner in henderson
11920 Southern Highlands Parkway #200
Las Vegas, NV 89141
Toll Free: 1-866-605-5040
