Orlando Estate Planning Lawyer Helps You Plan for the Future

Well-established Florida law firm assists you with wills, trusts and probate

Depending on your age and circumstances, planning your estate may not be the most pressing task on your mind. However, you can never start thinking about an estate plan too soon. Our experienced attorney at McShane & McShane Law Firm, P.A. takes great pride in providing our clients in Orange County with knowledgeable, hands-on counsel for trusts, wills, probate and other estate-planning matters.

What is an estate plan?

Simply put, an estate plan deals with your estate after your death. While you may enjoy perfect health now, life is impossible to predict, and if you wait until you need an estate plan, it may be too late. Planning your estate does not have to be a frustrating and complex affair. Our attorney provides you with attentive legal support. We listen carefully to your story and your goals for your estate. Then we outline and guide you through the necessary steps to create a sound and clear estate plan for your family and loved ones. If you require competent counsel regarding any of the following estate-planning issues, be sure to seek experienced legal help:

• Wills — A will provides instructions to your survivors about how your estate should be divided. If you have no will in place, Florida divides your estate based on its intestacy laws, which explain that your property and assets go first to your closest relatives, starting with your spouse and child. For your will to be valid in the Sunshine State, it must be signed in front of two witnesses, who must also sign the will.
• Probate — Probate is the process of validating a will. If you are planning your estate, you may be wondering if you can avoid probate, since it tends to be costly, long and complicated. In fact, if your will is not 100 percent clear, conflicts and will contests may arise. Will validation disputes can stem from vague language in the will or the belief that the will creator was coerced into creating the will or that the will was forged. In Florida, probate is most commonly avoided through living trusts or joint ownership of property.
• Trusts — In a trust, one person, the trustee, holds the legal title of a property for another person. For small estates valued at $75,000 or less, Florida uses a simplified probate process, which may be less of a hassle than creating a living trust. However, if your estate is valued above $75,000, you can avoid the probate process altogether by setting up a living trust. Once you die, your successor trustee carries out the specific instructions you have given in the trust.

Contact a reputable estate planning lawyer in Orange County today

If you reside in Florida and need help setting up your estate plan, contact McShane & McShane Law Firm, P.A. online or by calling 407-648-1500. Our attorney can explain the law to you clearly and succinctly. Your first consultation is free. Se habla español.