Decker Legacy Law, LLC — Estate Planning Lawyers in Florida to Help With All Your Legal Needs.

How Important Is Florida Estate Planning?

When people hear the term estate planning, the first thing they think about is creating a will. This is a solid assumption — as wills are an important part of any estate plan. However, there’s actually much more involved. And depending on your unique circumstances, several Florida estate planning tools should be on your radar. If you fail to properly prepare for potential contingencies, you could lose everything you’ve ever worked for over the years.

This may sound alarmist, but it’s far from an exaggeration. For instance, imagine a scenario where you’ve saved hundreds of thousands of dollars for retirement. Once you reach the age of 65, you’re ready to sign up for Medicaid and enjoy a relaxed life free of financial concerns. Unfortunately, your savings could actually make you ineligible for Medicaid benefits — and this means medical bills could wipe out your savings in just a short time.

There are other potentially disastrous events that could also occur. Many people have found themselves incapacitated and unable to make medical decisions. Others have watched their businesses fail after retiring. There are even those who will never see the difficult circumstances left behind for their families — all because issues with their will created problems in probate. With the help of a Florida estate planning attorney, though, you can avoid such complications.

What Does Proper Estate Planning Involve?

Having a will is a definite necessity for proper estate planning. However, they can only accomplish so much. For instance, you wouldn’t list a power of attorney in this legal document — nor would you create plans for long-term care needs. A will can only go so far with what it can accomplish.

The second most common estate planning tool is a trust. This is another legal document that allows you to give a person or organization assets. However, it’s possible to avoid a variety of taxes you’d owe when just using a will. You may also be able to assist a disabled loved one without interfering with their eligibility for government assistance programs.

This probably all sounds a bit complex, and the craziest thing is that this only accounts for two types of estate planning. Getting this done right also necessitates choosing someone to make decisions for you, planning for Medicaid and long-term care, protecting your assets, and a variety of other tasks that you don’t want to overlook. An estate planning lawyer in Florida can help.

Can You Handle Estate Planning On Your Own?

Many people get the idea that they don’t need an estate planning lawyer in Florida to handle their planning needs. This belief has increased significantly since the advent of do-it-yourself online legal tools. Unfortunately, such tools cannot account for your unique situation. They’re nothing more than boilerplate forms that likely will not properly safeguard your assets or ensure your wishes are carried out in a number of situations.

Of course, there are some estate planning steps you can handle on your own. For instance, it doesn’t take much technical knowledge to add a beneficiary to your financial accounts. In fact, it’s fairly simple. However, this is typically only one step in the planning process. If it’s all you do, there’s a good chance that the courts or other individuals will make decisions that should’ve been left to you.

Speak with our Florida estate planning professionals today to learn what you can do on your own — and what strategies an attorney can prove invaluable for.

What Happens Without Proper Estate Planning?

Without proper estate planning, there are various unfortunate outcomes that can occur. As with most things in this area of the law, it will all depend on your unique situation. For instance, dying without a valid will means that the courts will decide what happens to your assets based on state law. In such a scenario, someone who has been estranged from you for years may inherit your monies and properties while a close loved one gets nothing.

For those without an advanced directive or power of attorney, significant medical and financial decisions could be made by someone they don’t trust. And in particularly disheartening circumstances, children and beloved family pets could be placed with someone you wouldn’t have chosen on your own. In most cases, failing to plan will also leave significant headaches and burdens for your loved ones. Put simply, everyone should have a plan.

Let our Florida estate planning lawyers assist with making yours.

Contact Our Estate Planning Lawyers in Florida Today.

Clearly, estate planning in Florida involves more than most people might expect. It’s not enough to merely ensure your assets don’t get hung up in probate court. It’s important to have a thorough strategy in place for all possible contingencies to ensure you maintain control both during and after your life.

At Decker Legacy Law Firm, LLC, we’re ready to assist with all your Florida estate planning needs. Whether you merely need help updating a will or are ready to create an in-depth estate plan or business succession strategy, our law firm has the skills and experience necessary to assist.

We’re also conveniently located just 10 minutes from New Tampa Nature Park and less than 4 miles from City Plaza at Tampa Palms. Our office is also just a 30-minute drive from Tampa International Airport along Interstate 75.

We’re here to help. Contact us today by calling (813) 437-4465 to schedule a confidential consultation. Our estate planning lawyers in Florida are ready to assist.