Jacksonville Probate and Estate Planning Lawyer
Wills and Trusts
1. Do I Need a Will?
Every person, especially those people with children, should have a Will.
You would never want your property distributed by state laws and by persons
that are court-appointed who may never have known you. But that is what
happens if you die intestate, or without a Will. When you die without
a Will, your property will be distributed according to a formula fixed
by law. This formula is rigid and makes no exceptions for your wishes
or for any special needs your heirs may have. When there is no Will, the
court appoints a personal representative, known or unknown to you, to
manage your estate. With so much at stake, it is easy to see why anyone
over the age of eighteen with property or children should have a properly
drafted Will.
2. What is a Will?
A Will is a legal document that specifies who will get your property when
you die and who you would like to act as personal representative to handle
your affairs when the time comes to probate the Will. A Will is also your
opportunity to leave specific personal items to persons who would particularly
enjoy them. This can prevent arguments over who gets what - which can
happen when the Will leaves the contents of the house to be divided equally
among the heirs.
3. What are the Legal Requirements in Florida?
You must be at least eighteen years old and of sound mind. Your Will must
be written. Your Will must be witnessed and notarized in the special manner
provided by law. It is necessary to follow exactly the formalities required
for the execution of a Will. To be effective your Will must be proved
in and allowed by the probate court.
Your Will does not become final until you die, and it can be changed at
any time by drawing up a new Will. However, you cannot change your will
by crossing something out or writing on it after the Will is executed.
Doing that may actually invalidate all or part of the Will. You should
review your Will whenever there is a change in family circumstances -
marriage, divorce, birth, adoption, death or a change of residence to
a new state. You should also review it whenever there is a major change
in your assets.
4. Is a Trust a Substitute for a Will?
In most cases, no. A trust may be used in addition to a Will. This is because
a trust can handle only the property that has been put into it. It is
the Will that controls all property in a decedent’s name at the
time of death if the will is drafted properly. A decision whether or not
you need a trust should only be made on an individual basis, after consultation
with an attorney skilled in estate planning.
The drafting of a Will involves skills that can be obtained only by years
of training and experience. You need an attorney that not only prepares
Wills, but who is also experienced in probate and understands the consequences
of property devised by Will. A poorly written Will can be far more costly
to straighten out than the cost to have a lawyer prepare a properly written
Will right from the start. Don’t wait until it is too late - call
now and let me prepare your Will so that you can rest, knowing that your
property will be distributed to your loved ones according to your wishes.
My firm has been helping people with wills and probate matters for over
49 years and I will work with you to make sure that your rights are protected
and your wishes properly carried out.