Last Will and Testament
A Last Will and Testament is a legal document that allows you to choose who will receive your property after your death. Many people use their Last Will to name a Legal Guardian for their minor children. Others use a Last Will to give specific items of property to specific individuals. At the Law Offices of Edward P. Jackson, we will work with you to understand your desires for the distribution of your property and the naming of a Legal Guardian.
Our firm understands that each client’s needs are different. The Law Offices of Edward P. Jackson will take the time to get to know your story and develop a trusting relationship. Contact us today to schedule a free initial consultation about drafting your complex or simple Will.
Why a Last Will is needed?
If you die without a Last Will or Living Trust, the Probate Court will distribute your property according to a predetermined schedule set by law. Instead of you using a Will or Trust to name a person to deal with your affairs after your death, a court will make that decision during the Probate process. Instead of you deciding where your property will go, Florida law decides for you. If you are without a Last Will or Trust, you are probably unaware of the likelihood that a complete stranger appointed by the Probate Court can make decisions involving your property.
Although a properly drafted Last Will is a crucial component of any Estate Plan, and is far better than leaving the distribution of your property to the intestacy laws, a Last Will still must be probated, or proved, to the Probate Court. For this reason, many clients are better suited to use a Living Trust which avoids Probate.
A Last Will provides your family and the Probate Court with explicit instructions about the distribution of your property upon your death. A properly drafted and executed Last Will notifies your family of:
* The property you want distributed;
* Who you want that property to be distributed to;
* The fractions of distribution;
* The people you want to name as Legal Guardian of your minor children
Plan for Your Future Today
Florida’s Advanced Medical Directive / Living Will
In Florida, every person should have an Advanced Medical Directive to help instruct your family and/or your doctor on what types of life-saving and / or life-prolonging medical procedures you want performed in the event you are unable to tell them yourself. More often than you might think, family members encounter difficult disagreements when faced with these types of medical decisions. They may be asking — “What would Mom / Dad have wanted?” With an Advanced Directive, you can help prevent some of this conflict by specifically laying out what you want done to answer these questions.
* Do you want to be kept alive by artificial means, if you are struck with an incurable or severely debilitating disease / condition?
* Do you want a close family member to decide whether to keep you alive using such means?
* Should your doctor have the ability to make this type of decision?
Although important, these are only some of the most basic considerations. There is much more to consider about you and your family’s particular situation when drafting your Advanced Directive, so please do not make any major decisions regarding your medical care without first contacting a professional.
Take control of the future of your estate to ensure the protection of your hard-earned assets. Contact the Law Offices of Adam Allen Arant to schedule a free initial consultation. We counsel people throughout Florida. Please call (904) 358-1952.