Coral Springs Estate Planning

Estate planning can be a daunting prospect. Death is a morbid topic, and thinking about our own death—and the effect it will have on our family—can be uncomfortable and emotional. Make the process easier by consulting an experienced Coral Springs estate planning attorney.

At Rosenberg Law Firm, we have lawyers who work directly with Coral Springs residents in creating comprehensive estate plans. Our firm can guide you through each step of the process and help you create final plans that best reflect your needs and interests.

Why Is It Important to Hire a Coral Springs Estate Planning Lawyer?

• Our firm specializes in helping Coral Springs families create their estate plans. We have the skills and experience necessary to assess your situation and preserve your legacy.
• We treat our clients like family. Our firm will carefully guide you through all important estate planning matters so that you can achieve optimal peace of mind. 
• Our firm is located in Coral Springs, but we serve clients across South Florida, including communities in Broward, Miami-Dade, and Palm Beach Counties.

What Is Estate Planning?

When you think about the term “estate,” you may think of wealthy people who own large pieces of property and lots of assets. However, estate planning is not exclusive to the rich. In fact, nearly everyone has an estate, which consists of every item that you own. Your estate may encompass your home, bank accounts, car, investments, personal possessions, and life insurance.

No matter how small or large your estate may be, you need to have an estate plan in place in order to control how you want your assets to be handled after you pass away. Estate planning is the process of managing these important affairs and drafting legal documents to ensure that your final wishes are protected. 

The Importance of Hiring an Attorney for Your Estate Plan

At the Law Office of Andrew G. Rosenberg, P.A., we believe that protecting your legacy is of the utmost importance. A failure to put a proper estate plan in place can have devastating effects on your loved ones. Here are a few things that can go wrong by failing to consult with a qualified estate planning lawyer.

• Your loved ones can be subjected to a lengthy and frustrating probate process, which could have easily been avoided.
• Failing to keep your plan updated after major life events and asset acquisition can be detrimental. A long-term relationship with an estate planning attorney will ensure that your plan remains current and in accordance with your wishes.
• A DIY estate plan is risky business. Some of your assets may fall victim to partial intestacy and would be deemed to fall outside the scope of your plan. This can result in assets being distributed to unintended beneficiaries. In some instances, the entire will can be deemed invalid.
• Without the guidance of a savvy Coral Springs estate planning attorney, your estate can be subjected to heavy taxes and fees. This is money that could be going to your loved ones or paying off any outstanding debts. By implementing an effective estate plan, these costs can be reduced or eliminated.

No one should have to deal with these complex legal issues while mourning and planning a funeral. By putting plans in place now, you can make life that much easier for your loved ones during a difficult time.

Nobody lives forever, and tomorrow is promised to no one. It’s important to seize the opportunity to get your affairs in order while you still have the chance. If not for your sake, for the sake of your family.

At the Law Office of Andrew G. Rosenberg, P.A., we understand just how hard it is to lose someone you love, and how petty infighting and legal wrangling among surviving family members can make the entire experience even more painful.

Not the kind of lasting legacy you want to leave? An astute Florida-based estate planning lawyer will work with you to craft a custom plan that simplifies the legal aspects of your death for your loved ones, so they can focus on making it through the grieving process.

How To Avoid Intestacy in Florida

In Florida, if you die without a will —known as “dying intestate”— everything in your estate is subject to Florida intestate succession law. An incomplete or invalid estate plan can lead to some of your assets being protected by the plan and others deemed a “partial intestacy.” Even if you die with a will, your family may be forced to endure lengthy and complex legal proceedings to receive their entitlements.

Probate is a Florida court-supervised process that identifies your assets, pays your outstanding debts, and distributes the remaining assets to your beneficiaries according to state law and a judge’s discretion. Any assets not captured by an estate plan will go to your closest relatives based on the state’s succession laws. This can result in your assets being distributed to unintended or undeserving beneficiaries.

Probate can be long, grueling, and expensive. Your family may spend a good portion of their inheritance on attorneys fees and court costs alone. This can significantly cut into any benefits they were entitled to after your passing.

It’s time to speak with an experienced Coral Springs estate planning attorney from the Law Office of Andrew G. Rosenberg, P.A. We will craft a comprehensive estate plan, using the law to shield your assets from probate. Safeguarding your legacy and protecting your loved ones is our number one priority.

 What Types of Estate Planning Cases Do We Handle?

Our skilled Coral Springs Estate Planning attorney handles a broad range of estate planning case types. We can help you with:

• Wills
• Probate
• Revocable trusts
• Special needs trusts
• Durable powers of attorney
• Health care surrogates
• Living wills
• Joint tenancy with rights of survivorship
• And much more.

What Are the Components of an Estate Plan?

An estate plan can be composed of several critical documents. At the minimum, you should create a last will and testament, which describes how you want your assets to be divided in the event of your death. In addition, you may want to consider the following items:

• Trusts: Trusts are legal arrangements where a third-party trustee is authorized to hold assets on behalf of a beneficiary. By establishing a trust, you can minimize estate taxes and provision assets to your loved ones without needing to go through probate.
• Power of Attorney: A power of attorney authorizes an agent to act on your behalf when you are no longer able to make critical decisions by yourself. These documents are especially important if you become sick, disabled, or otherwise incapacitated. With a power of attorney in place, you can ensure that a trusted individual will take care of your finances, medical decisions, and other important tasks.
• Beneficiary Designations: You want to ensure that the correct assets are given to the right people. Beneficiary designations clearly define the people who are entitled to your life insurance policies, bank accounts, retirement accounts, and more. Without these designations in place, the court will need to make these decisions on your behalf.
• Health Care Directives: Your medical decisions will be a critical part of your future. A health care directive names a person who can make medical decisions on your behalf and outlines what measures should be taken in the event of a serious illness or injury. This document can be included as an addendum to your power of attorney, or you can create a separate medical power of attorney.

How To Avoid The Probate Process In Florida

Most people’s knowledge of estate planning is limited to what they’ve seen on television or in movies. As a result, people often think that wills are the ultimate estate planning tool and that, if you have a will, your estate is protected from probate.

Unfortunately, that isn’t the case. Wills are actually guaranteed to go through the probate process. While that may be good for the lawyers waiting to profit off of exorbitant probate attorneys fees, it definitely isn’t in the best interests of your beneficiaries.

What You Need To Know About Revocable Trusts And Pour-Over Wills In Florida

Forget traditional wills. If your goal is avoiding probate, revocable trusts and pour-over wills are two of the most valuable tools in your Florida estate planning toolbox. Here’s an example to illustrate what makes them so special.

Imagine you’re cleaning out your office. Sitting on your desk is a large box—that’s your revocable trust. Everything you put in the box (your trust) is protected from the probate process.

Worried you might forget to put something important into the box? That’s where a pour-over will comes in. This important legal document is one of those things that you hope you won’t need, but want to have just in case. Essentially, a pour-over will says that if you die having inadvertently left an asset out of your trust, that asset can be poured over (and into) the trust like a cup of water over the box in our example. Brilliant!

Contact Our Coral Springs Estate Planning Attorneys for a Free Consultation

If you need to speak with an experienced Florida estate planning lawyer please contact us online or call our Coral Springs office directly to schedule your free consultation. We proudly serve Florida residents including all of Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton Miami-Dade County, Broward County, Palm Beach County, and all points in between.

Our law office is located in Coral Springs, but we serve all of South Florida and beyond.

Call to schedule a free Estate Plan Consultation today.