What concerns can a will address in Florida?

Your will serves to make your wishes known after your death. In your will, you can express your wishes as they pertain to designating an executor (who will oversee the administration of your estate), resolving any debts, distributing your assets among surviving beneficiaries, and assigning an appointed person guardianship of minor children or other dependents.

What is the difference between a will and a living will?

What’s commonly referred to as a “will” is formally called a “Last Will and Testament,” and it differs from the legal document known as a living will. While the purpose of a will is to provide a written record of how you wish your estate and assets to be handled after you die, a living will establishes how medical interventions should be handled in the event that you become incapacitated—and unable to communicate your healthcare decisions yourself—but are still alive.

What is better in Florida, a will or a trust?

Both wills and trusts serve useful purposes in estate planning. Wills are the more basic estate planning tool, establishing how assets should be distributed and who will serve as a guardian for dependents. However, they have some drawbacks, including having to be managed through the probate process. It may make sense to establish a trust in certain situations, such as if you have assets you wish to pass on without putting your family through the probate process. Trusts are more complex and costly to set up than wills, but they provide privacy and aren’t subject to the demands of the probate process. Your attorney can help you consider what options work best for your unique circumstances. Generally, people who use trusts in their estate planning also have wills in place to address matters not covered by the trust.

What is required for a will to be valid in Florida?

For a will to be considered valid in Florida, the person making the will must be at least 18 years old and considered competent and of sound mind. The will generally needs to be a written document signed by the testator in the presence of two witnesses who can attest that the will was created voluntarily and signed without duress. Those two witnesses also need to sign the will. A benefit of having your will prepared by an experienced attorney is knowing that the document has been properly finalized to be considered valid.

Florida Wills Lawyer | Wills and Estates Attorney Santa Rosa County, FL

Wills and Estates Attorney in Santa Rosa County, FL, Skillfully Crafting Secure Estate Plans

For adults with any assets or any dependents, wills are critical legal documents to have in place. These documents can ensure that your wishes are known and followed even after you’re not around to express them in person. Because a will must be carefully drafted, this isn’t a matter you should trust to basic templates. You need this task done right, and that means you need a trusted Florida wills lawyer handling it for you.

Across Northwest Florida, clients turn to Dan Stewart Law Firm as their wills and estates attorney in Santa Rosa County, FL. Our firm is the clear choice for excellent estate planning services with a compassionate, personalized touch. Contact us today, and find out for yourself the difference our services can make.

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Personalized, Effective Will Preparation in Florida

A will, formally known as a “Last Will and Testament,” is an important legal document used in estate planning. Your will establishes how your property and assets will be distributed upon your death. Through a will, you can make your wishes known, ensure loved ones are provided for as fully and fairly as possible, and protect the legacy of a lifetime of hard work.

Some wills are more straightforward, while others are more complex. A will may be one part of a more comprehensive estate planning strategy or, if your situation is less complicated, the only legal document you need to achieve your goals.

It’s generally recommended that every adult who has any assets or dependents should have a will—and to make sure this legal document successfully achieves your goals, every will should be professionally crafted based on your unique situation.

Do I Need a Wills and Estates Attorney in Santa Rosa County, FL?

Having an attorney prepare your will provides peace of mind that this legal document accomplishes what you want it to.

With a task that’s considered relatively straightforward, like creating a will, you may be tempted to forgo professional legal guidance. Although there are templates and services out there that allow you to create a will without an attorney, these services have a number of pitfalls. They don’t help you plan your strategy or explore the options that best fit your needs. The documents they produce may not be clear and specific enough to be useful. If you don’t follow the right steps to finalize them, these do-it-yourself wills may not even be valid.

Effective estate planning, including will preparation, requires knowledge of legal documents, solutions, processes, and procedures. You need to know what outcomes a will can help you achieve effectively and what goals you can better accomplish through other means, such as different types of trusts.

Your legacy is worth protecting with the professional knowledge and attention to detail that only a Florida wills lawyer can provide.

How Dan Stewart Law Firm Can Help

As a Florida wills lawyer, our clients count on our firm to develop wills that are:

Personalized to their unique needs and circumstances
Clear and specific, to avoid confusion or unnecessary legal challenges
Valid and properly formalized to ensure they are legally binding

We achieve these outcomes through a process that includes:

Meeting with each client to understand their individual circumstances and priorities
Explaining different estate planning options to clients, including what a will can do for them and what other solutions they should consider as part of their estate planning strategy
Guiding clients on steps such as identifying their assets and debts, establishing beneficiaries, and addressing complex questions about how they can or should distribute assets in light of their unique family dynamics
Drafting a Last Will and Testament document customized to the individual client’s needs that is clear, specific, and detailed
Finalizing and formalizing the will to ensure it is regarded as a valid legal document under Florida law

The process of writing a will can seem intimidating, and many people don’t even know where to begin. We’ll be your guide throughout the process, providing the knowledge, support, and practical skills you need to develop a will that aligns with your goals.

Why Choose Dan Stewart Law Firm as Your Florida Wills Lawyer?

At Dan Stewart Law Firm, we have a reputation for making will preparation less stressful, providing the full benefits of a decades-long career in legal practice, and assisting clients by implementing a full array of estate planning solutions.

A Stress-Free Will Preparation Experience

Writing a will should provide peace of mind, not add to your stress. Our firm is dedicated to addressing our clients’ worries and reducing their stress. Together, we can find solutions that ensure your wishes are expressed clearly and your legacy is protected in any situation.

An Experienced Attorney’s Insights

With decades of experience in legal practice come the advantages of a thorough understanding of legal processes, procedures, and outcomes. Over our firm’s 40+ years of experience, we have cultivated an extensive understanding of the nuances of estate planning law. We know what works, what doesn’t, and what we can do to make every client’s will as well-crafted as possible.

Comprehensive Estate Planning Guidance

We don’t just draft wills. We craft complete estate plans personalized to our clients’ unique needs. If your situation requires more than just a will, we’re here to help walk you through the options available to you and develop a comprehensive plan in which every solution—will, trust, living will, and more—does its part.

Contact a Florida Wills Lawyer at Dan Stewart Law Firm Today for an Initial Consultation

If you have been thinking that you need to make a will, nothing should hold you back from getting the legal guidance necessary to ensure this legal document does exactly what you want it to do. Our firm is here to provide convenient, client-focused services that ensure your Last Will and Testament aligns with your wishes and your priorities.

For help from a wills and estates attorney in Santa Rosa County, FL, contact Dan Stewart Law Firm online or call 850-972-8002 today.

Florida Wills Lawyer

Wills and Estates Attorney in Santa Rosa County, FL, Skillfully Crafting Secure Estate Plans

Personalized, Effective Will Preparation in Florida

Do I Need a Wills and Estates Attorney in Santa Rosa County, FL?

How Dan Stewart Law Firm Can Help

Why Choose Dan Stewart Law Firm as Your Florida Wills Lawyer?

A Stress-Free Will Preparation Experience

An Experienced Attorney’s Insights

Comprehensive Estate Planning Guidance

Contact a Florida Wills Lawyer at Dan Stewart Law Firm Today for an Initial Consultation

Frequently Asked Questions About Wills and Estates Legal Services in Florida

Q. What concerns can a will address in Florida?

Q. What is the difference between a will and a living will?

Q. What is better in Florida, a will or a trust?

Q. What is required for a will to be valid in Florida?