Last Will and Testament Lawyers in Orlando, Florida

It is never too soon to begin estate planning. One critical aspect of any detailed estate plan will be the writing of your Last Will and Testament. Whether your estate plan includes a trust or not, a Last Will and Testament will generally be part of most estate plans because trusts don’t always cover a person’s entire estate. A Last Will and Testament can include important information about your assets and property and can outline which of your heirs will receive what after you pass away. Your will can also include other critical information about your wishes, like your wishes for who you want caring for your minor children should you pass away.

While it might be tempting to use a template Last Will and Testament you can find online, you may still want to speak to an estate planning. Lawyer. Legal Counsel, P.A. employs an estate planning lawyer in Orlando, Florida. Every person’s situation will be unique and it is important that a will be properly signed and witnessed. Mistakes in your will can cost your family money down the line during the probate process. It is important to get it right Our estate planning lawyer at Legal Counsel, P.A. can help you draft your will, review your will for any errors or red flags, ensure that your will is properly signed and witnessed, and help answer any of your estate planning questions. Have questions? We have answers. Contact Legal Counsel, P.A. today at 407-982-4321.

What Should Be Included in My Will? 

If you are in the process of writing your Last Will and Testament, you may have many questions about what you should include in your will. When it comes to your will, details matter. Here are some key things that should be included in your will:

• List of assets and property and details about who gets what. When writing your Last Will and Testament, it is important to be as detailed as possible. List all your heirs and compile a list of all property of value. You may also want to include alternate beneficiaries for major items of value.
• Special considerations may need to be made for real estate and other real property assets. Speak to our estate planning lawyer at Legal Counsel, P.A.in Orlando, Florida today to learn more about how real estate should be handled in your will. In some cases, it might be best to put real property into a trust.
• Name an executor for your estate. The executor of your estate is the person who will handle probate and oversee the distribution of your assets after you pass away. Some people appoint a willing family member, while others hire a lawyer to oversee the estate. There are certainly benefits to hiring a lawyer. Our estate planning lawyer at Legal Counsel, P.A. in Orlando, Florida can serve as a neutral party who can address any legal issues that could arise during probate. Many individuals hire a lawyer to be their executor because they don’t want a loved one facing the burden and complexities of the probate process after they pass away.
• Appoint a guardian for minor children. If you have children who are under 18, you’ll want to specify who you want caring for your children should you pass away. What happens if your spouse passes away with you? What happens if the first person you appoint as a guardian passes away? Speak to family and friends before appointing them as guardians, because the person must be willing to serve as a guardian.
• Appoint a person to care for pets and animals. In Florida, animals are considered property. Talk to family and loved ones to find an appropriate person to care for your animals. Some individuals include provisions like bank accounts to pay for the care of the animal, to ensure that their pets are properly cared for.
• Properly sign the will. You cannot just sign a will, store it in a drawer, and call it a day. In order for a will to be validated, you’ll need to sign the will before two witnesses and have everything notarized. Wills that aren’t properly signed and witnessed can be contested during the probate process and there is always the possibility that the court could deem these wills invalid. Get your Last Will and Testament right with the help of our estate planning lawyer at Legal Counsel, P.A. in Orlando, Florida.
• Let your family know where you’ll be storing your will. Will you keep it in a safe deposit box? Will a copy be kept with your will lawyer?

These are just some of the general provisions that should be included in a will in Florida. Every estate planning situation will be unique. For some, a will alone will be all you need while for others a will and trust combined will be the best option. Our estate planning lawyer at Legal Counsel, P.A. in Orlando, Florida can take the time to understand your situation and help you draft a sound will that considers all your needs. Have questions? We have answers. Contact Legal Counsel, P.A. today at 407-982-4321.

Does Your Florida Will Need Updating? 

If you have already written a will, but if it has been some time since you have looked it over or updated it, you may want to speak to our estate planning lawyer at Legal Counsel, P.A. in Orlando, Florida. Our attorney can review your will, identify any mistakes in the will, and update your will to reflect your current situation. If you have purchased new property or have acquired new assets, you may need to update your will. If you have gotten remarried, if new children are born, or if you have gotten divorced, your will may need to be updated. Any significant purchases on your part or an inheritance could also impact what may need to be included in a will. Furthermore, if you have questions about opening a trust, our estate planning lawyer at Legal Counsel, P.A. in Orlando, Florida can update your will to reflect these changes.

Some wills can be written once and never touched, but if you have a dynamic situation, your will should reflect any relevant changes. Contact our estate planning lawyer at Legal Counsel, P.A. in Orlando, Florida today. Our attorney can help you draft your will, help you revise or update an existing will and assist you with all aspects of the estate planning process. Have questions? We have answers. Contact Legal Counsel, P.A. today at 407-982-4321.