Estate Planning
Estate planning is one of the most important steps you can take to make sure your final estate and healthcare wishes are honored and loved ones are cared for after your death. This is the time to assess what property you expect to leave behind and what portion of your estate should go to each of your beneficiaries.
While you do not need an attorney, your estate plan and the preparation of your will or trust can involve many complex questions and decisions. The Florida estate planning attorneys at the Law Offices of Baldwin & Morrison, P.A., with offices convenient to the Orlando and Winter Park areas, will guide you through the process as you develop your estate plan.
Read our Frequently Asked Questions about estate planning
Understanding the need for estate planning
Since we do not know how much time we have left or what medical calamities will befall us, it is advisable to create an estate plan without delay. As a Florida resident, if you should die without a valid will in place, your property and estate are distributed to your heirs according to intestate succession. In other words, if you do not have a valid will, state officials or the courts make these final decisions instead of you.
Another common element of an estate plan is a living will. Without a living will, there is no way for doctors to know how much medical intervention you want at the end of your life or when a medical condition renders you unable to speak for yourself.
Reasons for an estate plan
Comprehensive estate planning gives you and your loved ones peace of mind. The scope of estate planning is very broad and lays the following groundwork:
- Designating a guardian for your dependent minor children
- Appointing a competent person to settle the estate
- Reducing taxes on your estate
- Preparing wills and trusts
- Minimizing the cost of transferring property to heirs
- Spelling out end-of-life medical and burial preferences
Read more about our estate planning services
We can help
With thoughtful estate planning, you can rest assured your property will be distributed according to your wishes, and your assets and decisions will care for loved ones after you are gone. To consult an attorney knowledgeable about wills and estate planning, please contact the Law Offices of Baldwin & Morrison, P.A. today.
Baldwin & Morrison brings years of experience and an in-depth legal knowledge to all of their cases. They provide legal services in the areas of probate, wills, trusts, and real estate law to residents of Orlando, Winter Park, Casselberry, Sanford, Lake Mary and surrounding cities.
