Wills, Trusts, Guardianships
Developing an estate plan can be a daunting process. At DeFur Voran, our goal is to make the process as easy as possible for our clients. We have the knowledge and experience to develop an estate plan that is appropriate when addressing issues such as:
- Minimizing or eliminating potential estate taxes
- Protecting assets from creditors
- Providing for possible future long-term care needs
- Reducing the possibility of conflict between family members over management of your affairs
- Special planning needs for seniors
A review of your existing documents is recommended if they were executed in another state, if they are more than five years old or if there have been any significant changes in your life, such as new children or grandchildren, divorce, remarriage or a significant change in your health or net worth.
We have a lawyer also licensed in Florida to better serve our clients who may have the need for out-of-state counsel in estate planning.
Definitions
A Last Will and Testament can do much more than just designate who inherits your property after your death. Parents can nominate a guardian for their minor children. A Will can also create a Trust to hold and manage the inheritance of a beneficiary, such as a minor or incapacitated adult. A Testamentary Special Needs Trust can leave a bequest to a disabled beneficiary without jeopardizing his or her eligibility for Medicaid or SSI, and the trust funds can be used to pay for goods and services not covered by those programs.
A Revocable Living Trust is an alternate way to dispose of property after your death.
Every estate plan should also include a Durable Power of Attorney, granting the legal authority to a third party (called an Attorney-in-Fact or Agent) to manage your affairs in the event that you become incapacitated. Parents may authorize their Attorney-in-Fact to make health care decisions for minor children, and include a provision nominating a legal guardian for their children.
Additional planning documents are available. Care needs to be taken to make sure these documents work together to create a clear set of instructions for others to follow.
Related Documents
Contact
Troy D. Farmer – Chair
Jon H. Moll
Gregory A. Huffman
James P. Borgmann
William H. Lutz
David R. Brock
Gregory J. Cagnassola
David A. Shelton
Sarah L. Pierce
Jon D. Madison
Nicholas M. Tokar
Matthew L. Kelsey
Michael D. Wilhelm
Practice Areas
- Wills, Trusts, Guardianships
- Estate Administration
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