Considerations When Planning Your Estate

We are continuing our series of articles outlining the steps in the estate planning process.  The Pittman Law Office has two Florida Estate Planning lawyers and probate lawyers along with a friendly, qualified staff to help ensure your estate plan is properly written. Our previous article discussed the first two items your estate planning attorney will address: making a comprehensive list of your assets and determining your beneficiaries.  Let’s take a look at the next steps in the estate planning process.

Determine Your Distributions

Simply put, you now need to determine who gets what.  There are two legal ways to document this.  The first, is a Last Will and Testament.  This document will be reviewed by a probate court upon your passing and will usually require your beneficiaries to retain a probate attorney.  The second option is to set up a revocable living trust.  This allows you to transfer your assets to an outside entity that you own and either you control or assign another person to control. Upon your death, the assets can be distributed in a much more efficient and timely manner to your beneficiaries than the probate process.  Your Florida Estate Planning attorney will discuss these two options with you in-depth so you can make an informed decision on how to proceed.

Designate Agents and Surrogates

Finally, your Estate Planning attorney will ask you to designate a financial agent and a health care surrogate.  A financial agent will handle your financial affairs and execute your wishes should you become incapacitated.  A health care surrogate will carry out your medical wishes should you become debilitated.  Your Florida Estate Planning attorney will discuss these in depth with you so you can make an informed decision as to who is to carry out your wishes should you become unable to handle your affairs.

Don’t be caught without a plan!  Pittman Law Office are the preferred Estate Planning lawyers serving The Villages area.  Our probate lawyers and estate planning attorneys stand ready to make sure your affairs are in order and your wishes will be carried out upon your death.  Give us a call to schedule a consultation today!