As summer begins to wind down, and families prepare for a new school year and the busy months ahead, it’s the perfect time to pause and make sure your estate plan is still up to date. Whether you’re taking one last vacation before Fall or settling back into your routine, a quick review today can help ensure your loved ones are protected tomorrow.
Back-to-School Checklist
👉 Be sure to check out our YouTube Channel for more Florida estate planning education and practical tips.
One of the most common questions families ask is, “Which assets actually have to go through probate?” The answer depends on how the assets were owned at the time of death. Generally, probate is required only for assets that were owned solely by a deceased individual and do not have a designated beneficiary. The most common example of such an asset is real property such as a home. If the home was owned solely in the deceased person’s name and was not held in a trust or jointly with someone else such as Joint Tenants with Rights of Survivorship, it will generally be part of the probate estate. At that point, a Last Will and Testament (or under Florida intestacy law, if there is no valid Last Will and Testament) will dictate who the property will pass to in the probate proceeding.
🏡 My Neighbor Said…
“I’ve already named someone to handle my affairs in my estate plan, so I never need to think about it again.” Think again! The people you’ve chosen as your Personal Representative, Successor Trustee, Power of Attorney agent, or Health Care Surrogate may move, become unable to serve due to incapacity or death, or simply no longer be the best choice. Reviewing these decisions every few years is an important part of keeping your estate plan current.
Quick Tip of the Month 💡
Before summer comes to a close, take a few minutes to gather your important estate planning documents and make sure they’re stored in a safe place. Starting the Fall season organized can provide peace of mind for both you and your loved ones.
Thank you to the over 200 clients who joined us for our Estate Planning Summit on June 5, 2026! We enjoyed spending the morning with so many of our clients while discussing the fundamentals of estate planning, including wills, trusts, powers of attorney, health care directives, and what happens when someone passes away. If you weren’t able to attend—or would like to watch the presentation again—we’ve got you covered! The full Summit is now available on our YouTube channel, where you can watch it at your convenience and even share it with family members who may benefit from learning more about estate planning.
We are excited to host another Estate Planning Summit for our current clients who have not attended a previous Summit:
Friday, November 13, 2026 9:00 AM – 10:30 AM Wildwood Community Center
RSVP to 352-399-6944 to reserve your seat.
We look forward to spending another informative morning with you!
📅 Upcoming Workshops (RSVP Required)
🔒 Client-Only: Trust Funding Workshop For current clients who have a Revocable Trust prepared by PLO. Wednesday, 8/12 at 8:00 AM — Zoom Wednesday, 8/26 at 8:00 AM — Zoom Each Trust Funding Workshop is approximately 30 minutes. RSVP to (352) 399-6944 to reserve your seat and receive your Zoom link.
Get Ahead Before Fall Gets Busy
If you’ve been considering updates to your estate plan, now is an excellent time to schedule your appointment. At Pittman Law Office, many estate planning updates can be completed in approximately 2 weeks from your initial appointment, depending on the complexity of your plan and your responsiveness throughout the process.
👨👩👧👦 From Our Families to Yours
We Do Estate Planning the PINK Way
Plan. Intentional. Navigate. Knowledge
Thank you for trusting Pittman Law Office with your estate planning needs. We appreciate the opportunity to serve you and your family and look forward to helping you keep your plan current for years to come.
WE APPRECIATE YOUR REFERRALS
Thank you for your support and confidence in our firm! One of the best compliments we receive is the referral of your friends and family. If you had an awesome experience at PLO, please pass on the word and if you would like to give us a testimonial to use for our website, please contact Amy, amy@thepittmanlawoffice.com. Also remember to like us on Facebook, leave a review on Google and visit our website, www.thepittmanlawoffice.com. We also post educational videos on our YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmoZwwOaxeSB6C47DlebyWg
