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Wills and Trusts Attorney in Orlando

When it comes to estate planning, wills and trusts are the most common tools. Each one has its pros and cons, but both are useful -- depending on your family’s goals and preferences. They may be used in coordination to ensure assets will be distributed as intended.

Wills are generally more simpler to create than trusts but provide fewer benefits. Whether you believe you require one or both, it’s best to consult a wills and trusts attorney in order to proceed correctly. Every state has its legal requirements to follow to ensure a will or trust is valid and will be legally recognized.

It’s important to follow the legal requisites of creating a last will or trust. Otherwise, unexpected disorder and conflict may arise when it’s time to implement them, and that can make a difficult time even harder for your loved ones. At Family First Firm, we guide you away from such missteps and onto a path to fulfill the vision you have for your assets.

Secure Your Family’s Bright Future

The primary purpose of estate planning is to ensure your heirs will receive their intended share from your properties. If the documents are invalid, your last wishes might not be followed.

To avoid such disappointing mistakes in planning for your asset distribution, schedule a consultation with the team here at the Family First Firm. Our wills and trusts attorney can discuss the following with you:

  • Advance directives
  • Probate
  • Asset protection
  • Estate administration

Will VS. Trust: Which Is Better?

The question is whether a will or a trust is the right tool for a given purpose. The proper choice depends on your needs and goals.

A last will is useful if you want to distribute your assets in a general manner. For example, someone might use a will to leave a rare coin collection to a favorite nephew. The details of a will become public information through the probate process, and you or your heirs may not want such information to be widely available. Wills also offer less protection to assets than some types of trusts.

A trust, on the other hand, is more involved to set up, and there are a variety of purposes. You also need to make sure assets are transferred into the trust (known as funding the trust) after it is drafted so they will be later transferred to the trustee or beneficiary. Fortunately, at the Family First Firm, we do the funding of your trust for you!

If you want to plan for any potential scenario with your heirs, creating a trust is a better solution. Coordinating your will and trusts is normally the best approach to take. Consult an experienced wills and trusts attorney for guidance.

What Happens If A Last Will Turns Out To Be Invalid?

A last will may be declared invalid for several reasons. If this happens, the distribution of the estate will be done according to intestacy laws.

In Florida, the estate of a person who dies with no valid will goes to probate, which can be a long and expensive process. Depending on the existence of a surviving spouse, surviving children, and whether each of those children are shared by both the decedent and the surviving spouse, the estate may be divided in a way that leaves surviving children out of the inheritance — at least until the death of the surviving spouse.

Schedule a consultation to speak with an experienced lawyer for wills at Family First Firm in order to prepare valid documents that can avoid bitterness and disappointment among the people you love. Depending on the circumstances, you may find there are opportunities to take steps with your assets that not only benefit your family’s lives, but yours as well.

Why Choose The Family First Firm?

  • Individually-Oriented Solutions - The elder law attorneys at Family First Firm work with senior clients and their families to comprehensively address legal roadblocks. Our Medicaid and estate planning services are tailored to fit each client’s current and future needs.
  • Assist Clients In Every Step - Applying for benefits, guardianship, creating wills or trusts, and establishing other forms of asset protection can be overwhelming. To ease the stress, we are here to guide our clients and their family members every step of the way.
  • Credible and Highly Trusted - Our firm is recognized as one of the fastest-growing law firms in the U.S. in 2021 by Law Firm 500.
  • Accessible Legal Services - Booking your first free consultation is just a click away. You can schedule a consultation with our attorneys through our website and social media pages.

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What Is A Living Will?

A living will, sometimes called an advance healthcare directive, is a document that contains a set of instructions that must be followed in case the creator of the living will becomes incapacitated and cannot make medical decisions or choose treatments.

Unlike a last will, it is not primarily concerned with a person’s assets - it is only concerned with their healthcare preferences. A living will is an important document to have prepared if you prefer to not receive life-sustaining treatments under specific circumstances. If this applies to you, contact Family First Firm to discuss your preferences for a living will.

What Are The Different Kinds Of Trusts?

Like other states, Florida recognizes revocable and irrevocable trusts. In general, an asset placed into an irrevocable trust cannot be changed but cannot be accessed by creditors. In contrast, a revocable trust allows for adjustments to included assets and other changes to the trust. 

There are also a variety of types of trusts with different specific purposes, such as special needs trusts, charitable trusts, and insurance trusts. To learn more, schedule a consultation with a trust attorney at the Family First Firm.

For Questions or Appointment Requests. Click to Call : (407) 574-8125

Common Questions

What if there is no will?

If there’s no will, the process will start with probate, and intestacy laws will decide how assets will be distributed....

Do trust assets affect eligibility for SSI or Medicaid?

Funds from your trust are meant to add to and not replace disability benefits. As a result, you can't use...

If I make a living trust, do I still need a will?

Yes. We draft pour-over wills that put anything that isn’t in your trust into the trust. As you go through...

When should I review my existing will?

We recommend reviewing your documents at least once every three years to ensure your plans are still accurate. We believe...

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One of the biggest misconceptions about estate planning is that it is a single document. People may assume they meet with an attorney to draft a will or create a specific type of trust, which is the beginning and end of the matter. Your estate plan is a collection of documents, and when they are combined, they formulate your plan. 

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Professional Associations

Avvo Rating 10.0 | Medicaid & Elder Law Attorneys | Orlando, FL2021 Honoree 500 | Medicaid & Elder Law Attorneys | Orlando, FLGoogle Review | Medicaid & Elder Law Attorneys | Orlando, FLBest Business of 2021 - ThreeBest Rated | Orlando, FL 32804Rising Stars Geoff Hoatson | Medicaid & Elder Law Attorneys | Orlando, FLRising Stars Jeanette Mora | Medicaid & Elder Law Attorneys | Orlando, FLThe Florida Bar | Medicaid & Elder Law Attorneys | Orlando, FLExpertise.com | Medicaid & Elder Law Attorneys | Orlando, FL

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Are you looking to ensure legal protection and happy futures for yourself and your loved ones? We’re here to help you discover all your options and make decisions with confidence.
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As the wonders of healthcare advance, we live longer than ever before. It’s something to celebrate… but it’s also something for which everyone needs to prepare.
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Make plans now to ensure a brighter future for yourself and your loved ones. We’ll help you set up your wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and anything else you need.
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Probate

When you or a loved one passes away, an estate’s transition, called probate, goes into effect. Usually, the family is responsible, alongside a probate attorney, for distributing probate assets.
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Guardianship

It’s always best to be prepared. Make tough times easier on your family by setting up advance directives. In an emergency, assign your own guardian.
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The Social Security application is exhaustive and the requirements are strict. We’ll help you get approved and make sure that you get the amount of assistance you deserve.
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Special Needs

Having a child or loved one with a disability in your care means you have extra considerations and decisions to make as you plan.
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Our Locations

Winter Park Office

Family First Firm - Medicaid & Elder Law Attorneys

1030 W Canton Avenue, Suite 102,
Winter Park FL 32789

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Altamonte Springs Office

Family First Firm - Medicaid & Elder Law Attorneys
By Appointment Only

715 Douglas Ave Suite# 40,
Altamonte Springs, FL 32714

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