Palm Harbor Estate Planning Attorney

According to AARP, roughly 60 percent of all Americans do not have a will. Even those adults who do have a basic will may not have taken the time to prepare other critical estate planning documents, such as a power of attorney or a healthcare advance directive. This can leave family members struggling to figure out their loved one’s wishes if they become incapacitated and incapable of making their own decisions while they are still alive.

The reality is that every Florida resident needs a comprehensive estate plan to direct their affairs when they are no longer able to do so. A skilled Palm Harbor estate planning attorney can provide valuable guidance and expertise in this area. William Rambaum is a Florida Bar Board Certified Elder Law Specialist with over 35 years experience in helping clients throughout Pinellas County in preparing wills, trusts, and other estate planning documents designed to provide peace of mind.

What Can a Florida Estate Plan Do for You?

Many people think having a will is the sole function of estate planning. That is not true. A will is important in that it directs the administration and distribution of your probate assets after you die. But there are many assets that are not included in a probate estate. For instance, you may wish to create a revocable living trust, which allows your assets to pass outside of the probate process. There are also certain assets that are payable to designated beneficiaries upon death, such as your retirement account, which ignore your will altogether.

It is also important for your Florida estate plan to include documents such as a power of attorney, which designates an agent to manage your property if you become unable to do so while still alive. Along those same lines, you should also have separate documents appointing a health care surrogate to make medical decisions for you, as well as a living will, which can instruct your doctors as to your wishes regarding end-of-life care.

The ultimate goal of any estate plan is to ensure your wishes are both known and followed. Palm Harbor residents who do not take the time to engage in proper estate planning effectively leave it up to the courts and family members to decide what will happen. If you do not wish to put yourself–and your property–in this situation, it is best to start the estate planning process as soon as possible.

Contact Palm Harbor Estate Planning Attorney William Rambaum Today

Your first step should be to speak with a qualified Palm Harbor estate planning attorney. As a Board Certified Elder Law Specialist, William Rambaum is one of a select number of Florida lawyers who has met the state bar’s stringent requirements for demonstrating expertise in estate planning and other aspects of elder law, including trust and probate administration. Let him put that expertise to work for you and your family. Call his office today at 727-781-5357 to schedule an appointment.