Families often wait until a crisis to ask about estate planning, but Florida law allows you to prepare today and avoid confusion later. State legislation provides individuals with access to documents that give them control, protect their loved ones, and streamline asset transfers.
When you rely on the dependable advice of an estate planning attorney in Tampa, FL, you minimize court involvement and keep decision-making in trusted hands.
From an Estate Planning Attorney in Tampa, FL: Understanding Which Estate Planning Documents Your Family Should Have
Last Will and Testament
A will directs the probate court to distribute property according to your wishes rather than the default rules under state law. You nominate a personal representative, name guardians for minor children, and describe how you want to allocate real estate, personal property, and digital assets. Under Florida state requirements, your will must be signed before two witnesses. We supervise this process execution so the court accepts the document without dispute. A properly drafted will reduces family conflict and speeds the probate timeline.
Advance Health Care Directives
Florida recognizes two separate instruments to protect your medical choices. A designation of health care surrogate authorizes a person you choose to consult physicians and consent to treatment if you cannot. A living will states whether you want life-prolonging procedures if you reach an end-stage condition or fall into a persistent vegetative state. When you sign both documents, you retain control over medical care and spare relatives from making painful guesses about your wishes. We provide copies to your surrogate and file electronic versions with your medical providers so staff can locate them quickly.
Revocable Living Trusts
Families use revocable trusts to avoid probate, maintain privacy, and manage assets for young beneficiaries. You transfer property to the trust while you remain alive and act as trustee until incapacity or death. The successor trustee then follows instructions without court oversight. Because you can amend or revoke the trust at any time, you keep flexibility over investments, real estate, and family business interests. We coordinate deeds, beneficiary designations, and financial accounts so the trust controls everything you intend, preventing gaps that would otherwise force probate.
HIPAA Authorizations and Medical Privacy
In Florida, a health care surrogate cannot automatically access all your medical information unless you sign a HIPAA authorization. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act protects your records, but without written permission, even your closest family members may face delays when trying to coordinate care. A HIPAA release allows your surrogate, family, or trusted advisors to communicate freely with physicians, hospitals, and pharmacies. We include a HIPAA authorization alongside your other health care documents to eliminate administrative barriers during emergencies.
A complete estate plan requires more than one form; it combines coordinated documents that address property, health, and guardianship under Florida law. When you work with us, you receive instruments that function together and reflect your specific goals. Schedule a consultation with us today at The Law Office of Elizabeth Devolder in Tampa, FL, to create or update your plan.
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