If you have never made an estate plan before, you are exactly who we built this firm to serve. Most of our clients are new parents, young couples buying their first home in Miami-Dade, Broward, or Palm Beach, and people in their twenties and thirties who suddenly realized that protecting the people they love cannot wait. You do not need a large bank account or a complicated portfolio to need a plan. You need a clear, accurate set of Florida documents that say what happens to your children, your home, and your money if something happens to you.
This page introduces the building blocks of a Florida estate plan in plain language, written for people who have never signed a will and are not sure where to begin.
Why Young Families Cannot Skip Estate Planning
When a parent of minor children dies in Florida without a will, two costly things happen. First, the court applies Florida’s intestate succession rules under the Florida Probate Code (Chapters 731 through 735) to decide who inherits, which may not match your wishes. Second, and more painful, a judge, not you, decides who raises your children, because you never named a guardian. A simple will fixes both problems. For a young family, a will is less about money and more about naming the people you trust.
The Core Documents We Help You Create
A first-time Florida plan usually includes a last will and testament, a revocable living trust if it fits your goals, a durable power of attorney, a designation of health care surrogate, and a living will. Together these documents cover what happens if you pass away and, just as importantly, what happens if you are alive but unable to make decisions. We walk you through each one without legal jargon.
Your Florida Home and the Homestead Protection
For many young families, the house is the single largest asset. Florida’s homestead protection in the state Constitution shields your primary residence from most creditors, but it also restricts how you can leave the home if you have a spouse or minor children. Planning around homestead is one of the most common mistakes first-time planners make on their own, and one we help you avoid.
Planning When You Are Just Getting Started
You may be tempted to wait until you have more savings, more property, or a second child. We encourage clients to start now and update as life changes. A plan written when your child is a newborn can be revised when they start school, when you buy a larger home, or when you grow your family. Estate planning is not a one-time event; it is a document set that grows with you.
Explore Our Florida Estate Planning Services
From this homepage you can learn more about Florida wills, revocable living trusts, durable powers of attorney, guardianship designations for minor children, and Lady Bird deeds for your home. Each service page explains the relevant Florida law and how it applies to a family that is planning for the first time.
A note on legal advice: This page is general educational information about Florida law, not legal advice for your specific situation. Estate planning involves choices that depend on your family, your assets, and current Florida statutes. Please consult a licensed Florida attorney before signing any documents or relying on anything described here.