Your Assets and Family Deserve a Personalized Estate Plan
Unfortunately, a lot of people in Palm Beach County don’t have an estate plan. They figure it won’t be an issue, or their family will just figure it out, but it doesn’t work that way.
When someone passes without an estate plan in Florida, their family ends up at the Palm Beach County Courthouse on North Dixie Highway filing probate paperwork, paying court fees, and waiting months before they can touch a single asset. That whole process is the default. It’s also completely avoidable.
We’ve helped countless families in West Palm Beach create estate plans that keep their family out of probate, protect all of their assets, and ensure that their wishes are honored.
Our Estate Planning Services
Every plan we build is tailored to our client’s situation, and every tool is customized:
Wills
A Will allows you to choose who will receive your assets after you pass away, who will distribute them, and, if you have minor children, allows you to appoint a guardian for them.
Revocable Trusts
This trust keeps your entire estate out of probate court entirely. Your family will quickly get access to what they need without any court involvement. And, as the name suggests, you can update it at any time throughout your life.
Lady Bird Deeds
Florida is one of only five states that recognizes a Lady Bird deed. It transfers your home to whoever you choose when you pass without any court involvement, probate, or delays. You can still sell, refinance, or change your mind at any time.
Powers of Attorney
If you become unable to manage your finances or legal matters, who will be able to help you? Without a Power of Attorney, even a spouse may have to go to court just to access a joint account. With one, your financial and legal matters will be safely managed.
Asset Protection Planning
Florida's homestead exemption protects your primary home from most creditors, but everything else is fair game to lawsuits without the right structure in place. We make sure your assets are titled, held, and protected correctly before a problem ever shows up.
Advanced Healthcare Directives
This tool allows you to spell out your specific medical preferences and choose someone to speak on your behalf to the doctors in case you become incapacitated and can't speak for yourself. Without one, your family will have to go through court to be able to help you.
Not Sure Where to Start?
If you’re not sure where to start with estate planning, we’ve put together a resource to help and to take the mystery out of estate planning so you’re not walking in blind. When you’re ready to build your plan, give us a call.
Answering Commonly Asked Estate Planning Questions
At what age do you need an estate plan?
Really, any age over 18. Incapacitation can happen at any time, and not even your parents would have authority over your medical care once you’re an adult. And if you’re young and have kids, that’s even more of a reason to get at least a guardianship designation for your kid’s protection.
What would happen to my home if I died without a will?
Under §732.102, if you have a spouse and kids, your home may not automatically go to your spouse outright. Depending on the situation, it could be split, and someone might be forced to sell to divide the equity. A will or trust takes that possibility off the table completely.
Does Florida have an estate or inheritance tax?
No state estate tax, no inheritance tax. Federal tax does still apply above roughly $13 million per person, so for most families here, it’s not a concern.
Does Florida protect my assets if I get sued?
Florida’s homestead exemption is one of the strongest in the country; your primary residence is protected from most creditors as long as you meet the requirements under Article X, Section 4 of the Florida Constitution. But bank accounts, investment portfolios, and other assets don’t carry that same protection automatically. Without the right asset protection strategy, they’re exposed.
What's the Difference Between a Living Will and an Advanced Healthcare Directive in Florida?
A living will tells doctors what medical treatment you do or don’t want if you’re ever in a terminal condition or permanent vegetative state; things like whether you want life-prolonging procedures continued. An Advanced Healthcare Directive goes further. Under Florida Statute §765.101, it also designates a healthcare surrogate, the person with legal authority to make medical decisions on your behalf in real time, for situations a living will doesn’t specifically cover. You can have one without the other, but most Florida families benefit from having both.
Blue Line Law Firm's Way
Our founder and leading attorney, Kevin Drummond, spent years serving Palm Beach County in law enforcement and then prosecuting cases as an Assistant State Attorney at the 15th Judicial Circuit, the same court that handles probate in West Palm Beach and throughout the entire state of Florida. He’s watched firsthand what happens to families who didn’t have a plan. That’s why he built a firm to help them get one.
You’ll have a team with over 60 years of combined experience in estate planning and probate working on your behalf, attorneys who focus specifically on this area of law, know Florida’s rules inside and out, and know how to strategize with the local rules and courts.
Schedule your consultation with Blue Line Law Firm Today
If you’re dealing with an estate planning, probate, or partition matter and want to understand your options, contact us today to schedule a consultation.
BY APPOINTMENT ONLY