Wills
The main purpose of a will is to instruct your loved ones regarding your final wishes, whether it be as to the disposition of your property, providing your final burial and planning your funeral, or designating your choice for your Personal Representative or guardian for your minor children (although as to the guardian for your children, if the children have a living parent, that parent will be considered the natural guardian of the children in the event of your death, absent a Court order to the contrary).
Your will is the basic cornerstone of your estate plan. Without a will, the state’s intestacy laws, not you or your family, will determine how your assets are distributed. It is important that you consult with an estate planning attorney regarding drafting your will because Florida law imposes certain restrictions on disinheriting a surviving spouse or conveying your homestead and because a will must be executed with specific formalities to ensure its validity.
Even if you already have a will, you should review it periodically to ensure it encompasses your current wishes, especially after any major life-changing event, such as marriage, divorce.
Your will is the basic cornerstone of your estate plan. Without a will, the state’s intestacy laws, not you or your family, will determine how your assets are distributed. It is important that you consult with an estate planning attorney regarding drafting your will because Florida law imposes certain restrictions on disinheriting a surviving spouse or conveying your homestead and because a will must be executed with specific formalities to ensure its validity.
Even if you already have a will, you should review it periodically to ensure it encompasses your current wishes, especially after any major life-changing event, such as marriage, divorce.
Letter of Instruction
Although not a legal document, you may also wish to consider preparing a letter of instruction to include in your estate plan. This letter is actually an accumulation of documents whose purpose is to make life easier for the loved ones you leave behind. It might include a contact list of individuals you would like notified of your death, the location of important documents, funeral instructions, or even personal messages to your loved ones.
