Estate Planning Document Preparation

Estate planning is about putting your wishes in writing and making things easier for the people you care about.

Affordable Legal Help prepares the most commonly requested Florida estate planning documents and helps make the process simple from beginning to end. You provide the information and instructions, and we take care of preparing and organizing the paperwork.

When your documents are ready, the required witnesses and notarization are included, so you can complete everything properly in one place without having to make separate arrangements.

Last Will and Testament

A Last Will and Testament allows you to put your wishes in writing regarding how your property should be distributed after your death and who you want to handle your estate.

Your Will can address who receives your property, specific gifts to family members or others, alternate beneficiaries, and who will serve as your Personal Representative.

We prepare the Will based on the information and instructions you provide and make sure the document is ready for proper signing with the required witnesses and notarization.

Durable Power of Attorney

A Durable Power of Attorney allows you to name someone you trust to handle certain financial and legal matters on your behalf.

Depending on the authority granted in the document, this can include matters involving bank accounts, bills, real estate, financial transactions, government benefits, and other business or financial affairs.

Having this document in place can make it much easier for someone you trust to step in and help if you are unable to handle these matters yourself.

Designation of Health Care Surrogate

A Designation of Health Care Surrogate allows you to name someone you trust to make health care decisions for you if you are unable to make those decisions yourself.

You can name a primary surrogate as well as an alternate in case the first person is unavailable or unable to serve.

This helps make sure the person you choose has the authority to communicate with your medical providers and make decisions on your behalf when necessary.

Living Will

A Living Will allows you to put your wishes regarding life-prolonging medical treatment in writing in the event you are unable to communicate those wishes yourself.

It can provide important guidance to your family and medical providers and help reduce uncertainty during a difficult time.

A Living Will works together with your Health Care Surrogate designation: the Living Will states your wishes, while the Health Care Surrogate identifies the person you trust to make medical decisions for you.

Enhanced Life Estate Deed “Lady Bird Deed”

A Lady Bird Deed is commonly used in Florida as a way to transfer real property to named beneficiaries at the owner’s death while allowing the owner to retain control of the property during their lifetime.

The owner generally keeps the ability to live in the property, sell it, mortgage it, or otherwise deal with it during their lifetime without needing permission from the beneficiaries named in the deed.

When properly used, a Lady Bird Deed can allow the property to pass directly to the named beneficiaries without that property having to go through probate.

We prepare the deed using the ownership information, legal description, and beneficiary instructions you provide. Witnesses, notarization, the county recording fee, and recording of the completed deed are included.

Complete Estate Planning Packages

Many clients choose to prepare their estate planning documents together so everything can be completed at one time.

A typical estate planning package includes:

• Last Will and Testament

• Durable Power of Attorney

• Designation of Health Care Surrogate

• Living Will

• Required Witnesses

• Notarization

A Lady Bird Deed can also be prepared separately or added to the estate planning package.

From preparation through signing, we handle the paperwork and provide the witnesses and notarization needed to complete your documents properly.

Making the Process Easier

You do not need to know exactly how every document works before contacting us.

Tell us what you want to accomplish, who you want involved, and how you want your wishes reflected. We will gather the information needed, prepare the documents based on your instructions, and make the signing process as simple and convenient as possible.