Fort Myers Estate Attorney Serving South Florida
Estate planning and administration is complex and often very emotional. During the planning process, you are contemplating the end of your life while throughout the estate administration process (and beyond) you will likely be mourning the loss of a loved one. In the midst of this tumultuous time, you must make practical and crucial decisions that affect you and your family. The Law Office of Jeffrey A. Attia, PA offers straightforward, knowledgeable advice, while always treating you with the respect, dignity and compassion you deserve.
Our law firm is located in Fort Myers and serves clients throughout the region. Our attorney engages in all aspects of estate planning, trust creation, will drafting, and probate administration. We resolve complex estate and issues in the manner most advantageous to our clients.
Estate Planning
Estate planning is not a task reserved for seniors, those in poor health or those who have substantial assets. Devising a sound estate plan is important at all stages of your life and under all circumstances. Fort Myers estate attorney Jeffrey Attia recommends initiating an estate plan if you have not already. You should also revisit your estate plan periodically and after major life occurrences, such as marriage, divorce or the birth or death of a beneficiary.
Our firm conducts a comprehensive analysis of your individual circumstances and goals. We then execute a plan tailored to your needs, including:
- Asset protection. In the future, you may require the services of an assisted living facility or nursing home. But how can you pay the high price of these necessities? An effective asset protection plan can help you preserve your hard-earned assets and still qualify for Medicare or Medicaid as part of your long-term health care plan.
- Business planning. In addition to planning for your personal life, you should also consider the consequences of incapacity or death on your business. An effective plan keeps your business operating smoothly, should you become incapacitated, and preserves your legacy for future generations.
- Incapacity planning. Advanced planning ensures your wishes are fulfilled, should you become incapacitated by illness or injury. You also relieve your loved ones of a substantial burden by addressing these matters before they are an issue.
- Wills & trusts. An effective estate plan may include well-strategized wills and trusts. The trusts may be used to provide living expenses for your minor children, funding for your adult heirs, money for the care of your pets or contributions to philanthropic causes or your alma mater.
- Trust administration. Trusts come in all shapes and sizes, as well as fulfill several purposes. Trusts can protect your assets during your lifetime and ensure those assets are appropriately distributed after your passing. While obtaining sound advice during the creation of a trust is imperative, who you designate to manage the trust is equally crucial in ensuring its integrity and the fulfillment of its terms.
Estate Administration
After losing a loved one, administering their estate can feel like an overwhelming burden during an already difficult period. In addition, the personal representative of the estate (executor) is often a trusted family member or friend with no experience in the many difficult tasks involved in probate and estate administration.
An experienced estate lawyer at our Fort Myers firm can guide you through the tough initial tasks and advises you on the efficient administration of the estate. Some of the important duties we can help you with include:
- Probate. Most estates are handled before the Florida probate courts. As the personal representative, you are responsible for collecting assets, managing the estate and distributing gifts to the intended heirs. Our firm helps you undertake these tasks to efficiently administer the estate.
- Guardianship administration. The court appoints a guardian to care for minor children when their parents are not able to do so because of illness, incapacity or death. The court may also appoint a guardian to an incapacitated adult to make decisions about health care or finances during the period of incapacitation. As a guardian, you are responsible for acting in your ward’s best interests. Our firm counsels you how best to perform your important duties in this role.
For Assistance With Estate Planning or Administration in Fort Myers, Call Our Firm Today
Obtain the assistance you need with your estate plan, trust administration, probate or guardianship. Call estate attorney Jeffrey Attia for experienced advice and guidance at 239.919.2318.
