Wills & Trusts

Coral Springs Estate Planning Lawyer

Do you have a plan to protect your assets in the future? Have you set up a comprehensive estate plan that works for your beneficiaries? By contacting a lawyer today, you can understand the options available to you. Attorney Michelle Armstrong  provides residents of South Florida with estate plans to meet their individual needs.

The difference between wills and trusts

Wills: Wills are written documents that explain to your family and the court exactly how you would like to distribute your assets upon your death. A will is quick and relatively inexpensive to set up, but it must be administered via a court probate proceeding. Probate is a court supervised process of distributing property as directed in a will or in accordance with the law if no will exists. Since there is court supervision of the entire process, the heirs/beneficiaries can be assured of a full and fair valuation and distribution of the estate. Probate is necessary whenever a deceased person leaves titled assets in their name alone.

Trusts: A trust is a document which provides the same information as a will, but it is a private document not filed with the court. A living trust is a legal entity that is effective during your life, and which survives after your death. The trust can also provide for your care and needs should you become incapacitated, thereby avoiding an expensive guardianship proceeding. All of the property an individual owns should be retitled into the name of the trust. If a living trust holds legal title to your property, then that property passes to your beneficiaries without the need for probate.

Probate is an extensive court process, which can take up to a year. By establishing a trust you can avoid probate and distribute your assets more efficiently.

Comprehensive Estate Planning

There are a number of ways to protect your assets in the future and how you want your property distributed upon your death. At the law offices of Michelle Armstrong, P.A., we can explain your options and help you develop an estate plan appropriate for you and your family. The following are the most common documents that every estate plan should contain:

• A Will, directing how your property should be distributed upon your death
• A Trust sometimes contained in a will, for the care of minors, or someone with special needs. A Living Trust is a separate document that becomes effective during your lifetime and provides direction for your care if you become incapacitated, and for the disposition of your assets upon your death.
• Healthcare Directive, or Healthcare Surrogate, names someone to make medical decisions for you when you are unable to
• Powers of Attorney, names someone to carry on your financial affairs should you become incapacitated
• Living Will, states your wishes concerning the prolonging of your life by artificial means
• Pourover Will, drafted in conjunction with a living trust, it directs the disposition of any property that was not retitled into the name of a trust

Flexible Fee Arrangements

At the law offices of Michelle Armstrong, P.A., we help our clients protect their assets and the rights of their family. Sometimes a simple will may be sufficient, but typically this is not the case. That is why we offer special estate planning packages that include a will, a living will, a power of attorney, health care directive and a living trust if needed.

Contact Us

Don't wait to protect your assets. Proper planning for the future is essential to protect you and your family. It is a relatively simple process that will bring you peace of mind. By contacting the law offices of Michelle Armstrong, P.A. today, you can insure that your wishes will be followed in the future.