Advice from Florida Probate Lawyers

You can find a lot of information about the probate process, both in Florida and elsewhere, but what is harder to find is simple, factual advice. As experienced probate lawyers, we want to help you whether you are in the process of having a will or trust drawn up, or find yourself working hard to settle an estate.

Hire an Attorney

Yes, you can write a will online. In most cases, it is considered valid. However, it may not be in your best interest to trust a computer program with your last wishes. It takes a real person and conversation to help you determine what is best for your estate. Probate lawyers know what questions to ask better than a computer.

The other job probate lawyers do better than the average person is settling an estate. If you are the personal representative, find an experienced probate attorney to help you through the process. On average, estates where the personal representative chooses to utilize a probate attorney settle faster than those that do not.

Choose Your Personal Representative Without Emotion

One of the most common conversations we have with individuals establishing a trust or will is about choosing their personal representative. Many people fear choosing one child over another as they do not want to leave behind any feelings of favoritism or animosity. Some choose a family friend to avoid this. Our advice is to choose your personal representative based on certain qualities. We recommend you choose someone who is organized, good with finances, logical, and could be described as honest or full of integrity.

Share Details with Your Family

It can be hard talking to your family about your passing, however, by sharing certain details before you pass, you make it easier. Let your beneficiaries know that you have a trust or will (or both) and where they are. Provide them with your attorney’s name. If you have a safe at home or a safety deposit box, share with at least two people the combination or location of the box and key. If you have a safety deposit box, you may even want to add your personal representative as an authorized person. Because so much information is stored on our phones, it is also wise to share you phone password to make it easier for your personal representative to open your phone. And, if you have a password list, add it to your safe or safety deposit box.

Wagstaff & Pitelis Handles Wills, Trusts & Probate

If you are looking for probate lawyers to help with the distribution of your estate, call Wagstaff & Pitelis. And, if you are ready to establish a will or trust, we are ready to help with that as well. We are located in Clearwater, Florida and handle probate in Pinellas County and nearby areas. Reach us at (727) 584-8182 or fill out our contact form today.