Need Professional Help? Talk to an Estate Planning Attorney.

What do you need help with?

Please select an answer
Continue

What do you need help with?

Please select an answer
Continue

Florida Estate Planning

It’s a good idea for everyone to do some basic estate planning—that is, planning to make sure that your wishes are followed after your death, your family is spared unnecessary expense and delay, and that someone you trust will be in charge if you ever become unable to manage things on your own.  

Key estate planning documents in Florida include:  

  • a will, to leave your assets and name your executor
  • a durable power of attorney for finances, to name someone to take care of your finances if it’s ever necessary
  • a living will, to spell out your wishes for end-of-life medical care, and  
  • a designation of health care surrogate, to name someone to make sure your health care wishes are honored.  

You may also want to consider taking some steps now to avoid probate after your death. Probate is a court proceeding that gives your executor authority to pay your debts and taxes and transfer your assets to the people who inherit them. The process can be expensive and time-consuming, and many people prefer to save their families money and hassle by avoiding it. Probate can be easily avoided with a living trust or other methods—as long as you act during your lifetime. After your death, your family won’t be able to take steps to avoid probate of your estate.

The articles below cover the basics of Florida estate planning issues.

Ready to create your will?

A will can help you protect your family and your property.

Learn how to make a living trust in Florida.

If you die without a will in Florida, your assets will go to your closest relatives under state intestate succession laws.

Learn the rules about who can be your personal representative in Florida.  

Florida's ABLE United accounts help those with special needs save money while remaining eligible for disability benefits.

A durable POA allows someone to help you with your financial matters if you ever become incapacitated—here's how to make one in Florida.

Florida failed to pass a medical aid in dying law that would have allowed terminally ill patients to request life-ending medication.

Florida has several options when it's time for probate proceedings.

Probate court proceedings (when a deceased person's assets are transferred to the people who inherit them) can be long, costly, and confusing.

Florida offers a probate shortcut for "small estates." This makes it easier for survivors to transfer property left by a person who has died.

To help with the ongoing need for donated organs and tissues, take the following steps to become a donor after your death.

Learn about Florida burial and cremation laws, including where you can bury a body or scatter ashes.

Learn the rules that govern home funerals in Florida.

Empower Yourself: DIY Products by Nolo

Sidestep the lawyers with do-it-yourself books, documents, and software.

Save your family time, money, and headaches
If you find yourself serving as an executor or trustee, take control of the estate or trust with these plain-English books.
America’s #1 Estate Planning Software
Use this form to make simple changes to your living trust – for example, adding or removing beneficiaries or naming a new successor trustee.

Nolo offers hundreds of consumer-friendly, do-it-yourself legal products for all types of legal situations. Browse our full product list.

More Legal Issues

Click below to view more legal issues. Our extensive collection of legal topics ranges across different areas of practice.

Learn About Our Team

Learn About Our Team

Our editors have over 100 years of combined experience practicing law. These professionals have worked in a wide range of legal areas, from estate planning to criminal law to business formation and beyond. They’re experts at explaining complicated legal issues in easy-to-understand terms.

Learn more about the team that manages Nolo’s articles, books, and DIY tools.

Need a Lawyer? We Can Help

Find an experienced, local attorney in three easy steps. Our process is designed for ease and simplicity.

01

Describe Your Case

Briefly tell us about your case, and provide your contact information.

02

Get Connected

We find and instantly list attorneys that can best handle your case.

03

Hire an Attorney

Choose the attorneys you would like to work with.

Integrity and Expertise You Can Rely On

Get Professional Help
Talk to an Estate Planning attorney.

What do you need help with?

Please select an answer
Continue

How It Works

  1. Briefly tell us about your case
  2. Provide your contact information
  3. Choose attorneys to contact you