Practice Areas

Wills, Trusts & Probate Lawyers

If you own property or possessions - regardless of the nature, value or quantity - you have an estate. In order to protect your assets, it is necessary to have an estate plan.

Your estate plan not only determines the ultimate beneficiaries of your estate after you are gone, but it includes directives during your lifetime in the event you are unable to make important health care or financial decisions.

Basic Estate Planning Documents:

Last Will and Testament

Make your last wishes perfectly clear and eliminate any doubt about your intentions with regard to your estate.

Durable Power of Attorney

Give your designated agent the ability to act on your behalf to make financial decisions should you be unable to express your desires.

Designation of Health Care Surrogate

Give your designated agent the ability to act on your behalf to make health care decisions, communicate with your physicians and request health-related information in the event you are not able to do so.

Declaration Naming Pre-Need Guardian

Identify the person you want to act as your guardian if a Durable Power of Attorney and Designation of Health Care Surrogate no longer suffice. Reduce the Court's involvement in the appointment of a guardian, and ensure that your wishes in the choice of a guardian are respected.

Living Will

Instruct your designated surrogate to honor your wishes regarding medical treatment in the event that you are unable to communicate with your physicians.

Agent For Burial or Cremation

Inform your loved ones of your preference for burial or cremation so there are no questions about your wishes when the time comes.

Trusts

Trusts determine how your assets are managed throughout your lifetime and distributed after your death, through the instructions provided to your trustee. Not everyone needs a trust, however, there are certain situations where a trust is very beneficial in that it avoids the need for probate and can greatly reduce taxes after death.  It also ensures privacy and sometimes results in quicker distribution than formal probate proceedings. A trust can also be invaluable if the grantor becomes incapacitated because the trustee can manage trust assets, pay bills and make financial decisions on the grantor’s behalf without the necessity of having the court appoint a guardian to carry out those responsibilities.

To learn more, call our office at (386) 252-1561 or click here to contact us via email.

Wills, Trusts & Probate Lawyers
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Our Attorneys

S. LaRue Williams

S. LaRue Williams

Partner
  • Estate Planning: Wills and Trusts - Living Wills - Powers of Attorney - Designation of Health Care Surrogate - Declaration of Pre Need Guardian - Other Estate Planning Documents
  • Probate and Trust Administration
  • Mediation - Certified by the Florida Supreme Court - Circuit Court
  • Business Law; Business Litigation; Contract Law
  • Construction Law; Construction Litigation and Arbitration; Surety Law
  • Expert Witness - Attorneys' Fees
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Drew C. Williams

Drew C. Williams

Partner
  • Business Law
  • Business Litigation
  • Civil Litigation
  • Construction Law
  • Construction Litigation
  • Construction Arbitration
  • Construction Liens
  • Contract Law
  • Real Estate Litigation
  • Insurance Defense
  • Mediation
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James (Jim) Pickens

James (Jim) Pickens

Partner
  • Business Law
  • Business Litigation
  • Civil Litigation
  • Commercial and Residential Leasing
  • Commercial and Residential Real Estate Closings
  • Commercial and Residential Title Insurance
  • Construction Law
  • Contract Law
  • General Litigation
  • Landlord-Tenant Law
  • Wills and Trusts
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Erica White

Erica White

Senior Associate
  • Appellate Law
  • Business Law
  • Civil Litigation
  • Construction Law
  • Construction Litigation
  • Contract Law
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Christy (Chris) F. Harris

Christy (Chris) F. Harris

Of Counsel
  • Business Law
  • Commercial Transactions
  • Contracts
  • Corporate and Business Entities
  • Estate and Trust Administration
  • Estate Planning
  • Partnership Law
  • Real Estate
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News & Updates

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ESTATE AND BUSINESS PLANNING – A TOGETHER PROPOSITION

By Christy F. “Chris”  Harris, Of Counsel