Leon County Probate Attorney
We in Florida have learned the hard way that it is very important to put your desires on paper so your family members will know what you want to happen if you are incapacitated and can't speak for yourself. There are few people in the nation who haven't heard about the case of Terri Schiavo, whose parents and husband engaged in a lengthy legal battle over whether she would have wanted to be kept alive on feeding tubes.
At the law firm of Hathaway & Sprague, P.A., in Tallahassee, Florida, our lawyers will help you put your wishes on paper. We also represent personal administrators in the probate process.
Estate Planning Services
If you don't put your wishes on paper, the courts will decide who gets your property and what will happen to you if you are incapacitated. Tallahassee estate planning lawyer Kathryn Hathaway will draft the following estate planning documents to express what you want to happen:
- Legal will: Tells family members and the probate court what you want done with your property when you die. You can also name a guardian for minor children and a trustee to manage your minor children's financial affairs.
- Living will: Tells family members and medical professionals how you want your health to be handled in the event you are terminally ill and unable to speak for yourself.
- Health care surrogate: Appoints someone you trust to communicate your intentions to medical professionals and make health care decisions in accordance with your previously stated intentions when you can't speak for yourself.
- Durable power of attorney: Appoints someone you trust to handle the affairs you want them to be able to handle if you are incapacitated. Your agent under a power of attorney can do things like buy and sell property and pay bills. The durable nature of the power of attorney means it survives your incapacity but not your death.
Florida Probate Services
Our lawyers guide people who are appointed executors, called personal representatives in Florida, through the probate process. We help distribute assets in accordance with the will and the law, take care of creditor claims and help legally transfer property from the name of a decedent to the name of a beneficiary.
Our attorneys may also be able to use probate laws to save your love one's home from claims of Medicaid.
How Can We Help You?
When you need an experienced estate planning or probate lawyer, call 850-391-2884 or fill out our contact form to schedule a time to discuss your situation.
