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Wills and Trusts Lawyer in Boca Raton

The Siegel Law Group, P.A. in Boca Raton, Florida helps South Florida seniors and families establish Wills and Trusts to protect their loved ones and achieve peace of mind.

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On This Page
  1. Why Hire a Lawyer to Help You with a Will or Trust?
  2. What Does the Wills and Trusts Process in Boca Raton Entail?
  3. Factors to Consider with Estate Plans in Florida
  4. Our Wills and Trusts Lawyers in Boca Raton Protect What Matters to You

Planning for incapacity or death can feel overwhelming. Allow a wills and trusts lawyer in Boca Raton to establish an appropriate plan for you. While no one likes to consider their own mortality, not having a plan can lead to confusion and conflict among family members in the future. 

The Siegel Law Group, P.A., has more than 100 years of combined experience on staff. Our legal practice works closely with our clients on their estate plans. We offer financial protection to our clients’ loved ones. In addition to providing this protection, we give our clients peace of mind by providing them with planning tools for revocable living trusts, wills, and other estate plans.

Establish a partnership with an estate planning lawyer in Boca Raton from our practice, and we’ll help you protect your family for generations to come. To get started, schedule a free consultation. 

Why Hire a Lawyer to Help You with a Will or Trust?

Preparing a will or trust on your own increases the risk of mistakes that could harm your loved ones if you become incapacitated or pass away. 

Alternatively, partner with a wills and trusts attorney in Boca Raton, and they will simplify your planning. The benefits of having an estate planning attorney help you with your plan include:

  • Legal accuracy and compliance: Your attorney will commit substantial time and resources to craft and review the terms of your plan in accordance with Florida law. They will deliver an outstanding level of protection, as they will minimize your risk of plan invalidation or litigation down the line. 
  • Personalization: Your plan is customized to you. That way, you can account for your blended family, your corporation or other business entities, estate taxes, elder care, long-term care, Medicaid planning, or other unique circumstances in your plan. 
  • Help with complex assets and situations: Attorneys can provide insights into how to handle a business and other significant assets, estate tax concerns, tax savings, long-term care, and protecting inheritances from creditors or divorce. They will review your plan thoroughly to ensure that it aligns with your objectives. 
  • In-depth strategy: Expect a quality plan that can encompass a will, power of attorney, long-term care, healthcare directives, business entities, any charities you want to receive your assets after your death, and more.
  • Avoid probate: With guidance from attorneys, you can put together a plan that allows your assets to pass directly to beneficiaries without court supervision, saving time and money. 
  • Emotional support: Your lawyer builds a relationship with you as you examine your plan options. They can help you explore every legal avenue to reduce the risk of litigation involving your loved ones over your plan.  

The Siegel Law Group, P.A., is a legal practice that knows how difficult it is for our clients to plan for the future. Our goal is to provide clear, effective guidance through every stage of the estate planning process.

 As part of our efforts to achieve our goal, our estate attorneys offer a wide range of FAQs and resources. Plus, our team is here for you if you’re interested in learning more about the estate planning process. Contact us today. 

For a free legal consultation with a wills and trusts lawyer serving Boca Raton, call 561-955-8515

What Does the Wills and Trusts Process in Boca Raton Entail?

Your Boca Raton wills and trusts lawyer can teach you about Florida law as it applies to your estate planning. Estate plans are subject to Florida Statute Chapter 733, which defines the administration of estates following a person’s death. 

In Florida, wills go through probate, and this court process can take months. In your will, you name a personal representative to manage and settle your estate and beneficiaries. This representative can petition for the administration of your will with a probate court, inventory your assets, and pay creditors. Finally, they can distribute your assets to your beneficiaries. 

Comparatively, a Florida trust avoids probate. In your trust, you designate a trustee to hold and manage your assets and beneficiaries. Your assets are retitled into your trust, and the trustee manages them for you and your beneficiaries. The trustee can handle your assets if you are incapacitated or die. Meanwhile, they can do so without court involvement.

Boca Raton Wills And Trusts Lawyer Near Me 561-955-8515

Factors to Consider with Estate Plans in Florida

Talk with a Boca Raton wills and trusts attorney about your estate planning options. Your lawyer can review your situation and give you information about what assets cannot be placed in a Florida trust and other topics relating to your plan. They’ll encourage you to evaluate various plan factors, such as:

  • Effective date: Your plan can take effect after you die. Or, you can set up a plan that becomes active immediately if you’re no longer capable of taking care of yourself.  
  • Probate: This is sometimes required, with the process occurring publicly and under court supervision. 
  • Incapacity planning: Your plan can provide continuous asset management if you’re incapacitated. 
  • Minor children: Some plans let you name guardians for your children if you die. 
  • Cost: Some plans are simpler and more affordable, while comprehensive plans offer far greater control over how your assets are managed.
  • Time: The time you’ll have to commit to your plan can depend on how hands-on you want to be as you map out how your estate is managed. 

Don’t rush through your estate planning. Instead, meet with South Florida estate attorneys who know what challenges you’ll encounter as you establish your plan. Your lawyer can answer frequently asked questions about wills and trusts, and any others. They can help you make informed estate planning decisions.  

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Our Wills and Trusts Lawyers in Boca Raton Protect What Matters to You

A well-crafted estate plan reduces stress and uncertainty for your loved ones if you become incapacitated or pass away. Wills and trusts attorneys in Boca Raton can help you secure your assets and ensure that your loved ones are taken care of and your wishes respected.

At The Siegel Law Group, P.A., we focus on you and future generations. We know what can happen if you are unprepared for life’s greatest challenges. Our practice provides our clients with compassionate counsel and effective legal representation in estate planning and other areas. Let us put our experience to work for you. Discuss your estate plan needs with us. 

Call or text 561-955-8515 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form

Benefits of Working with a Florida Wills and Trusts Attorney

Creating a comprehensive Estate Plan with the guidance of a licensed attorney offers numerous advantages, including:

  • Control Over Inheritance: Creating a Will or a Trust gives you the opportunity to control who inherits your estate, ensuring that your assets are distributed according to your wishes.
  • Avoiding Probate: Establishing Trusts can help your beneficiaries take possession of your assets more quickly after your death, bypassing the often lengthy Probate process.
  • Minimizing Estate Taxes: Proper Estate Planning, including setting up various types of Trusts, can help minimize tax implications on your wealth distribution. This can potentially save your beneficiaries from unnecessary tax burdens.
  • Asset Protection: Working with an Estate Planning attorney allows you to protect your assets and secure your family’s financial future through the use of legal Estate Planning tools tailored to your specific situation.
  • Family Security: A well-constructed Estate Plan provides security for your loved ones, ensuring that they are taken care of according to your intentions.

Why Choose The Siegel Law Group, P.A., P.A

Why Choose Siegel Law | Boca Raton Estate Planning Attorney | Call 561-955-8515

Our goal at The Siegel Law Group, P.A. is to help our clients and their families have better futures by addressing Elder Law concerns, preparing for life’s challenges through comprehensive Estate Planning and guiding personal representatives through the Probate process in Florida. We offer personalized solutions tailored to your needs while protecting your family’s legacy.

You can rely on our team to be here for you and by your side in the protection of your assets and interests:

  • We often work with the family members of an elder seeking comprehensive planning for care, protection of assets and related considerations such as protection and distribution of assets in circumstances such as Probate.
  • We take the important extra step of funding your Trust with your intended assets when we create your Trust, and we also routinely remind you in case you may have additional assets to fund.
  • We do a review of your Estate Plan with you every three years, discussing any changes in relationships, finances or laws that may affect your plans or intentions.
  • We educate our clients on bloodline planning to ensure children are in line for your assets when appropriate, preventing your assets from potentially being lost in divorces or blended family scenarios.
  • Our firm conducts free post-death consultation and successor seminars to guide your family through the full process.

With over 22 years of experience, our esteemed Florida firm guides you through each step of the Estate Planning process and tailors a plan that prepares for your concerns, your needs and a legacy for your family. Hablamos español.

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Honoree 500 Law Firm in 2022 | Boca Raton Florida Estate Planning Attorney | Siegel Law Group, P.A.
Honoree 500 Law Firm in 2021 | Boca Raton Florida Estate Planning Attorney | Siegel Law Group, P.A.
Estate Planning Attorneys in Boca Raton | Call 561-955-8515
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What is a Will?

A Will is a legal document that instructs the Court how to distribute a person’s assets after their death. Assets can include money, personal property, real estate and other cherished possessions. To ensure validity, a Will must comply with Florida state law. For this reason, consulting a knowledgeable Estate Planning attorney is crucial.

An Estate lawyer will draft and execute your Will according to legal requirements, which is critical because no changes can be made to a Will once a person passes away. A Florida Probate Court judge will invalidate an improperly drafted Will. In such a case, asset distribution after a person’s death follows state law, meaning first the surviving spouse and then the children would gain ownership of the assets. These state laws may or may not align with the decedent’s wishes.

What Does a Will Include?

In your Will, you will designate all beneficiaries who will inherit your assets and the percentages each individual would receive. Assets like life insurance policies or financial accounts listing a direct beneficiary are not included in your Will.

Parents of minor children can designate guardians in their Wills to care for their children if both pass away before their children become legal adults. Married couples should make two separate Wills, one for each spouse.

Additionally, a Will designates a personal representative, also known as an Executor, who will collaborate with a Probate attorney to manage the Estate Administration and the distribution of assets to the designated beneficiaries during the Probate process. The personal representative’s attorney will represent them in Probate Court.

How a Will Facilitates Probate in Florida

Probate is the legal process of validating a Will and distributing assets after a person dies. This Court-supervised proceeding seeks to ensure the correct fulfillment of the decedent’s wishes. A properly executed Will can make the Probate process smoother for all involved parties by reducing confusion and potential conflicts among the decedent’s family.

Probate involves multiple steps for the personal representative, who must:

  • Identify assets
  • Notify creditors to whom the deceased person owes money, which can include the hospital and funeral home — and settle those debts
  • Liquidate and distribute property
  • Distribute assets to beneficiaries according to the person’s Will

Florida Trust Options

Distinct from a Will, a Trust is a legal arrangement that enables individuals to protect assets, allowing them to grow the value therein and then transfer these assets to their intended beneficiaries. Once transferred into a Trust, the Trust becomes the legal owner of the Trust assets.

A Trust involves three separate roles served by people or organizations:

  • The Grantor: the person establishing the Trust
  • The Trustee: the person responsible for managing and administering the Trust
  • The Beneficiary: the individual receiving the money, property or other assets held in the Trust

In some cases, the same individual can fill either two or all three roles.

A Trust account can serve various purposes. Working with a Trust lawyer, the grantor can discuss his or her motivations for establishing a Trust to ensure it fulfills their goals.

Types of Trusts and Their Benefits

Once assets are transferred into a Trust, it creates a legal entity that becomes the official owner of the property. The grantor or creator of the Trust can maintain control over the property throughout the person’s lifetime by appointing themself as the trustee. However, the grantor can designate a successor trustee to manage the Trust and oversee asset distribution to the chosen beneficiaries of the Trust if they become incapacitated or pass away. 

In other cases, such as in the majority of irrevocable Trusts, someone else would be designated as the trustee from the outset. Establishing a separate trustee serves to prevent the assets from being counted among the grantor’s estate for taxes.

Understanding the Distinctions Between Revocable Living Trusts and Irrevocable Trusts

A Trust document can fall into one of two categories: revocable and irrevocable.

As its name indicates, the grantor can modify or cancel a Revocable Trust whenever they desire during their lifetime. This type of Trust is also known as Living Trust. While a Revocable Trust can help a grantor bypass Probate for assets held in the Trust, if the grantor fails to fund the Trust with everything they own or they fail to transfer assets they acquire after they establish the Living Trust, Probate will be required for those assets.

By contrast, an Irrevocable Trust cannot be easily changed or dissolved once established. Although rare instances exist where you can amend or cancel an Irrevocable Trust, the process typically involves legal complexities that require a Court petition.

Your Estate Planning lawyer can fully explain Revocable Trusts and Irrevocable Trusts to help you determine whether an Irrevocable Trust or a Living Trust would be better to serve your specific circumstances and desires.

Differences Between Wills and Trusts

When considering your Estate Planning needs as they pertain to Wills and Trusts, consider the following:

  • Trusts specifically manage the assets you have transferred into the Trust.
  • Wills, when legally valid, dictate the distribution of an individual’s assets after their death.
  • Trusts potentially streamline Estate Administration and avoid Probate. However, to accomplish this objective, a Trust must have been fully funded with the person’s assets. There are legal fees involved in setting up a trust and funding it with assets like real estate, with deeds that must be transferred.
  • Trust documents are not filed in court. Therefore, the Trust document must be placed where the successor trustee can find it. Challenges can arise in passing Trust assets to beneficiaries in the absence of this document.
  • Wills are still recommended for people who establish a Trust to manage the distribution of assets not included in the Trust. This is known as a Pour-over Will.

An experienced Estate Planning attorney can help you understand these critical distinctions, explain your Estate Planning options and create an Estate Plan that addresses your concerns and goals. Furthermore, if you create a Trust, they can advise you regarding how to transfer ownership of your assets into the Trust to make it effective.

Should I Establish a Will and a Trust?

While a Will is critical for everyone, a Trust may or may not be appropriate in all cases.

A Trust may offer significant benefits for:

  • Individuals with dependents
  • Individuals with Special Needs beneficiaries
  • Individuals with extraordinary wealth who wish to ensure dynastic wealth by passing it to their beneficiaries

For others who wish to bypass Probate and facilitate the smooth distribution of their assets after their death, establishing a Trust accomplishes these goals as long as they transfer all assets into the Trust and store it in a location that the successor trustee can easily access.

For healthy individuals with moderate assets, a Will may suffice. In Florida, life insurance payouts and jointly held financial accounts do not have to undergo Probate. Married couples generally keep assets in jointly held accounts.

Questions or Schedule An Appointment, Click To Contact Us: (561) 559-6232

Do I Need an Estate Planning Attorney to Establish a Will or a Trust?

Although do-it-yourself forms exist all over the internet, they may not address your specific situation or comply with Florida state laws. To protect your loved ones and achieve peace of mind, consult a knowledgeable and experienced Estate Planning attorney. They will oversee the creation of a legally valid Will and potentially a Trust, if appropriate for your situation.

An attorney can guide you through the creation of a customized Estate Plan that complies with relevant laws and protects the futures of those you love. However, Estate Planning is not a one-time event. Due to life’s inevitable changes, your Estate Planning attorney should review your plan with you every three, six and nine years to make sure that it still reflects your wishes.

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The Siegel Law Group, P.A. in Boca Raton, Florida, Creates Customized Estate Plans for Clients Based on Their Unique Needs and Goals

While both are important, there are significant differences between Wills and Trusts, and needs will vary among individuals. Whether you have a more complex Estate or business interests, seek to minimize Estate taxes, want to protect minor children or have questions about choosing the right person to manage your Trust property, working with the right Estate Planning law firm is paramount.

With over 100 years of combined experience, The Siegel Law Group, P.A. in Boca Raton, Florida wants to guide you through the process of creating a Will and, if applicable to your situation, the establishment of the right type of Trust. We help South Florida families, seniors and their loved ones prepare for the future.

Whether you need to create or update your Estate Plan, are preparing for Long-Term Care, have a loved one entering or already living in a nursing home or need to develop a strategy for your business, we are here to assist you.

Contact us at or complete our online form to schedule a complimentary consultation. 

The Siegel Law Group, P.A. ~ Reviewing Estate Plans with our Valued Clients Every Three, Six and Nine Years to Keep Pace with Life’s Inevitable Changes.