Florida Estate & Legacy Planning Attorney

Estate planning isn't really about death. It's about control — who makes decisions, who gets what, when, and on what terms — and about sparing the people you love from chaos at the worst possible time.

Scheer Legal builds Florida estate plans for entrepreneurs, professionals, blended families, parents of minor children, retirees, and high-net-worth individuals throughout Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach, and Monroe Counties (including the Florida Keys). We work in plain English, quote flat fees where we can, and design plans that actually get used — not three-inch binders that gather dust.

Core Estate Planning Services

Last Will and Testament

A Florida will is the foundational document. It names a personal representative (Florida's term for executor), directs how assets pass, designates a guardian for minor children, and provides instructions the probate court will follow. Even clients with revocable trusts typically have a "pour-over" will as part of the package.

Revocable Living Trusts

A revocable trust is the most common probate-avoidance tool for Florida residents. You stay in control during your lifetime, name successor trustees to manage things if you become incapacitated, and assets that are properly titled in the trust pass to beneficiaries without going through probate. Funding the trust — actually retitling accounts and deeds — is the step most plans get wrong; we handle it with you.

Irrevocable Trusts

Irrevocable trusts can serve estate-tax planning, asset-protection, special-needs planning, and charitable goals. They're powerful but unforgiving — once funded, the rules are largely fixed. We use them where they fit and explain candidly when they don't.

Durable Power of Attorney

A Florida durable power of attorney lets a trusted person manage your finances if you can't. Florida has specific statutory requirements; outdated or out-of-state forms often fail when banks need to accept them. We draft current, bank-friendly DPOAs.

Healthcare Surrogate & Living Will

These documents control who speaks for you medically and what you do (or don't) want done if you can't communicate. They prevent the kind of family conflict and court intervention nobody wants to live through.

Guardianship Designations for Minor Children

If you have kids and no estate plan, the court decides who raises them. A pre-need guardian designation in your will tells the court — and your family — exactly who you want stepping in.

Probate & Trust Administration

When a loved one passes, surviving family members face a tangle of deadlines, court filings, and accountings. We guide personal representatives and trustees through Florida formal administration, summary administration, and trust administration so the process moves and beneficiaries actually receive what they were left.

Who Estate Planning Is For

• Parents of minor children — guardianship designation alone is reason enough.
• Entrepreneurs and business owners — your business needs a succession plan integrated with your personal plan.
• Blended families — children from prior relationships, second marriages, and step-parents all create complexity Florida intestacy laws handle poorly.
• Real estate owners — multiple Florida or out-of-state properties, rental portfolios, and vacation homes typically benefit from trust planning.
• Anyone with strong opinions about who should make medical or financial decisions for you if you can't.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a will or a trust in Florida?

Most Florida families benefit from at least a will. Trusts add privacy, probate avoidance, and continuity for younger beneficiaries, but they aren't right for everyone. The right answer depends on your assets, your family, and your goals — which is exactly what an initial consultation is for.

Does a will avoid probate in Florida?

No. A will gets administered through Florida probate. A properly funded revocable trust is one of the more common tools used to avoid probate for assets held in the trust.

What happens if I die without an estate plan in Florida?

Florida's intestacy statutes decide who inherits, the court appoints a personal representative, and a judge picks the guardian for any minor children. The result rarely matches what most people would have wanted.

How often should I update my estate plan?

Review every three to five years and after any major life event: marriage, divorce, a birth, a death, a significant purchase or sale, a move to or from Florida, or a meaningful change in the law.

How much does estate planning cost?

It depends on the documents and complexity. A simple will package is significantly less than a revocable-trust based plan with funding. We quote a flat fee after the initial consultation so there are no surprises.