CLEARWATER ESTATE PLANNING LAWYERS
Clearwater, Florida estate Planning Attorney, Carol A. Lawson, offers Legal Services in the areas of:
It is never too soon to contact an estate planning attorney in Clearwater, Florida to begin planning your legacy. The Law Office of Carol A. Lawson is an estate planning law firm that works closely with families to help them with a wide range of estate planning needs. Whether you have complex estate planning needs and need to establish a trust, a special needs trust, or have high net worth questions, or need more basic estate planning involving the review or writing of a will, a power of attorney, or a health care advanced directive, the estate planning lawyers at the Law Office of Carol A. Lawson in Clearwater, Florida are here to help you.
Write Your Living Will in Clearwater, Florida
An advance health care directive, also known as a living will, personal directive, advance directive, or advance decision, is a set of written instructions that a person gives that specify what actions should be taken for their health if they are no longer able to make decisions due to illness or incapacity. It is never too early to write a living will. If you are hurt in an accident, a living will gives clear instructions to your loved ones about what your wishes are. Individuals also put together a living will as part of end-of-life planning. The estate planning lawyer at the Law Office of Carol A. Lawson in Clearwater, Florida can help you write a living will that makes your wishes clear and that can be enforceable should you not be able to make your own health care decisions.
Designating a Healthcare Surrogate in Clearwater, Florida
A healthcare surrogate is a specific type of power of attorney or health care proxy, where someone is appointed by the individual to make decisions on their behalf when they are incapacitated. Often people will speak with experts before putting these into place ahead of the individual’s need. Individuals will often designate a healthcare surrogate as part of end-of-life planning if they have a terminal illness or a disease that could make it difficult for them to make decisions for their own health. If you need end-of-life planning in Clearwater, Florida, reach out to the estate planning lawyers at the Law Office of Carol A. Lawson today.
Power of Attorney in Clearwater, Florida
A durable power of attorney is written authorization to represent or act on another’s behalf in private affairs, business, and in all normal areas including purchasing or selling property (in the case of real estate deals, the power of attorney is often temporary, not permanent; you may want to get in touch with a real estate agent to help you with this), signing contracts, and other legal actions. This document survives the incapacity of the grantor, but not his death. The estate planning lawyer at the Law Office of Carol A. Lawson in Clearwater, Florida can assist you with a durable power of attorney if it is required as part of your estate planning needs.
Simple Will in Clearwater, Florida
If you die without a will, your property will be distributed according to state intestacy laws. A simple will applies only to you and leaves a direct distribution of your estate to your heirs. This will does not contain gifts to minors. It gives a description of the assets to be distributed to your heirs; it is witnessed by a least two adults who are not beneficiaries and not closely related to you. While there are computer programs and applications that can assist you with writing a will available online, it may still be a good idea to have an estate planning lawyer in Clearwater, Florida review your will. In some cases, estate planning can be complicated, and without a properly written or executed will, disputes can arise that can cost money, stress, and time. If you have a will that hasn’t been reviewed for some years, used software in the past to write your will, or need assistance from an estate planning lawyer in writing your will, reach out to the estate planning lawyer at the Law Office of Carol A. Lawson in Clearwater, Florida today.
Will With Pour-Over Provision
A will with pour-over provision directs the distribution of assets to a trust. A pour-over will is a particular type of will used in conjunction with a trust. This type of will directs the distribution of any property the deceased still owned at the time of death. This will manages assets or property that were left out of a revocable trust. The estate planning lawyer at the Law Office of Carol A. Lawson in Clearwater, Florida works with clients who have more complex estate planning needs, or high asset estate planning needs.
Will Establishing A Trust
A will establishing a trust establishes a trust to minors if there is not already a revocable or irrevocable trust in place to handle the gifts to minors under the will. This kind of trust is also known as a testamentary trust. It is designed to ensure that money that minors inherit will be properly managed by an adult until the child reaches an age of maturity. If you have complex estate planning needs, the Law Office of Carol A. Lawson in Clearwater, Florida is here to help you.
Do Not Resuscitate Order: DNR
Do not resuscitate order or DNR is a legal document to respect the wishes of a patient not to undergo CPR or advanced cardiac life support (ACLS) if their heart were to stop or they were to stop breathing. DNRs are usually utilized as part of end-of-life planning. If you need assistance with estate planning or end-of-life planning, reach out to the Law Office of Carol A. Lawson in Clearwater, Florida today.
Lady Bird Deed
A lady bird deed transfers your property upon your death without the need for probate, while reserving your control to sell the property during your lifetime. This type of Deed does not affect your homestead exemption or election. The Law Office of Carol A. Lawson in Clearwater, Florida can assist you with a lady bird deed if you want to help your family avoid the probate process or if you need specific estate planning tools.
Revocable Trusts
The laws of most states permit the formation of a variety of revocable trust instruments (AB “Family” Trust, QTIP Trust, Crummey Trust, Retained Interest Trusts such as GRITS, GRATs, GRUTs, and QPRT), whereby the trust creator (Grantor) contributes assets for the benefit of others to be managed by a trustee. While it is also possible for the creator to be either the trustee or a beneficiary of the trust he or she has created, such dual capacities will usually destroy the trust’s ability to shelter its assets from creditors of the grantor. If you need assistance with the formation of a trust for estate planning purposes or financial planning, the Law Office of Carol A. Lawson, an estate planning law firm in Clearwater, Florida may be able to help you.
Irrevocable Trusts
Unlike a revocable trust (revocable living trust), assets transferred to an “irrevocable” trust cannot be changed or dissolved by the grantor once it has been created. The grantor no longer owns the assets. With an irrevocable trust, all of the property in the trust, plus all future appreciation on the property, is out of your taxable estate. That means your ultimate estate tax liability may be less, resulting in a more tax efficient way to transfer your accumulated wealth to your beneficiaries. Property transferred to your beneficiaries through an irrevocable trust will also avoid probate. As a bonus, property in an irrevocable trust may be protected from your creditors. Irrevocable trust device is utilized for avoiding the Medicare nursing home spend-down provisions whereby if an elderly or disabled person has to enter a nursing home he must first spend all his money until he does not have any money left. Irrevocable trusts, in this case, are often also called special needs trusts. If you need assistance with creating an irrevocable trust, reach out to the estate planning lawyer at the Law Office of Carol A. Lawson in Clearwater, Florida.
Pour Over Trusts
A Pour-Over Trust usually contains language that explains how the trust assets should be distributed when the donor becomes incapacitated or passes away. Unless incapacitated, one cannot receive or distribute assets from the Pour-Over Trust without revoking it. Unlike a will, a Pour-Over Trust is not administered by a court, so its contents and terms are not part of the public record. However, some assets may go back to the estate upon the grantor or trustee’s death and require probate. The estate planning lawyer at the Law Office of Carol A. Lawson in Clearwater, Florida can assist you with unique estate planning needs.
Special Needs Trust-Supplemental Needs Trust
This trust is a discretionary trust to financially provide for your adult special needs child but which won’t jeopardize those public assistance benefits. If a person inherits assets and receives government disability aid or services, he or she could lose benefits if estate planning isn’t properly managed. The estate planning lawyer at the Law Office of Carol A. Lawson in Clearwater, Florida can evaluate your situation and help you with a special needs trust that may be able to assist you.
ESTATE PLANNING
Clearwater Bankruptcy Attorney, Carol A. Lawson, also handles Estate Planning matters, we offer Legal Services in the areas of Wills, Living Wills, Health Care Surrogate, Durable Power Of Attorney, Wills With Pour-Over Provision, Wills Establishing A Trust, Do Not Resuscitate Orders (DNRs), Lifetime Services Contract, Quit Claim Deeds, Lady Bird Deeds, Revocable Trusts, Irrevocable Trusts, Pour Over Trusts, Special Needs Trusts, Gun Trusts, Trusts For Minors, Probate, including Simple Administration and Formal Administration, and Disposition of Personal Property Without Administration and Guardian Advocate for Special Needs.
Living Will
An advance health care directive, also known as a living will, personal directive, advance directive, or advance decision, is a set of written instructions that a person gives that specify what actions should be taken for their health if they are no longer able to make decisions due to illness or incapacity.
Healthcare Surrogate
A specific type of power of attorney or health care proxy, where someone is appointed by the individual to make decisions on their behalf when they are incapacitated. Often people will speak with lpa experts before putting these into place ahead of the individual’s need.
Power of Attorney
A Durable Power of Attorney is written authorization to represent or act on another’s behalf in private affairs, business, and all normal areas including purchasing or selling property (you may want to get in touch with a real estate agent similar to Reali to help you with this), signing contracts, and other legal actions. This Document survives the incapacity of the Grantor, but not his death.
DNR
Do Not Resuscitate Order or DNR is a legal document to respect the wishes of a patient not to undergo CPR or advanced cardiac life support (ACLS) if their heart were to stop or they were to stop breathing.
Lady Bird Deed
Transfers your property upon your death without the need for probate, while reserving your control to sell the property during your lifetime. This type of Deed does not affect your homestead exemption or election.
Revocable Trusts
The laws of most states permit the formation of a variety of revocable trust instruments (AB “Family” Trust, QTIP Trust, Crummey Trust, Retained Interest Trusts such as GRITS, GRATs, GRUTs, and QPRT), whereby the trust creator (Grantor) contributes assets for the benefit of others to be managed by a Trustee. While it is also possible for the creator to be either the Trustee or a Beneficiary of the trust he or she has created, such dual capacities will usually destroy the trust’s ability to shelter its assets from creditors of the Grantor.
Irrevocable Trusts
Unlike a revocable trust (revocable living trust), assets transferred to an “irrevocable” trust cannot be changed or dissolved by the Grantor once it has been created. The Grantor no longer owns the assets. With an irrevocable trust, all of the property in the trust, plus all future appreciation on the property, is out of your taxable estate. That means your ultimate estate tax liability may be less, resulting in a more tax efficient way to transfer your accumulated wealth to your beneficiaries. Property transferred to your beneficiaries through an irrevocable trust will also avoid probate. As a bonus, property in an irrevocable trust may be protected from your creditors. Irrevocable trust device is utilized for avoiding the Medicare nursing home spend-down provisions whereby if the elderly has to enter a nursing home he must first spend all his money until he does not have any money left.
Pour Over Trusts
A Pour-Over Trust usually contains language that explains how the Trust Assets should be distributed when the donor becomes incapacitated or passes away. Unless incapacitated, one cannot receive or distribute Assets from the Pour-Over Trust without revoking it. Unlike a Will, a Pour-Over Trust is not administered by a Court, so its contents and terms are not part of the public record. However, some Assets may go back to the Estate upon the Grantor or Trustee’s death and require probate.
Special Needs Trust – Supplemental Needs Trust Trust is a discretionary trust to financially provide for your adult special needs child but which won’t jeopardize those public assistance benefits.
Guardian Advocate This is a simplified guardianship procedure in Florida available specifically for adult persons with developmental disabilities, such as Autism, Spina Bifida, Prader-Willi Syndrome, and Aspergers.
Name and Gender Marker Change This is a new service we are providing for the LBGTQ community. This changes your name, along with your gender marker on your social security, driver’s license, and passport.
LifeTime Services(Personal Services) Contract This is an estate planning document for the elderly for their Medicaid planning. This is an agreement between a person who needs care and another person who agrees to provide care.
Intake Documents for Your Appointment:
If you contact our Law Office and schedule a Free Clearwater Bankruptcy Attorney Consultation, you will meet with me, the Owner of the Law Firm. We offer a Free and Friendly Consultation. We pledge to give each and every Client the Respect and Dignity that they deserve. Payment Plans are Available.
Our office stands ready to serve your needs.
Our office stands ready to serve your needs.
Phone: (727) 410-2705
Phone 2: (727) 330-1627
We are LBQT friendly; service animals welcomed; free parking and free WIFI.
Day, Evening and Weekend appointments available
2451 McMullen Booth Rd. #254 Clearwater, FL 33759
