Planning for the future and protecting your assets for those you care about makes good sense, regardless of age or personal circumstances. With over 40 years of experience, our Leesburg estate planning lawyers help families organize their affairs related to will writing, creating and administering trusts, and probate administration.
With a personal and sensitive approach, Bogin, Munns & Munns takes the time to understand the issues that matter to you and your family. We listen to your concerns and translate your wishes into concise legal documents. This way, every detail is accounted for and in line with your specific preferences. Call today for a consultation.
We Can Represent Your Family During Probate Claims and Disputes
Probate is a legal process related to distributing the estates of people who write a will or determining the beneficiaries of a decedent who passed without a will. Surviving family members and creditors can make legal challenges regarding their right to inherit or debt recovery during probate litigation, which can add considerable stress and complexity to the process.
Commonly contested matters that our Leesburg wills, trusts, and probate lawyers can handle include:
- Challenging the validity of a will or contesting guardianship
- Breach of fiduciary duty through fraud, conflicts of interest, self-dealing, or issues related to the administration of a trust or probate estate
- Termination, reformation, or modification of trusts
- Trust or will compliance and construction
- Inheritance disputes
- Tax consequences of going through probate administration
- In-person or virtual hearings with Lake County’s Probate Division
What Happens in Probate Court in Lake County?
Probating an estate involves settling the deceased’s final affairs and ensuring that their assets and property go where they are supposed to. The deceased’s personal representatives, their heirs, their creditors, and the legal representatives of all of the above will meet to make sure that each party gets their fair share.
Our probate law firm can help you in this process by:
- Filing the will
- Identifying all of the deceased’s assets
- Notifying all of the involved parties
- Using estate assets to pay the deceased’s debts and taxes
- Ensuring all provisions of the will are met (if there is a will)
- Distributing assets according to state law (if the deceased had no will)
- Closing the estate
You do Not Have to Go to Probate Court Alone
You may want a probate lawyer for many reasons, as litigation cannot always be avoided. Contentious situations may require months or years of legal arguments.
The inheritance attorneys at Bogin, Munns & Munns can manage your case with sensitivity and assertiveness to ensure you receive helpful legal advice as you seek to navigate the probate process. Call now for a consultation to see how our innovative yet respectful representation can help your family.
To consult with an experienced wills, trusts and probate lawyer serving Leesburg
(855) 780-9986
Creating a Will With Our Leesburg Lawyers Can Be a Valuable Investment
Planning ahead gives you peace of mind that your loved ones will be looked after, whatever the future holds. As such, our wills and trusts lawyers in Leesburg act as trusted legal advisers to many families from all walks of life.
With over 40 years of experience, our estate planning attorneys are well-positioned to protect your family’s wealth for the future by carefully drafting your will to ensure it is legally binding under Florida’s laws and procedures. We can help you structure and organize your intentions concerning the following:
- What assets to include in your will
- Nominating who will inherit your assets
- Choosing an executor or personal representative to manage your estate and ensure the terms of your will are carried out
- Choosing a guardian for your children or other dependents
- Naming a trusted person to manage assets left to minor children
- Drafting the will
- Arranging signatures in front of witnesses
- Storing your will securely
- Managing any changes to your will or creating a new one should the need arise
- Tax planning and tax reliefs that may be available
Do Leesburg Residents Need a Will?
If you die without a will, your estate will be managed per Florida Statutes § 732, which could result in undue stress and disputes for your loved ones after you die. This is because the state distributes your assets among your heirs in a particular order (regardless of your wishes):
- Spouse
- Children or grandchildren
- Parents
- Siblings
Creating a valid will with help from our Leesburg law firm allows you to control what happens to your estate and ensures your assets go to the right people in accordance with your intentions.
Our Attorneys Give You Control Over Your Estate With a Living Trust
A trust is similar to a will in that assets are transferred to designated heirs per the grantor’s wishes. However, arranging a trust offers more control and flexibility regarding how and when specific heirs will receive trust assets (when an heir reaches a certain age, for example). Our Leesburg estate planning lawyers can determine if a trust would be beneficial to you.
Additionally, a trust provides more privacy than a will as it does not go through the probate process, meaning it does not become a matter of public record.
With a trust, legal ownership passes to the designated successor(s) after the grantor passes away. They will administer the trust rather than depend on the court to oversee the process of paying debts and distributing assets.
Other Benefits of a Living Trust
Trusts can be especially beneficial if:
- You have assets (within or out of Florida State) that you want to include in your trust to deliver optimal value to your loved ones through reduced inheritance tax liability
- You want to avoid the court fees and attorney fees associated with the probate court
- You want to keep your financial status private
- You want your assets to be distributed strictly according to your wishes
- You want to make arrangements as straightforward as possible for your loved ones when the trust passes to your nominated successor(s)
- You want a financial plan in place to provide for your health care needs while protecting your assets if you become ill or disabled
Revocable Versus Irrevocable Trusts
A revocable trust allows you to make changes to the trust’s provisions relatively easily. An irrevocable trust is much more difficult to alter once it is put in place.
Bogin, Munns & Munns can help you to better understand the differences between the available types of trusts. This way, you can pick the estate planning tool that will best serve your family’s needs.
The Benefits of Hiring Legal Representation to Create Your Living Trust
Your trust is a clear and detailed plan for your heirs to follow if you cannot manage your affairs or after you die. It is a complex document that must be precisely crafted to ensure it meets all your intended needs while being legally compliant with state and federal laws.
Our wills, trusts, and probate attorneys serving Leesburg can advise on the creation and administration of trusts regarding:
- Trustees’ responsibilities
- Taxation of trusts and tax planning
- Protecting your assets
- Structuring how your loved ones will benefit the most when the time comes for them to inherit
Leesburg Wills, Trusts and Probate Lawyer Near Me
(855) 780-9986
Work With Our Leesburg Wills, Trusts, and Probate Attorneys
Every client we represent is unique. Our Leesburg wills, trusts, and probate lawyers treat them that way by providing personalized, creative representation that allows them to meet their goals.
If you have questions or want to know more specific details about estate planning, call Bogin, Munns & Munns and start planning for your family’s future today.
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