Estate Planning Services in Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Ft Lauderdale Estate Planning Law Firm

Estate planning is not only for the wealthy or the elderly. It is a practical and meaningful step for anyone who wants to protect family, reduce confusion, and bring order to life’s inevitable transitions. At Good Shepherd Legal PLLC, estate planning is approached with guidance and protection, helping individuals and families make thoughtful decisions with confidence.

Serving Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton, and Weston, the firm provides estate planning, probate administration, and estate administration services designed to bring clarity, peace of mind, and structure when it matters most.

Protect your family and your wishes.

What Estate Planning Really Accomplishes

Estate planning answers a few essential questions:

Who will make decisions if you cannot?

What happens to your property when you pass away?

How can your family avoid unnecessary costs, court involvement, and conflict?

A clear plan helps ensure that your wishes are honored and that your loved ones are supported during difficult times. Without planning, Florida law decides who inherits, who manages assets, and who makes decisions, often leading to delays, stress, and avoidable disputes.

Estate planning puts those decisions back in your hands.

Probate Administration in Florida

When someone passes away, probate may be required to settle their estate. Probate is the court-supervised process of validating a will, appointing a personal representative, and ensuring assets are distributed properly.

While probate serves an important legal purpose, it can feel confusing and intimidating for families who have never been through it.

Good Shepherd Legal PLLC provides probate administration services to help personal representatives and families navigate this process with clarity and structure.

The Probate Process

Key steps in the probate process include:

1

Filing the necessary court documents

2

Identifying and valuing estate assets

3

Notifying beneficiaries and creditors

4

Paying valid debts and expenses

5

Preparing required accountings

6

Distributing assets according to the will or Florida law

With proper guidance, probate can move forward in an organized and predictable way.

Estate Administration Beyond Probate

Not every estate requires formal probate, but every estate requires administration. Estate administration includes all the steps needed to settle a person’s financial affairs, whether or not court involvement is required.

This process often involves coordinating accounts, handling property transfers, closing financial matters, and ensuring beneficiaries receive what they are entitled to receive.

Careful administration helps prevent mistakes, delays, and misunderstandings during an already emotional time. Estate administration services include:

Reviewing estate planning documents
Coordinating asset transfers
Managing creditor claims and final expenses
Assisting with required filings
Supporting beneficiaries throughout the process

The goal is to bring order, accuracy, and calm to a complex transition.

Reducing Conflict and Court Involvement

One of the most common reasons people seek estate planning is to avoid conflict. Clear instructions and proper planning reduce uncertainty, which often fuels disagreements among family members.

Trust-based planning, beneficiary coordination, and thoughtful administration all help minimize court involvement and keep family matters private.

By addressing issues upfront, estate planning protects relationships as much as it protects assets.

How Estate Planning and Real Estate Intersect

For many families, real estate is the most valuable asset they own. How property is titled and transferred has a direct impact on probate, taxes, and long-term planning.

Good Shepherd Legal PLLC integrates estate planning with real estate considerations so that property decisions support your overall goals. This coordination helps ensure that homes and investment properties pass smoothly and according to your wishes.

A Supportive, Structured Process

Estate planning does not need to feel intimidating. The firm’s process is designed to meet clients where they are and move at a comfortable pace.

Clients can expect:

Clear explanations without unnecessary legal language
Thoughtful discussion of goals and concerns
Organized drafting and review
Flexible signing options
Ongoing support as life changes

The focus is on guidance, preparation, and long-term peace of mind.

Serving Fort Lauderdale Families

Families and individuals across Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton, and Weston turn to Good Shepherd Legal PLLC for steady guidance during important life decisions. Whether planning ahead, settling an estate, or navigating probate, clients are supported with care and clarity.

Estate planning is not about expecting the worst. It is about preparing thoughtfully so your family is protected no matter what life brings.

Start with a Conversation

If you are feeling unsure where to begin, that is normal. Many people delay planning because they feel overwhelmed or worry about making mistakes.

A simple conversation can bring clarity and direction.

Book a call with Good Shepherd Legal PLLC to discuss your estate planning needs, probate concerns, or questions about estate administration. With the right guidance, you can move forward with confidence, knowing your family and legacy are protected.

Plans Outline

ESTATE PLANNING & PROBATE

Our estate planning services are offered through simple, flat-fee plans—so you always know the cost upfront. No hourly billing. No surprises.
Each plan is thoughtfully designed to meet you where you are in life, while providing the clarity, protection, and peace of mind your legacy deserves.

Cornerstone plan

Last Will & Testament
Financial Power of Attorney
Health Care Power of Attorney
Living Will
HIPPA authorization

Stewardship plan

Revocable Living Trust
Power of Attorney
Advance Healthcare Directive
Pour-Over Will
HIPAA Authorization
Certification of Trust
Personal property assignment
1 Real Estate Deed Transfer
Secure online storage

Legacy & Generations plan

Revocable Living Trust
Financial Power of Attorney
Advance Healthcare Directive
Pour-Over Will
Personal property assignment
HIPAA Authorization
Certification of Trust
3 Real Estate Deed Transfers
1 business review and assignment
Free annual review
Life and legacy planning session
Life and legacy portal: portal with tax and financial professionals recs
Free Mobile notary service signing at home
Personalized binder
Secure online storage
Preferred client pricing on future updates (50% Off future amendments and updates, include in the engagement letter)
1 year of funding guidance

Medicaid Planning

Everything included from prior plans
Medicaid assessment and irrevocable trust

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is estate planning important if I am not wealthy?

Estate planning is not just about large estates. It is about who makes decisions if you cannot, who receives your property, how your home is handled, and how much stress your family deals with if something unexpected happens. The federal Administration for Community Living says people turning 65 have about a 69 percent chance of needing some type of long-term care, and Genworth-CareScout’s 2024 Florida cost data puts a median semi-private nursing home room at $124,100 per year, which is about $10,342 per month. That is one reason planning early matters for everyday families in South Florida, not just high-net-worth households.

What happens if you die without a will in Florida?

If someone dies without a valid will, Florida’s intestacy laws decide who inherits, meaning a judge decides. In some families the surviving spouse receives everything, but in blended family situations the spouse may receive only half of the intestate estate and the rest may pass to descendants. That is exactly why a simple will can still be very important for Broward County families who want control instead of default rules.

Suggested source links:
Florida Statutes Chapter 732; Florida Statutes section 732.102

How long does probate take in Florida?

Probate length depends on the facts, but even a simple Florida probate generally cannot close immediately because of the creditor claim period. The Florida Bar says even the simplest probate estate must stay open at least through the three-month creditor period and that a simple probate often takes about 5 or 6 months. If the estate includes real estate sales, disputes, litigation, or complicated assets, it can take longer; some probate cases last 12-24 months, or longer. A trusted person will need to hire and pay an attorney, while managing an active court case.

Suggested source links:
Florida Bar probate guide; Florida Statutes section 733.702

How expensive can probate be in Florida?

Probate cost varies a lot but a good rule of thumb is that it will cost about 3% of a person’s estate:

Attorney Fees

Hourly Rates: Typically range from $300-$600 per hour in 2026
Statutory Rates: Based on Florida law, calculated as:
- 3% of the first $1 million of estate value
- 2.5% for estate values between $1-3 million
- 2% for estate values between $3-5 million
- 1.5% for estate values between $5-10 million

Suggested source links:
Florida Statutes section 733.6171; Florida Statutes section 733.617

Do I need a will or a trust in Florida?

A will is enough for those who are not concerned about the length, cost, or energy expenditure of probate, or with a very simple estate. A good rule of thumb is that if your total net worth is less than $250,000.00, a will should be sufficient. A revocable trust becomes more attractive when someone wants smoother management during incapacity, wants to avoid probate, owns real estate, or wants more coordinated transfer planning. A trust can save your loved ones probate fees and months or years of litigation. Trusts also offer extensive control over how your assets are managed while you’re alive and when you pass on.

Suggested source links:
Florida Bar revocable trust guide

How does asset titling affect an estate plan in Florida?

Titling is one of the most overlooked parts of estate planning. A will or trust may say one thing, but the way an account or deed is titled often controls what actually happens at death. Florida law treats survivorship, tenancy by the entirety, and pay-on-death arrangements differently, which is why a house, bank account, or brokerage account should be reviewed as part of the estate plan, not after the fact. That is especially true in South Florida where the home is often the largest asset in the plan. These accounts should also be reviewed periodically and updated as life changes occur.

Suggested source links:
Florida Statutes section 689.15

Do beneficiary designations override a will?

In many cases, yes. Assets like life insurance, retirement accounts, and pay-on-death accounts often pass by contract or designation, not under the will. That means someone can have an updated will and still end up with an outdated transfer result if the beneficiary forms were never reviewed. For many families in Broward County, that review is just as important as signing the main estate planning documents.

Suggested source links:
Florida Bar probate guide

Can a revocable trust protect my assets from creditors in Florida?

Usually not in the way people hope. Florida law says the property of a revocable trust is still subject to the settlor’s creditors during the settlor’s lifetime to the extent it would not otherwise be exempt if owned directly. So a revocable trust is excellent for probate avoidance and management, but it is not a magic shield from personal creditors. Florida does have stronger protection rules for some assets, including certain life insurance, annuities, and retirement funds, which is why real asset protection planning has to be more tailored than simply signing a trust. They can, however, help protect your loved ones and beneficiaries from losing their inheritance when properly structured.

What documents are usually included in a Florida estate plan?

A well-rounded Florida estate plan often includes a will or trust, a durable power of attorney, a health care surrogate designation, a living will, HIPAA-related authorizations, and a review of beneficiary designations and asset titling. That lines up well with Good Shepherd Legal’s existing planning structure, which already includes will-based and trust-based packages and also folds deed transfer work into certain plans.

What is a durable power of attorney and why does it matter?

A durable power of attorney lets a trusted person handle financial and legal matters if you later become incapacitated. In Florida, the document must contain durable language, and it must be signed by the principal, witnessed by two people, and acknowledged before a notary. This is one of the most practical documents in an estate plan because incapacity issues often come up before death issues do. A durable power of attorney should be updated every 1-2 years.

What is the difference between a health care surrogate and a living will?

A health care surrogate names the person who can make medical decisions for you if you cannot make them yourself. A living will states your wishes about life-prolonging treatment if you are in a qualifying medical condition. Florida law recognizes both, and the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration explains that you do not have to complete an advance directive, but without one, decisions may fall to others who may not know what you would have wanted. For example, a living will can outline the level of comfort you’d want during end of life, the type of food to be fed, and to what extent to receive life support, if at all.

Can I put my homestead into a trust in Florida?

Yes. Florida Bar guidance notes that homestead can be transferred to a trust, but counties may have special requirements to preserve the tax exemption and special language may be needed in the deed or trust. Separate from that, Florida law also restricts how homestead can be devised when there is a surviving spouse or minor child, so this is one of the places where careful drafting matters. If you a mortgage on your home, you should also notify your lender of the transfer and get approval before-hand; although, lenders cannot deny this transfer.

Should I plan for long-term care or Medicaid before there is a crisis?

Yes. Planning options are generally broader when a family is not already in the middle of an immediate nursing home or incapacity crisis. Medicaid planning typically involves transferring assets and structuring income properly. There are certain time frames this must be done in to properly qualify for Medicaid.

Does Florida have an estate tax?

No. The Florida Department of Revenue says no Florida estate tax is due for decedents who died on or after January 1, 2005. That said, federal estate tax can still matter for very large estates. The federal estate tax exemption for 2026 is $15 million per individual and $30 million for married couples. That being said Florida estate planning still matters for probate, creditor issues, homestead, incapacity planning, and family protection even without a state estate tax.

Suggested source links:
Florida Department of Revenue estate tax page

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