South Orlando Estate Planning Lawyer

Whether you need to create an estate plan, contest a will, or plan for Medicaid eligibility, William C. Roof Law Group is ready to help protect your interests and your loved ones’ financial future. We offer a comprehensive set of services to assist clients in every stage of the estate plan process.

Our Estate Planning Services

These are some of our key service areas.

Estate Planning

Do you need an estate planning attorney? South Orlando families deserve a committed legal advocate who will take the time to help them outline their objectives for an estate plan — and then help them reach those objectives. Our South Orlando estate planning lawyers have experience helping individuals and families of all backgrounds achieve peace of mind through customized estate plans.

Mirror Wills

A South Orlando reciprocal will (or “mirror will”) involves two spouses creating virtually identical wills. These wills specify that if one spouse dies, all shared assets go to the other spouse — and those assets can stay out of probate. Our South Orlando mirror will lawyers can help you and your spouse plan for the future and avoid the inconvenient and sometimes distressing realities of the probate process.

Revocable Living Trusts

There are many types of trusts to consider while creating an estate plan, and each one serves a different purpose. Revocable living trust lawyers can help you structure a trust to hold and manage your assets and pass them down after your death. If you’re interested in avoiding probate and still retaining some control over your assets during your lifetime, ask a revocable living trust attorney about finding a solution that fits your needs.

Pour-Over Wills

Revocable living trusts are usually accompanied by South Orlando pour-over wills. That’s because a pour-over will serves as a kind of catch-all to ensure all of your assets will be transferred to the trust after you pass away. With the help of a South Orlando pour-over will attorney, you can keep assets out of probate even if you don’t manage to transfer them to your revocable living trust before your death.

Probate Administration

Probate isn’t just distributing assets; it also involves filing paperwork with the court, paying estate taxes, and handling a number of other administrative tasks. Unless you have previously acted as the executor of a loved one’s estate, working with South Orlando probate administration attorneys is a good idea. When you let our South Orlando probate administration lawyers handle this arduous process, you can rest assured that every element of your loved one’s estate will be handled appropriately.

Will Contest & Disputes

Sometimes, a deceased person’s surviving family members accept their will as written, and the probate process goes by quickly without any stressful or time-consuming detours. However, if there are any disagreements over the content of the will or its validity, you might need the help of South Orlando will dispute lawyers. Whether you need a South Orlando attorney to contest a will or defend one against someone else’s challenge, the William C. Roof Law Group team is ready to protect your loved one’s wishes and advocate for your interests.

Probate Disputes

In some cases, the process of probate goes uneventfully; however, some families fall into bitter disputes with strong opinions on all sides. If you’re dealing with a probate disagreement, a South Orlando probate dispute attorney can help you and your family members communicate with each other and, if possible, come to a mutual understanding. Working with a South Orlando probate dispute lawyer can’t guarantee that you’ll preserve every relationship, but it might increase your family’s chances of getting through a contentious, uncertain period relatively unscathed.

Trust Disputes

Unfortunately, some surviving family members find reasons to argue over every part of an estate plan, including any trusts their loved one left behind. These disputes can cause lasting damage to family relationships, but a skilled South Orlando trust dispute attorney could help your family reach a solution without resorting to litigation. The South Orlando trust dispute lawyers at William C. Roof Law Group have extensive experience helping families handle even the most complex disputes.

Guardianship for Adults

Securing guardianship for an incapacitated adult is especially challenging, and lawyers for South Orlando guardianship of adults are hard to find. For most families, seeking guardianship is a last resort after more conservative interventions have proven futile. Our compassionate South Orlando guardianship lawyers for adults can offer you advice and experience, and if you still hope that your loved one can be protected in a less restrictive way, we can help you explore alternative options.

Guardianship Disputes

In some cases, being granted guardianship of an incapacitated loved one is just the beginning of your legal struggles. As a South Orlando guardianship dispute law firm, we have witnessed many instances where the incapacitated person or other family members object to the guardianship. When it comes to finding the right guardianship dispute lawyer, South Orlando families should take the time to select an experienced attorney who will advocate for their best interests.

Medicaid Planning

Many people assume they’ll qualify for Medicaid after retirement, but they don’t realize the complex eligibility requirements until they’re in desperate need of medical coverage. Our South Orlando Medicaid planning attorneys can help your family take the guesswork out of planning for long-term care after retirement. Whether you’re seeking a South Orlando Medicaid planning lawyer for yourself or for an elderly loved one, the William C. Roof Law Group will take the time to understand your financial situation and create a custom-tailored plan for the future.

Living Wills

If you don’t have a plan for your health care if you’re not able to make decisions for yourself, our South Orlando living will lawyers can help you establish a legally valid living will. This document details which medical procedures and treatments you are comfortable (and not comfortable) with should you become incapacitated or otherwise unable to participate in decisions about your care. A living will attorney in South Orlando will discuss your preferences with you and help you make informed decisions about your future.

Durable Power of Attorney

A durable power of attorney (DPOA) is a document authorizing a trusted person to make decisions about your medical care should you become unable to. Our South Orlando durable power of attorney lawyers can help you select the right person as your power of attorney and create a valid and legally enforceable DPOA. If you are in need of a South Orlando DPOA attorney, turn to the team at William C. Roof Law Group.

Lady Bird Deeds

Lady Bird deeds (also called “enhanced life estate deeds”) aren’t available in all states. However, if you’re in Florida, a South Orlando Lady Bird deed attorney can help you create a document to ensure that your home can be passed on to the next generation without having to go through probate. Turn to a South Orlando Lady Bird deed lawyer at William C. Roof Law Group, where we have experience helping homeowners secure their legacies — and we may be able to help you, too.

Last Will and Testament

Online DIY wills might meet the bare minimum requirements for someone creating an estate plan, but if you want to ensure your will addresses every facet of your estate, you need a lawyer for last will and testament. South Orlando individuals and families have long turned to William C. Roof Law Group to draft their wills. Your South Orlando last will and testament lawyer understands that every estate plan — no matter how simple or how complex — needs a detailed will at the center, and we’re ready to help you create yours.

Designation of Health Care Surrogate

Do you need a South Orlando health care surrogate lawyer? If you haven’t yet appointed a health care surrogate (someone you trust to make medical decisions for you if you are unable to), the answer is yes. The right South Orlando health care surrogate attorney can do more than just make sure all paperwork is filed correctly; they can also offer valuable advice, guidance, and support from the beginning of the process to its end.

Designation of Pre-Need Guardianship

Coming to terms with the fact that you may one day require the help of a guardian can be sorrowful and humbling. With a declaration of preneed guardian form, you can give your loved ones (and yourself) some comfort by choosing a guardian who has your best interests in mind. In South Orlando, pre-need guardianship attorneys can be somewhat hard to come by, but the lawyers at William C. Roof Law Group have experience helping everyday people make informed guardianship decisions for their own futures and the futures of their families.

Estate Planning

If you’re looking for an estate planning attorney, South Orlando has no shortage of options. At William C. Roof Law Group, a South Orlando estate planning lawyer can assist with every kind of estate plan, from simple wills to complex, high-asset estates. Whether you need to write a basic will or create multiple trusts to ensure your assets are distributed according to your wishes after your death, we’ll take the time to meet your needs.

No two families are exactly alike, and no two estate plans should be, either. Our South Orlando estate planning law firm won’t rush you through the creation of a formulaic, one-size-fits-all plan. Instead, we are committed to creating a fully customized estate plan to safeguard your family’s future.

More about Estate Planning

Wills

No matter how simple or how complex your estate plan is, there’s one document that holds it all together: your will. Unclear language in a will can lead to conflicts during an already sorrowful time for your loved ones. A South Orlando wills attorney can craft a document that clearly addresses your entire estate and stands up to the rigorous probate process after your death.

Any South Orlando attorney for wills can tell you that a will is about much more than distributing money and property. When you work with the South Orlando wills lawyers at William C. Roof Law Group, you can appoint guardians for your children or pets, outline your preferences for your funeral and burial, and include any other critical wishes.

More about Wills

Trusts

Depending on your financial situation, you might need an estate plan that goes beyond the creation of a will. Our South Orlando local trust attorneys can help you establish a trust — or more than one — to reduce your tax liability, shield your assets from creditors, or simply save your loved ones from the ordeal of probate.

Many trusts serve multiple goals. For instance, a charitable remainder trust can offer you a steady stream of income during your lifetime and then support your charities of choice after your death. A South Orlando trusts attorney can help you decide which types of trusts are most appropriate for your needs. If you need a South Orlando trusts lawyer, look no further than William C. Roof Law Group.

More about Trusts

Let us help

When you’re part of a blended family, creating an estate plan that addresses everyone’s needs can be daunting. Between complex family dynamics, dividing assets between children from different relationships, and ensuring your new spouse is taken care of, it can be hard to know where to start. The team at William C. Roof Law Group has extensive experience with estate planning for blended families. Let us help you.

Probate

Probate is the process of proving a will in court, but that description is deceptively simple. Probate also involves paying estate taxes, distributing assets, addressing disputes, and otherwise tying up the loose ends of an estate. If you are named as the executor of someone’s estate, you can try to handle this process yourself. However, without a South Orlando probate lawyer, it’s easy to make mistakes that put you on the wrong side of the legal system.

When you’re selecting a South Orlando probate litigation lawyer, you need someone who is prepared to help you address any potential problems. Your South Orlando probate attorney will use their knowledge of the law and superb attention to detail to guide you through the process.

More about Probate

Guardianship

Few topics are as contentious as that of South Orlando legal guardianship. Lawyers for legal guardianship advocate for you to become your loved one’s legal caretaker if they become incapacitated or unable to make decisions for themselves. If your family is divided on the issue of guardianship, this decision can cause lasting strife.

A South Orlando guardianship attorney may be able to help your family understand the need for guardianship or explore other options for protecting your loved one. We know that the process of obtaining guardianship can be immensely stressful for you, your incapacitated loved one, and the other members of your family. Drawing on our extensive experience with guardianship cases, we will handle your situation with the understanding and grace it deserves.

More about Guardianship

Estate Planning, Probate, Litigation, Guardianship lawyer signing documents with clients

contact us

We’re here to answer all of your questions. Feel free to give us a call, or fill out the form to the right and we will get in touch with you soon.

(407) 986-3030

[email protected]

South Orlando: 7566 Southland Blvd, Suite 100A, Orlando, FL 32809 (By Appointment)