Orlando, Central Florida & nationwide by video
You worked a lifetime for your home, your savings and the people you love. We make sure your will, trust, beneficiaries and retirement accounts all say the same thing, and work alongside your estate attorney so your wishes are carried out.
Always free. No pressure, no obligation. Virtual or in person in Orlando.
Estate planning basics
Most people think of estate planning as a will in a drawer. The families who have the smoothest experience are the ones whose documents, accounts and beneficiaries were checked together and kept current.
Neither the firm nor its agents or representatives may give tax or legal advice. We work alongside your estate planning attorney and CPA.
The gap most families miss
For many retirees, the biggest assets are an IRA, a 401(k), life insurance or an annuity. Those pass by the beneficiary form on file with each company, not by your will.
If a form is outdated, missing or names the wrong person, it can override everything your attorney wrote. This is where a financial planner and an estate attorney need to work together, and it is often the first thing we check.
Have my beneficiaries checked freeControlled by your will
Usually goes through probate
Controlled by beneficiary forms
Passes directly, even if your will says otherwise
Simplified for education. How each asset passes depends on how it is titled and on Florida law.
The essentials
Each one does a different job. They only protect your family when they work together, and the right mix depends on your situation.
Says who receives what, names your personal representative and names guardians for minor children. Assets that pass under a will go through probate.
Can help assets skip probate, keeps your affairs private and lets a successor trustee step in if you become incapacitated.
Names someone to handle money and legal matters if you cannot. Without one, your family may need a court guardianship just to pay your bills.
A living will and healthcare surrogate say what care you want and who decides when you cannot speak for yourself.
60-second Legacy Check
Tap each statement that is true for you.
Tap the statements that fit you. Even one can mean your family would face delays or court time.
Wills vs. trusts
Neither is right for everyone. Here is how they compare on the questions families ask most.
| Question | Will | Revocable living trust |
|---|---|---|
| Goes through probate? | Yes, for assets in your name alone | Assets titled to the trust can skip probate |
| Private? | Becomes part of the court record | Generally stays private |
| Helps if you become incapacitated? | No, you also need a power of attorney | Yes, a successor trustee can step in |
| Names guardians for minor children? | Yes | No, you still need a will |
| Property in another state? | May need probate in that state too | Can help avoid a second probate |
| Upfront work | Simpler to set up | More setup, and accounts must be retitled |
General education, not legal advice. Your estate planning attorney drafts the documents; we help make sure your accounts and beneficiaries match them.
Quick reference
Florida rules help families in some ways and surprise them in others.
| Rule | 2026 | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Florida estate or inheritance tax | None | Florida does not tax estates or inheritances. Federal estate tax still applies to very large estates. |
| Federal estate tax exemption | $15 million | Per person ($30 million for a married couple). Most families owe no federal estate tax, but planning still matters for probate, taxes on IRAs and family harmony. |
| Homestead inheritance limits | Spouse or minor child | If you leave a spouse or minor child, Florida's constitution limits who can inherit your home, even if your will says otherwise. |
| Homestead property tax exemption | Up to $50,000 | Plus the Save Our Homes cap of 3% a year on assessed value. Both need the home to be your Florida residence. |
| Durable power of attorney | 2 witnesses + notary | Florida does not allow new "springing" powers of attorney, and the wording must say it survives incapacity. |
| Probate | Court supervised | Assets in your name alone, with no beneficiary or trust, usually go through Florida probate. |
Sources: IRS, Florida Constitution and Florida Statutes, current as of 2026. Laws change, so confirm the details for your situation with your attorney.
How it works
Tell us about your family, your home and your accounts, and what worries you most. In person in Orlando or by video.
We compare your documents with your actual accounts and beneficiary forms, and show you where the gaps and probate exposure may be.
We work with your estate attorney and CPA to close the gaps, then review your plan as your family and Florida law change.
No cost, no pressure and no obligation to change anything.
Not ready to talk yet?
16 pages and 40 steps, including the documents, residency and homestead steps Florida retirees often miss.
Free resources
Plain-English articles from Roger Fishel on protecting your home, your savings and your family.
Wills, trusts, homestead rules and the common mistakes that can cost your family.
Read the guideProtecting your savings and your spouse before care starts and after it begins.
Read the guideThe money decisions that come first after a loss, and the ones that can wait.
Read the guideThe steps that make Florida your legal home, including updating your documents.
Read the guideHow paying tax now may leave your children a tax-free inheritance instead of a tax bill.
Read the guideCosts, taxes, healthcare and where to live, from someone who helps Floridians retire.
Read the guide
Frequently asked questions
Straight answers to the questions Florida retirees and families ask us most.
Estate planning is the process of organizing your assets, legal documents and healthcare directives so your wishes are carried out if you become incapacitated or pass away. For Florida retirees, a good plan helps avoid unnecessary probate delays, protect beneficiaries, coordinate retirement accounts and insurance, reduce family conflict and maintain privacy.
Yes. If you own property, have children or want control over how your assets are distributed, you need a valid Florida will. Without one, Florida intestacy laws decide who receives your assets, which may not reflect your wishes. We offer a complimentary review to help you see how your will fits with your retirement accounts, life insurance and beneficiary designations.
Your estate goes through Florida probate under the state's intestacy laws, and the court decides how your assets are distributed based on your family structure. That can mean delays, added legal costs, court involvement and distributions that do not match your intentions.
Many Florida estates must go through probate unless assets are properly structured. Assets that may avoid probate include retirement accounts and life insurance with named beneficiaries, assets held in a trust and properly titled joint property. Coordinating account titling and beneficiary designations is a critical part of estate planning in Florida.
A will directs how your assets are distributed after death and must go through probate. A trust may allow assets to pass outside of probate, offering privacy and efficiency. Whether you need a trust depends on your estate size, privacy concerns, family situation, out-of-state property and whether you have minor children or a family member with special needs. We coordinate with qualified Florida estate planning attorneys to find the right structure.
Your will does not control your retirement accounts. IRAs, 401(k)s and life insurance pass by beneficiary designation, so if those designations are outdated or conflict with your will, your plan can fail. Estate planning for Florida retirees should include beneficiary reviews, required minimum distribution planning, tax coordination, spousal protection and multi-generational planning.
No. Florida does not have a state estate tax or inheritance tax. Federal estate tax may apply to very large estates. Even if estate tax does not affect you, planning is still critical for asset protection, probate efficiency, beneficiary coordination and tax efficiency for your heirs.
No. Wills, trusts and powers of attorney are legal documents drafted by an estate planning attorney. We help you decide what you need, make sure your accounts, beneficiaries and insurance match your documents, and coordinate with your attorney. If you do not have one, we can suggest a few to consider.
It is a relaxed conversation about your family, your home and your accounts. We point out a few areas that may be worth a closer look, such as outdated beneficiaries or assets that could end up in probate. There is no cost and no obligation.
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