Why Florida Estate Planning is Even More Important During Covid-19

A good estate plan is something that every Floridian can benefit from. No matter how old you are, how much money you have, what you do, or where you live, this is a critical tool that you need for yourself and your loved ones. Unfortunately, estate planning often gets labeled as something only for “old” people or “very wealthy” people, but that is not the case.

It is times like now, when we are facing uncertainty with the Coronavirus, that estate planning is more important than ever. Estate planning can serve as a guide not just for you, but for your loved ones as well. The reason why is simple. An estate plan allows you to work with your experienced Florida estate planning attorney to make your decisions before you need them. Let us explain this a little bit further.

While most of us think of estate planning from the perspective of who should inherit our wealth at the time of our death, it does so much more than that. It can:

• Provide peace of mind for your family,
• Protect your children, whether they are minors or adults,
• Provide support for your spouse when making difficult choices, and
• Ultimately make sure your wishes are honored.

What type of planning do you need? Let us share a few key examples right here:

1. Healthcare documents. When you create your healthcare documents such as a health care surrogate in Florida, you are deciding what you want should you be unable to communicate for yourself. While we often think of old age and the issues that come with incapacity, this is an extremely important consideration now for people of all ages as we face the Coronavirus. What if you were on a ventilator? What if you are unconscious from fever? Who have you chosen to have legal authority to act for you in a crisis?

2. A living will. While your living will is also a healthcare document, it is also much more than that. This is a statement to yourself and all medical providers as to what you want to have happen should you be in one of three potentially life ending scenarios. They are: the end-stage condition, a persistent vegetative state, and a terminal illness. In those instances, what treatments do you want withheld or removed? Do you not want anything removed? These are important decisions to make for yourself.

3. A durable power of attorney. Amidst all the crisis, it is important to still be able to operate as normally as possible. This means paying your bills, depositing checks, and keeping your house in working order. If you are not able to take care of these obligations, someone needs to have legal authority to do it for you. Your durable power of attorney is a key part of your estate plan that says who will have the legal authority to make these critical decisions for you.

Ensuring that all of our Floridians, including those in our local community, have access to good estate planning tools, like those discussed above, are just one of the reasons why we remain committed to being open for you. Lawyers are an essential service. The services that we provide to you can make a difference for yourself, your family, and your business.

We encourage you not to put this off any longer. Contact our office and schedule a meeting today to complete the estate planning that you need to ensure you are always protected.