Last will and testament or revocable living trust:
directs how your property is distributed and who oversees that process.
Planning for your family’s future does not have to feel overwhelming, and Eden Law Group, P.A. helps Citrus County families build estate plans that protect what matters most.
Estate planning sounds complicated, but at its core it is simply the process of deciding who manages your affairs and receives your property. Your estate is anything you own, whether that’s a modest bank account and personal belongings or real estate, investments, and a family business. You do not need significant wealth to benefit from a plan built by a knowledgeable estate planning attorney.
A complete estate plan addresses two separate concerns: what happens if you become incapacitated during your lifetime, and what happens to your assets after you pass away. The first concern is handled through documents like a durable power of attorney and a health care surrogate designation. The second concern is handled through estate planning documents such as a last will and testament or a revocable living trust, along with probate avoidance planning and, for larger estates, federal estate tax planning.
Without a plan in place, a judge, not you, may end up deciding who manages your finances or raises your children if something happens to you. Working with an experienced estate planning lawyer now means those choices stay in your hands.
A sound estate plan is built from several coordinated documents rather than a single form. Each one serves a distinct purpose, and together they cover both incapacity planning and the distribution of your assets.
One of the most common questions clients bring to our office is whether a living trust vs will makes more sense for their situation. Both accomplish similar goals but differ significantly in cost, privacy, and how your estate is settled after death.
A last will and testament is simpler and less expensive to create, but it must pass through probate administration in Citrus County, a process that can take a year or more and involve statutory fees. A revocable living trust costs more up front and requires ongoing trust funding as you acquire new assets, but it allows your successor trustee to distribute property to your beneficiaries without court involvement, protects your privacy, and helps avoid court-appointed guardianship if you become incapacitated.
A well-drafted estate plan preserves your privacy, reduces expenses for your heirs, and ensures your wishes are honored exactly as you intend.
Below are answers to some of the most common questions we hear during an estate planning consultation.
Do I need a living trust or is a will enough?
How does probate work in Citrus County?
What is the current federal estate tax exemption?
Can I set up a charitable trust as part of my estate plan?
Beyond general estate planning services, our office has prepared detailed guidance on the specific topics clients ask about most. Each resource below expands on a piece of the planning process in more depth.
Taking the time to plan your estate wisely is a gift to yourself and a loving gesture to the people who depend on you. Attorney John H. Eden IV has guided Citrus County families through wills, trusts, probate administration, and estate tax planning for over 34 years, and your first consultation is free of charge.
Contact our Inverness, FL office Monday through Friday, 8 am to 5 pm, to discuss your estate planning documents and get a clear, flat-fee quote for your plan. Tomorrow may be too late to put the right protections in place.
