Getting involved with an estate planning effort can consume a lot of your time. Thankfully, our staff at Retirement & Estate Advisors & Professionals is ready to offer the perspective you seek. We’d be glad to help you:
Put documents in place
Make amendments
Locate beneficiaries
Assign powers to administrators
Our office keeps regular hours on the weekdays, and we can be flexible with our schedule too. When you team up with us, we think you’ll be impressed with our knowledge.
At our practice, we believe in providing excellent customer service. That’s why so many clients have come to REAP for direction. We’re available to serve residents throughout Central and Northern Florida, so call us today and request a meeting. We look forward to guiding you through your estate planning duties.
Our Process
Our process at REAP ensures that you and your family will develop a secure estate, financial, and income plan. This begins with a complete, NO OBLIGATION review of your current estate, financial, and income plan, which is paramount in recommending any alternative option that may be available to you. This process is our expertise, and can be completed in a timely manner.
The process of developing your estate plan is customized, tailored to your unique individual and family needs. It is also comprehensive, however; it does take time to fully implement. At REAP, it is important that you participate throughout this process, for you are the most integral part of this process.
Development of your estate plan is done in multiple stages, with attention to detail being a top priority. This process includes:
Review Current Estate Plan
Review Current Financial and Income Plan
Gather Client Family Information
Consultation and Review by Attorney
Estate Plan Preparation
Estate Plan Delivery and Implementation
Filing of Deeds
Coordination and Funding of Assets
Income Planning
Financial & Investment Advisory Services
Once this process has been completed, you and your family will possess a powerful, customized plan. It is tailored to meet your current estate planning needs, yet also is able to meet any needs that may arise in the future. For your no obligation review of your current estate, financial, and income plan, please call us at (855) 904-REAP.
This document is designed to eliminate probate at your death, provide for an easy transition to your heirs and, if your estate is potentially subject to estate taxes, to eliminate (or at least minimize) those taxes at your death. See our video below for more about revocable trusts:
2. Last Will and Testament (“pourover will”)
Your will works together with your trust to dispose of any assets that might not have been transferred into the trust prior to your death.
3. Durable Powers of Attorney
This document gives someone power of attorney to act as your agent on all matters related to your personal and financial affairs, except to the extent that you limit it. It remains in effect even if you become incapacitated. Because of the broad nature of this power, many people prefer to allow it to be used by a non-spouse only if your physician certifies that you are no longer able to make decisions for yourself.
4. Living Will/Designation of Health-Care Surrogate
The living will is a written statement of your desire that life-prolonging procedures be provided, withheld or withdrawn in the event you are suffering from a terminal condition and are unable to express a decision. It does not take effect until at least two physicians – your doctor and one other doctor – determine that the condition is terminal and you are not able to make a decision.
The designation appoints a medical power of attorney (“health care surrogate”) to make any kind of health care decision on your behalf, if you are physically or mentally unable to communicate. The surrogate has the authority to make decisions on most health care issues, except those prohibited by law or specifically excluded in the designation. It is also possible to specify in this document any directions with regard to your health care that you would want carried out by your surrogate, including those required by religious or personal preferences.
5. Trust Funding Forms and Instructions
These are easy to utilize forms to transfer assets into your trust, and thereby accomplish the avoidance of probate. In most cases, all that is involved is a name change on the account. These will include a deed of any Florida or Georgia real property owned by you into your trust. Different types of deeds are utilized, depending on whether or not the property being transferred is your homestead.
