Wills and Trusts Law

Wills and Trusts Law

Baur & Klein, P.A. and/or its “of counsel” attorneys have assisted international and domestic clients with wills, revocable trusts, health care directives, living wills and durable powers of attorney. Provided services can include, without limitation, creating wills and revocable living trusts, and enforcing and contesting them in court. Baur & Klein, P.A. and/or its “of counsel” attorneys have handled many legal services relating to wills and trusts, with Christopher J. Klein having successfully argued an important will contest case before the Florida Supreme Court.

Wills

A will can be central to ensuring that your wishes are followed regarding your assets, as it outlines who you wish to receive your property upon death. You can nominate a person to administer your estate and distribute your assets. Without a valid will, your Florida estate assets may be subject to Florida’s statutory inheritance laws during the probate process, which might not be distributed as you intended.

In Florida, a will must be created via a formal process with specific requirements.

In Florida, net estate assets are typically distributed free of debts, so typical German concerns about over-indebtedness are generally inapplicable.

Revocable Trusts

A living trust, also known as a revocable trust, can be created to manage your assets during your lifetime and distribute them after your death. Assets transferred into a living trust may bypass the lengthy and expensive probate process, perhaps resulting in a more efficient transfer of assets to beneficiaries upon death. The “grantor” creates the trust, and the “trustee” typically manages the trust. The grantor typically instructs how the trust assets are used during his lifetime and how the trustee is to distribute those assets once the grantor has passed away. Typically, the grantor is also the initial trustee and retains full control of all trust assets during his lifetime, and generally he may revoke or modify the trust at any time. Typically, if the grantor becomes incapacitated, the trustee or successor trustee may control the trust assets.

Estate Planning

Baur & Klein, P.A. and/or its “of counsel” attorneys have advised clients on complex  international inheritance and estate law matters, including applications for foreign Certificates of Inheritance and how to take advantage of estate tax and other treaty benefits between their country of residence and the US.

Provided services at a glance:

In-person consultations with Baur & Klein, P.A., at its Miami, Florida office are by appointment only; most matters are handled via electronic communications between Baur & Klein, P.A. and its clients. No “walk ins” are accepted. “Your case may be referred to another lawyer.”

THIS CONTENT IS FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY AND DOES NOT CONSTITUTE LEGAL ADVICE OR AN ATTORNEY-CLIENT RELATIONSHIP.