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St. Petersburg Bankruptcy, Estate Planning & Real Estate > St. Petersburg Estate Planning Attorney

St. Petersburg Estate Planning Attorney

Established estate planning attorneys in St. Petersburg since 1986.

St. Petersburg Estate Planning, Wills, Trusts & Probate

Solid estate planning ensures your assets and wishes are protected. Facing the loss of a family member can be a stressful time; but, by planning ahead, you can make a difficult time a little easier for your loved ones. At Carnal & Mansfield, P.A., our estate planning attorneys in St. Petersburg understand you want an attorney who will sit down and explain the process to you. One of the best ways to prevent the court from getting involved is by laying out your intentions in a trust and designating a health care surrogate or Medical Power of Attorney.

Estate Planning Attorneys in St. Petersburg Protecting Your Assets

To determine the most effective way to protect your assets, the St. Petersburg estate planning attorneys will ask you to bring in your financial information. We will discuss your goals and how you want your money and property distributed. Your end of life care decisions will also be examined.

Once you are satisfied that we understand your wishes clearly, we will draft and create an appropriate plan including:

  • Wills
  • Trusts (Revocable & Irrevocable)
  • Special Needs Trusts
  • Income Trusts
  • Living Wills
  • Advanced Health Care Directives
  • Special Needs Trusts
  • Durable/ Financial Power of Attorney
  • Designation of a Health Care Surrogate

A well-drafted estate plan can help avoid probate. By clearly spelling out your wishes, you can make things easier for your family members.Once your trust has been created, we will advise you as to how to fund your trust properly. The terms of the trust and beneficiaries will be established according to your wishes. We also are available to serve as trust administrators to oversee the trust.

St. Petersburg Estate Planning FAQs

Carnal & Mansfield, P.A. assists St. Petersburg area residents in estate planning and family care matters, including the preparation of wills and trusts, obtaining guardianships, and probate administration. Below we address some general questions clients often have when they come to our offices with concerns about planning for retirement, asset protection, and caring for an elderly loved one. For specific information regarding your unique situation, please contact our office in St. Pete.

What is a will?

A will is a writing, signed by the deceased person and witnesses (as required by Florida law), that names beneficiaries who will receive the deceased person’s probate assets. A will may also designate a personal representative to administer the probate estate.

Do I need a lawyer to make a will?

While you are not legally required to have a lawyer prepare your will, an estate planning attorney can provide peace of mind if you have concerns about the handling of your assets or your future care. In some cases, you may need additional documents to supplement your will, or your will may need to be worded very specifically.

What is probate?

Probate is a court-supervised process for identifying and gathering a deceased person’s assets, paying his or her debts, and distributing any remaining assets to his or her beneficiaries.

Do I need a lawyer to handle probate?

If you are named or appointed the personal representative of an estate, you should hire a qualified probate administration attorney to help you fulfill your rights and duties under Florida law. Legal issues inevitably arise, even in the simplest probate administration, and most of these issues will be new and unfamiliar unless you are an experienced probate lawyer.

What is a guardianship?

A guardianship is a legal proceeding in the circuit courts of Florida during which a guardian is appointed to exercise the legal rights of an incapacitated person.

What is a guardian?

A guardian is an individual or institution (such as a bank trust department or nonprofit organization) appointed by the court to care for an incapacitated person and/or his or her property.

How is a person determined to be incapacitated?

Once a petition is filed to determine incapacity for purposes of a guardianship, the court will appoint a committee of three members (usually two physicians and another person with appropriate knowledge, skill, training, or education) to form an expert opinion on the person’s ability to care for and make decisions for him or herself. In order to make this determination, the allegedly incapacitated person must undergo a physical examination, mental health examination, and functional assessment.

Contact the St. Petersburg Estate Planning Attorneys Today

Probate administration is expensive and emotionally demanding. The St. Petersburg estate planning attorneys try to create an estate plan that abbreviates the probate process.Even with the best estate plan, probate may be necessary. We also assist in elder law and Medicaid planning. Fraud, duress, or undue influence all can be challenged in probate. Contact a probate attorney to set up an appointment today.

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Location
6528 Central Avenue, Suite B
Saint Petersburg, Fl 33707

tel: 727-381-8181
fax: 727-381-8783

Carnal & Mansfield, P.A. is located in Saint Petersburg, FL and serves clients in and around Saint Petersburg, Seminole, Tarpon Springs, Indian Rocks Beach, Largo, Belleair Beach, Clearwater Beach, Terra Ceia, Clearwater, Anna Maria, Sun City Center, Ruskin, Holmes Beach, Safety Harbor, Tampa, Bradenton Beach, Sydney, Cortez, Ellenton, Oldsmar, Ozona, Crystal Beach, Brandon, Hillsborough County and Pinellas County.

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