It’s never too early and never too late to protect your legacy. Life changes, and so should your plan.
Life changes, and so should your plan. Estate planning is not just about distributing assets — it’s about protecting your loved ones, securing your legacy, and ensuring your wishes are honored no matter what the future holds.
From the moment you start building your life — purchasing your first home, growing a family, starting a business, or preparing for retirement — a well-structured estate plan gives you control and peace of mind. Without a plan, the courts and state laws may decide what happens to your assets, your children, and even your healthcare decisions.
Estate planning is about more than documents. It’s about building your legacy with intention.
Estate planning is the process of arranging how your assets, finances, and personal matters will be managed during your lifetime and after your passing. It ensures that your wishes are clearly defined and legally protected.
A complete estate plan may include:
Last Will and Testament – Directs how your assets will be distributed and who will care for minor children.
Revocable Living Trust – Allows you to manage and protect assets while avoiding probate.
Durable Power of Attorney – Appoints someone to manage your finances and legal matters if you become unable to do so.
Healthcare Directive & Living Will – States your medical care preferences and appoints someone to make healthcare decisions on your behalf.
Beneficiary Designations – Coordinates with life insurance, retirement plans, and other accounts.
You’re just starting out — but even at this stage, planning matters. A healthcare directive and durable power of attorney ensure your family can help if you’re unable to make decisions. Starting early also helps establish good financial and legal habits.
As your family expands, so does your need for protection. Estate planning helps you:
Appoint guardians for your children
Provide for your spouse and dependents
Protect life insurance and property
Ensure your children inherit responsibly
For entrepreneurs, your business is part of your legacy. A well-drafted estate plan can:
Secure business continuity
Protect assets from unnecessary taxation
Outline succession planning
Now is the time to fine-tune your legacy. Ensure your healthcare decisions, investments, and property are organized for the next generation. Avoid probate delays and unnecessary legal costs through trusts and asset protection strategies.
Without a valid estate plan:
The state decides who inherits your property.
Your loved ones may face lengthy and costly probate proceedings.
There may be disputes among family members.
Your healthcare wishes may not be honored.
Estate planning is your opportunity to take control — to ensure clarity, compassion, and protection for those you love.
Even the most straightforward family situations need thoughtful estate planning. This section helps couples understand how to protect their spouse and children, avoid court delays, and ensure their family’s legacy is secure — all with a simple, modern planning process.
As a single parent, you want to be certain your child’s future is protected — no matter what. This section helps you understand how to name guardians, plan financial care, and create a clear, legally sound plan that gives your child stability and security, even in your absence.
For families with children from prior marriages, estate planning helps prevent future conflict and ensures fairness for everyone you love. This section guides blended families in creating balanced, thoughtful plans that protect both your spouse and your children — with peace and clarity for all.
For couples who share a life but aren’t legally married, estate planning is vital to protect one another. This section explains how to ensure your partner has legal rights to make decisions, access assets, and remain part of your life — no matter what happens.
This section explains how a power of attorney and special needs planning can protect disabled family members by ensuring trusted decision-makers handle medical, financial, and personal matters. It’s about creating lasting security, support, and peace of mind for the people who need it most.
(850) 792-3300
andrew@fredricksonlegal.com
Tallahassee | Jacksonville | North Florida | Orlando | Tampa
When you’re married with children, estate planning might seem simple at first: you want your spouse to make decisions if you’re ever unable to, and for everything to go to them when you pass — and then to your children when the time comes.
Sounds easy, right?
Unfortunately, it’s not always that straightforward. Without a carefully designed estate plan, even the most loving families can find themselves tangled in court proceedings or family disputes. The truth is, billions of dollars sit unclaimed across the U.S. because assets weren’t properly transferred, updated, or documented.
We help you avoid those pitfalls by answering the important questions you might not even know to ask — and by creating a plan that keeps your family out of court, out of conflict, and in control.
If you’re part of a blended family — with children from a prior marriage — estate planning becomes even more essential. Without a clear plan, emotions and misunderstandings can quickly turn into costly legal battles.
At the heart of it all, your true wealth isn’t just what’s in your bank account — it’s the peace, love, and security you leave behind. You’ve worked hard to build a life together. Let’s make sure it’s protected for generations to come.
We know life is busy — that’s why we’ve made the process simple, efficient, and stress-free.
Click below to see just how easy it can be, or schedule your consultation today.
As a single parent, you carry the incredible responsibility of providing, protecting, and planning for your child’s future. If something were to happen to you, it’s essential to make sure your child is cared for by the person you trust most — and that your financial resources are managed wisely for their benefit.
In an ideal situation, your child’s other parent could step in. But for many single parents, that’s not always possible — or not what’s best. Even if it is, you may prefer that someone else manage your child’s inheritance or trust funds to ensure your child’s needs are met as you intended.
Estate planning allows you to do more than just name a guardian. It gives you the power to:
Legally document who would raise your child if you can’t be there.
Define how your assets should be used for their education, health, and future.
Appoint a trusted person to manage finances, separate from the caregiver if desired.
Give your child the security of knowing everything will be taken care of — no matter what.
We understand how busy single parents are — that’s why we make the estate planning process simple, affordable, and centered around your family’s needs.
Your plan isn’t just paperwork — it’s an act of love and protection that ensures your child’s future is safe, even if you can’t be there to guide them.
When you’re in a second (or third) marriage and have children from a prior relationship, estate planning becomes more than just important — it’s essential. Even when everyone gets along, there’s often an inherent conflict of interest between your new spouse and your children when it comes to inheritance.
Without a clear plan, those you love most may find themselves in conflict during an already emotional time. But with the right planning, you can protect your family, reduce tension, and ensure everyone you care about is treated fairly.
Our approach helps you:
Design a plan that provides for your spouse’s security while also preserving assets for your children from a prior marriage.
Define clear intentions that prevent misunderstandings and disputes.
Create a structure that helps your loved ones stay on the same team when you’re no longer here to guide them.
Establish trusts or specific provisions to ensure everyone is cared for according to your wishes.
We specialize in helping blended families build plans that balance love and legacy — giving you confidence that your spouse and children will each be cared for with compassion and clarity.
You’ve worked hard to create a life that brings your families together. Let’s make sure your estate plan does the same.
When you share your life with someone but aren’t legally married, estate planning becomes absolutely essential. The law doesn’t automatically recognize your partner — even if you’ve been together for decades or share a family and a home. Without a plan, the person you love most could be left without any legal rights or protection if something happens to you.
Estate planning ensures your partner:
Can be by your side if you’re hospitalized or incapacitated.
Has the authority to make medical and financial decisions on your behalf.
Can remain in your home, continue your business, and access shared accounts.
Is legally protected — not left vulnerable to interference from others.
If you have children together, planning becomes even more critical. Without legal documentation, your partner could lose custody or access to your children in the event of your passing or incapacity.
With the right plan, you can ensure your wishes are honored and your partner and family are fully protected — regardless of marital status. We’ll help you create the legal foundation your love deserves, with compassion and complete discretion.
You’ve built a life together. Let’s make sure it’s safeguarded.
When you have a loved one with special needs or a disability, every decision matters — especially those that affect their care, comfort, and financial security. Estate planning gives you the power to protect their future and ensure stability no matter what happens.
A key part of this protection is establishing a Power of Attorney (POA) — a legal document that allows a trusted person to make important decisions on behalf of someone who cannot do so themselves. Whether it’s managing medical care, handling finances, or making day-to-day choices, the right POA can help your family stay prepared and supported in every situation.
We’ll help you understand and set up the tools that make sense for your family’s needs, including:
Durable Power of Attorney: Ensures someone you trust can manage finances and legal matters if you become incapacitated.
Healthcare Power of Attorney: Allows your chosen decision-maker to oversee medical care and treatment decisions.
Special Needs Trusts: Protects benefits and assets for a loved one with disabilities without jeopardizing government assistance.
Guardianship & Conservatorship Planning: Provides long-term care and decision-making arrangements for dependents who require lifelong support.
Estate planning for families with disabled loved ones isn’t just about documents — it’s about ensuring continuity of care, financial stability, and dignity for the people who rely on you most.
Our firm is experienced in guiding families through these sensitive decisions with compassion and clarity. We’ll help you create a plan that gives you peace of mind and ensures your loved one’s needs are always met — today, tomorrow, and for years to come.
Schedule your Life & Legacy Planning Session online
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