What if I die without a will?

You die intestate. Florida statute (FS 732.102 / 732.103) decides who inherits — and it's not always intuitive. A long-term partner you never married inherits nothing. A child you haven't seen in 20 years still inherits their share. The will lets you direct the outcome instead of letting Tallahassee decide.

Can I write my own will?

Florida allows it but the witness and notary requirements are strict. Many DIY wills get thrown out for technical defects — wrong number of witnesses, beneficiary serving as witness, missing notary acknowledgment. The $450 fee is essentially insurance against a $5,000+ contest.

What if I want to disinherit a child?

Florida heavily protects children. You can disinherit an adult child, but you have to do it explicitly — silence is interpreted as oversight. We draft the language carefully so it survives challenge.

Does the will cover my retirement account?

Almost never. Retirement accounts (IRA, 401k), life insurance, and POD/TOD accounts pass by beneficiary form — completely outside the will. We coordinate beneficiary forms so they match your plan.

← Will & Trust

Simple estates, no real property, no minor kids

Last Will & Testament

Florida-compliant, witnessed, attested. The basics, done right.

A will is the simplest, most affordable estate planning document. It directs how your assets are distributed at death and names the personal representative who handles your estate. What it doesn't do: avoid probate. Your family will still go through the probate process — but with clear instructions instead of letting Florida's intestacy statute decide.

For most homeowners and parents, a will alone isn't enough. We recommend it as a standalone document only when the estate is genuinely simple: under $150k, no real estate, no minor children, no complicated family dynamics. For anyone who fits those criteria, $450 is the right price for proper documentation.

If you fit the simple-estate profile now but expect that to change (you're buying a house, having kids, inheriting), we usually suggest starting with the will and revisiting in 2–3 years. We'd rather you have something proper now than wait for a complete plan you may not pursue.

The fit

Who qualifies

Estate value under $150k (otherwise consider the trust package — saves your family probate)
No Florida real estate (otherwise the home goes through probate either way — trust often pays for itself)
No minor children (kids need a trust to manage assets until adulthood — even a small life insurance payout)
Simple family situation — direct heirs, no second marriages, no special-needs beneficiaries
You want documentation now and expect to revisit when life changes

The work

What we handle

Your flat fee covers everything below. No surprise invoices, no “billable hours” anxiety — the price is the price.

1-hour planning meeting (in person or video)
Will drafted within 5–7 business days of meeting
Plain-English memo describing what the will does and when
Two-witness, notarized signing meeting
Optional: durable POA add-on at $200 (paired discount)
Optional: healthcare surrogate add-on at $150 (paired discount)
Free 3-year review for former clients

The process

How it works, step by step

01
Discovery call (free)
20 minutes. We confirm a will-only is the right fit (or recommend the package if your situation is more complex than $450 of work).
We handleHonest about whether will-only or full package fits — we'll route you to the right product.
02
One planning meeting (60 min)
Beneficiaries, personal representative (executor), guardians for kids if applicable, specific bequests, residuary clause.
We handleIn person or by video. Most will-only meetings are video.
03
Draft within a week
Plain-English will draft + summary memo. Review at your pace, mark questions, we revise once at no charge.
We handleEncrypted portal. We text back inside 5 minutes for questions.
04
Signing meeting (30 min)
Two witnesses + notary in our office or by mobile notary at your home. You walk out with a self-proving will (admissible to probate without witness testimony).
We handleMobile notary available — we come to you if Sarasota is too far.

The pitfalls

What we watch for

Easy on people, tough on problems. These are the things that catch families off guard — we've seen them all and we plan around them.

Hand-written or unsigned wills. Florida is strict — a handwritten note with no witnesses is generally invalid. We've seen tragic cases where a clear handwritten will was thrown out for technical defects.
Witnesses who shouldn't be witnesses. Florida won't accept witnesses who are also beneficiaries (creates conflict of interest). We provide neutral witnesses at signing.
Naming a minor as a direct beneficiary. Without a trust, the court appoints a guardian to manage their inheritance — and the kid gets full control at 18. A simple testamentary trust clause solves this.
Outdated wills after divorce. Florida automatically revokes provisions for an ex-spouse, but everything else stays. Gets messy if there are stepchildren. Update after major life events.
Will-only when you have real estate. The home still goes through probate — meaning your family pays $2,500–$5,000 in legal fees regardless. The trust package would have saved them that.

The FAQ

Questions families ask us

For genuinely simple estates (no real estate, no minor kids, under $150k) — yes. For anyone outside that profile, the trust package usually saves your family more in probate fees than the package costs upfront.

— From Rachel

A will is the basic building block. Some families need only this. Others need much more. We'll tell you honestly which is right for you on the consult — including when the will-only path means you're leaving money on the table that your family will pay in probate. Easy on you, tough on the problem.