Protect Your Family, Your Assets, and Your Legacy Without the Guesswork
Florida Wills, Trusts, Probate & Trust Administration Services
Life changes quickly—marriage, children, retirement, business transitions, or a move to Florida can all affect how your assets should be handled. A good plan keeps your family out of court, your wishes crystal clear, and your assets working for the people and causes you care about. At Smith Will & Trust, we help Florida families and business owners create plans that actually get followed, not just documents that sit in a drawer.
With offices in Tampa and St. Petersburg, our attorneys guide you through every step—designing, signing, funding, and maintaining a plan that works when life happens.
Why People Hire Smith Will & Trust
Our clients want more than paperwork—they want a plan that works in real life. We take the mystery out of Florida estate planning by explaining your options in plain English, preparing documents that comply with Florida law, and making sure your plan is properly executed and funded.
When you hire us, you get:
- Clarity: Straightforward advice and plain-language summaries of your options.
- Execution: Witnessed and notarized documents that meet Florida’s strict formalities.
- Funding Support: Updated deeds, titles, and beneficiary forms so the plan you sign is the plan that runs.
- Confidence: A process you can follow and a result your family can rely on.
What We Do – At a Glance
- Estate Planning: We prepare wills, revocable living trusts, powers of attorney, health care surrogates, living wills, and HIPAA releases tailored to your goals. Whether you want a simple will or a complete trust-based plan, we make sure Florida’s requirements are met and your family is protected.
- Trust Planning: We build revocable and irrevocable trusts for privacy, incapacity planning, and probate avoidance. We also prepare special-needs trusts, charitable trusts, and business-succession strategies to make sure your plan holds up when tested.
- Probate & Trust Administration: When someone passes away, we guide personal representatives and trustees through the Florida probate process or trust administration from start to finish—handling notices, creditor windows, accountings, and distributions on time.
- Trust Litigation: When disputes arise, we step in to enforce fiduciary duties, demand accountings, and seek trustee removal or court intervention when needed. Our goal is to protect beneficiaries and keep the process on track.
- Business Law: We coordinate operating agreements, buy-sell provisions, and corporate records with your estate plan so ownership transitions smoothly and your business isn’t stuck in limbo.
- Real Estate: We prepare and record deeds that meet Florida’s witness requirements, homestead protections, and recording rules so property transfers are clean and legally enforceable.
How We Work – From Start to Finish
Listen & map:
We get to know your family, assets, goals, and any non-negotiables.
Design the plan:
We present clear options, pros/cons, and pricing—no surprises.
Draft & sign:
We prepare statute-compliant documents, arrange witnesses, and notarize everything correctly.
Fund the plan:
We help you retitle assets, update beneficiary designations, and record deeds so your plan works from day one.
Maintain:
Life changes (marriage, birth, business sale, relocation) trigger optional reviews and free checklists so your plan stays current.
Estate Planning That Fits Real Life
A great plan isn’t just about avoiding probate—it’s about making life easier for the people you leave behind.
- Avoid Probate: Use revocable trusts, beneficiary designations, and other strategies to keep matters private and moving quickly.
- Plan for Incapacity: Durable powers of attorney and health care directives make sure someone you trust can step in if you can’t manage your affairs.
- Coordinate with Business Interests: Prevent disruption by aligning your company agreements with your estate plan.
- Align Real Estate & Accounts: Make sure deeds, joint titling, and beneficiary forms are consistent so nothing falls through the cracks.
Bullet Briefs – Quick Scan for Busy Readers
- Who We Help: Parents, retirees, blended families, entrepreneurs, physicians, caregivers, and snowbirds with multi-state assets.
- Top Concerns: Taxes, nursing home spend-down, guardianship, family conflict, and fairness among heirs.
- Results We Aim For: Fewer surprises, faster timelines, legally enforceable plans, and documents your family can carry out confidently.
What to Bring to Your Consultation
Your first meeting doesn’t require perfection—just a starting point. Bring:
- A simple list of assets and accounts (approximate values are fine)
- Existing wills, trusts, or powers of attorney (if you have them)
- Names for guardians, personal representatives, and trustees
- Your top three goals (avoid probate, protect a beneficiary, charitable gifts, etc.)
This allows us to design a clear roadmap right away.
Areas We Serve
From our offices in Tampa and St. Petersburg, we regularly help families throughout Tampa Bay and Central Florida:
- Tampa
- St. Petersburg
- Clearwater
- Brandon
- Wesley Chapel
- Largo
- Seminole
- Orlando Metro
FAQs
What’s the difference between a will and a trust?
A will governs assets that go through probate. A properly funded revocable trust avoids probate for most assets and adds disability management while you’re alive.
Do I still need a will if I have a trust?
Yes. A “pour-over” will catches assets not in your trust and names guardians for minor children.
How often should I update my plan?
Review after any major life event (marriage, divorce, new child, move, business sale) or every 3–5 years to stay current with Florida law.
What happens at the first meeting?
We clarify your goals, gather key facts, outline your options, and provide a written roadmap with timelines and next steps.
Ready to Talk?
Your legacy, your wishes, and your family’s future are too important to leave to chance.