Wills
Thoughtful planning for your loved ones and your legacy
Writing a Will That Truly Reflects Your Wishes
Clear, customized guidance from experienced attorneys
A will is one of the most important legal documents you will ever create. It directs who receives your property, who manages your estate, and who cares for your children, rather than leaving those decisions to state intestacy law or a judge's discretion. As a last will and testament attorney licensed in Florida, Hawaiʻi, and New Jersey, we prepare wills for clients whose families and assets often span more than one state.
Whether your estate is modest or complicated, we keep the process straightforward and transparent and build it around your specific goals. If you are planning in Hawaiʻi, our
Honolulu wills page covers Hawaiʻi's execution requirements and whether a will you signed on the mainland still holds up there.
Why Every Adult Needs a Will
Planning is what keeps the decision yours
Many people assume wills are only for large estates, but a will matters for anyone who wants a say in how their affairs are handled. A well-drafted will names who inherits your assets, who administers your estate, and who cares for your minor children.
Without one, intestate succession takes over. Every state has a statutory formula that decides who inherits and in what shares, and it does not account for stepchildren, unmarried partners, estranged relatives, or anything you would have arranged differently. The court also chooses who administers the estate. We help you anticipate the friction points, reduce the chance of a dispute, and leave a plan your family can actually follow.
Do You Need a Will If You Have a Trust?
The two documents do different jobs
Almost always, yes. A trust and a will are not competing options, and a complete plan usually uses both.
What a trust does
A trust holds title to assets during your life and transfers them to your beneficiaries afterward without a court process. Its strength is avoiding probate and keeping the transfer private.
What a will does
A will directs a court-supervised process for anything you still owned in your own name at death, and it names guardians for minor children. A trust cannot name a guardian.
That gap is why most trust-based plans include a pour-over will. It works as a backstop, directing anything that never made it into the trust to pour into it at your death, so a forgotten account does not end up distributed under intestate succession instead of under your trust terms.
You likely need both when:
- You have minor children, since guardianship can only be addressed in a will
- You own real property, especially in more than one state
- You have accounts or policies that may not get retitled into the trust
- You want the trust to control the outcome even for assets you overlooked
A will alone is often enough when your estate is modest, holds no real property, and passes largely by beneficiary designation. Which combination fits depends on what you own and where. Our
trusts page covers revocable, irrevocable, and specialized structures in detail, and our
probate administration page explains the court process a funded trust is designed to avoid.
What’s included in a comprehensive will
Planning for more than just assets
When we draft a will, we look at the full picture—your family, your property, and your future. Every client’s situation is different, but most plans include the following key components:
- Executor/Personal Representative Designation – Naming a responsible person to carry out your wishes and manage estate matters with efficiency and care.
- Asset distribution – Specifying who inherits what, including personal belongings, real estate, and financial accounts, so your intentions are honored completely.
- Guardianship provisions – Ensuring that children or dependents are cared for by someone you trust, avoiding uncertainty during a difficult time.
Each will we prepare is tailored to fit your circumstances and can evolve as your life changes.
Updating Your Will Over Time
Keeping your plans current and effective
Keeping your plans current and effective
Life does not stand still, and neither should your will. Marriage, divorce, a relocation, a birth or death in the family, or a new business venture can all change what your estate plan needs to do.
Moving between states matters more than most people expect, because your executor, your property, and the law governing your estate can all shift at once. We update and refine documents at your request and keep revisions simple, so your will keeps reflecting your current situation, your assets, and your intentions. Handling it now prevents confusion and unnecessary cost for your family later
Related estate planning services
How we make the process simple
A clear path from consultation to completion
Our process begins with a conversation—not paperwork. We take the time to understand your goals, explain your options, and prepare a draft that covers all key areas of your estate. Once finalized, your will is reviewed together in plain language to ensure it says exactly what you mean. We also offer flat-fee arrangements for many standard plans, giving you cost certainty and confidence from start to finish.
Common questions about creating a will
Answers to help you plan with confidence
Can I write my own will without a lawyer?
While you can write a will on your own, it’s easy to make mistakes that cause problems later. Many do-it-yourself wills fail to meet legal execution requirements or omit key details, which can lead to disputes or delays in probate. Working with an attorney ensures your document is properly witnessed, signed, and enforceable in your state. The small investment now can save your family time, stress, and significant expense later.
How often should I update my will?
You should review your will every few years or after major life changes such as marriage, divorce, or new property purchases. Laws and family circumstances can shift over time, making older documents incomplete or outdated. Regular updates ensure your will still reflects your current wishes and covers all your assets. Our firm can review and revise your documents efficiently, keeping them legally sound and up to date.
What happens if I die without a will?
If you pass away without a will, state laws determine who inherits your property. This process, called intestate succession, might not align with your personal wishes or your family’s needs. It can also create unnecessary costs, delays, and emotional strain for your loved ones. Having a valid will ensures your estate is handled according to your instructions instead of a default formula.
Do I need both a will and a trust?
In most complete plans, yes. The trust moves assets without probate, while the will covers anything left in your own name and names guardians for minor children, which a trust cannot do. The section above walks through how the two work together.
Where should I keep my original will?
It’s important to keep your original signed will in a secure place that is still easily accessible to the person who will need it—your executor. Many clients use a fireproof home safe or choose to store the original at our office for added security and reliability. A bank safe deposit box is usually not a good option unless someone else already has independent access, since your executor may be unable to open it when the document is needed most. Copies can be shared with trusted family members or advisors, but the original should always be stored where it can be located quickly to avoid delays or complications.
What is a pour-over will?
A pour-over will directs anything that was never funded into your trust to transfer into it at your death. It is the safety net for the account or parcel that got missed, and it keeps that asset from passing under intestate succession instead of under your trust terms.