Wills, Trusts, and Estate Planning

Estate Planning Lawyer Orlando

Planning ahead protects your family, assets, and wishes. If you need an estate planning lawyer in Orlando, Fighter Law can help you create wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and advance directives—and guide your loved ones through probate when needed. With decades of combined experience, Thomas Fighter, Jessica Travis, and Clyde Lemon provide clear counsel and personalized plans.

Orlando Wills, Trusts & Estate Planning Services

• Wills – simple wills, pour‑over wills, codicils
• Trusts – revocable living trusts, irrevocable trusts, special needs & charitable trusts
• Comprehensive Estate Planning – asset protection, beneficiary designations, TOD/POD planning
• Guardianships – minor and adult/incapacity proceedings
• Probate – summary & formal administration, guidance for personal representatives

What Is Estate Planning?

Estate planning coordinates wills, trusts, beneficiary designations, and lifetime directives so your property transfers efficiently—and with as little court involvement as possible. A thoughtful plan can help avoid probate, reduce delays, and protect loved ones.

Why Hire Fighter Law?

• Local experience. We regularly work with Central Florida courts and handle everything from drafting to probate.
• Tailored documents. Your will, living trust, and powers of attorney reflect your family, assets, and goals.
• Full-service support. We draft, help fund trusts, coordinate titles/beneficiaries, and update plans as life changes.

Wills in Florida

A will names beneficiaries, a personal representative, and—if applicable—a guardian for minor children. Florida law governs who may make a will and how to execute one properly (Fla. Stat. ch. 732).

Benefits of having a will

• Control. Decide who inherits and in what shares.
• Guardianship. Nominate a guardian for minor children.
• Clarity. Reduce family disputes and speed administration.

Trusts: Revocable & Irrevocable

A revocable living trust lets you manage property during life and transfer it privately at death—often without probate. Irrevocable trusts can add asset‑protection or tax features. Florida’s Trust Code (ch. 736) covers creation, modification, and trustee duties.

Common trust types

• Revocable living trust – avoid probate, maintain control.
• Irrevocable trust – potential asset protection and gifting strategies.
• Special needs trust – preserve eligibility for benefits.
• Charitable trust – support causes while providing planned‑giving advantages.

Advance Directives & Powers of Attorney

Good planning also covers incapacity. Florida recognizes durable powers of attorney (ch. 709) and health care advance directives—including a living will and designation of health care surrogate (ch. 765).

Avoiding Probate in Florida

Probate is the court‑supervised transfer of assets. Many families minimize or avoid it with the right tools: funded living trusts, TOD/POD designations, and joint ownership where appropriate. For an overview, see the Florida Courts probate resource here.

• Title assets to your trust and keep it updated.
• Use beneficiary designations on financial accounts.
• Consider TOD/POD for eligible assets.
• Coordinate deeds and ownership to match your plan.

FAQs: Orlando Estate Planning

How do I choose between a will and a living trust?

Most families benefit from both. A revocable living trust can avoid probate for properly funded assets, while a pour‑over will catches anything left outside the trust and names guardians for minors.

What does a durable power of attorney do in Florida?

It authorizes your agent to handle financial and legal matters if you can’t. Florida requires specific execution and powers (see ch. 709).

How long does probate take in Orlando?

It depends on the estate and whether formal or summary administration applies. Timelines range from a few months to a year or more. We can evaluate which process fits and whether assets can bypass probate.

Work With an Experienced Estate Planning Lawyer in Orlando

Whether you need a simple will, a living trust, or guidance from a probate attorney in Orlando, we’re ready to help. Call us or send a message—our team will listen, recommend the right strategy, and draft the documents to protect your family.

Schedule a consultation

Related Fighter Law pages:
Estate Planning |
Probate |
Trusts |
Guardianships |
About Our Firm