Forbes’ recent article entitled “The Dangers Of Dying Without A Will” reminds us that drafting a will allows you determine who will inherit your assets when you die and, if you have young children, who will raise them if you die and their other parent is deceased. However, if you pass away without a Florida last will and testament, the state will make these very important decisions on your behalf and they may end up being choices you’d never make if you were still around.

Those choices may not reflect your wishes, might create conflicts within your family and cause economic hardships for your loved ones. In addition, none of your assets will go to your favorite charities.

One more thing: no Florida last will and testament means potential legal expenses that your estate must pay. Look at these examples of the issues dying without a will may create:

• If you’re married and have children from a prior relationship, most of your estate may go to the children, leaving your current spouse in a financial hardship. He or she will need to deal with stepchildren (or your former spouse, if your children are minors) just to receive some of your assets.
• If you’re single and die without a will, your assets might end up going first to your parents or your siblings, if your parents pass before you. You may have wanted your estate to go to others instead.
• If you die and had an unmarried partner, no Florida will may well leave him or her in a tough financial position, especially if they were financially dependent on you. State laws typically don’t recognize unmarried partners, so he or she could get evicted from the home the two of you shared, if you were the sole owner.

When you do write your Florida last will and testament, work with a Jupiter, Florida estate planning attorney to be certain that it’s legally valid in Florida. There’s no guarantee that the one you prepare without a Florida estate planning lawyer will satisfy that criteria. If the probate court doesn’t recognize your Florida last will and testament, it will be as though you died without one.

An experienced Jupiter, Florida estate planning attorney will help you make sure your last will and testament meets Florida's requirements. This will reduce any potential fighting within your family and prevent them from challenging your will’s validity in court.

Life is now extremely fragile with COVID-19. The consequences of dying without a will have never been more profound. Talk to a Jupiter estate planning attorney today!

Reference: Forbes (April 20, 2020) “The Dangers Of Dying Without A Will”