Get Your FREE Florida Life Changes Planning Guide
Major life events often mean it’s time to update your estate plan. Download this free guide to learn when to review your Will, Trust, powers of attorney, healthcare directives, and other important planning documents — written for families throughout Jacksonville and Northeast Florida.
Prepared by The DeVries Law Firm, P.A. — serving Jacksonville, Jacksonville Beach, Ponte Vedra, Orange Park, St. Johns, Nocatee, Fernandina Beach, and communities across Duval, St. Johns, Clay, and Nassau counties.
Life Rarely Stays the Same — and Neither Should Your Estate Plan
Most Florida families create a Will, Trust, or set of planning documents at one point in time — often around a single milestone, like the birth of a child or the purchase of a first home. But life keeps moving. Marriages happen. Families grow. Homes are bought and sold. Grandchildren arrive. Retirement changes daily routines and financial priorities.
An estate plan that reflected your wishes five or ten years ago may no longer reflect who you want to make decisions on your behalf, who should inherit your property, or how you want your family cared for. The Florida Life Changes Planning Guide was created to help Northeast Florida families recognize the moments when a plan review may be worth considering.
This guide is educational in nature. It does not replace individualized legal advice, and every family’s circumstances are different. It is meant to give you a plain-English starting point before — or instead of — a conversation with an attorney.
Nineteen Topics Covering the Moments That Matter Most
The guide walks through the major life events that most often prompt a Florida family to take a fresh look at their planning documents, plus the estate planning fundamentals every reader should understand.
Who Should Download This Guide
The Florida Life Changes Planning Guide is written for anyone navigating a major transition — whether you’re planning for the first time or reviewing documents you created years ago.
Questions about your own estate plan?
Call (904) 473-7786Why Life Changes Matter to Your Estate Plan
Below is an overview of the milestones covered in the guide, and why each one may call for a second look at your planning documents. This is general information only — not legal advice for your specific situation.
Becoming a Parent
Welcoming a child raises questions a plan may not yet answer: who would raise your children if something happened to you, who would manage money left to a minor, and how a Trust might help avoid a court-supervised guardianship of assets. Reviewing your Will and Trust soon after a birth or adoption is a common starting point.
Marriage
Marriage often changes how a person wants assets distributed, who should serve as a decision-maker under a power of attorney, and how beneficiary designations on retirement accounts and life insurance should read. A newly married couple may also want to discuss whether a Trust fits their combined goals.
Divorce
A divorce can leave outdated instructions in place — a former spouse still named as a healthcare surrogate, agent under a power of attorney, or primary beneficiary. Florida law addresses some of these situations automatically, but reviewing every document individually is generally worthwhile.
Blended Families
Remarriage and blended families raise unique questions about balancing the interests of a current spouse with children from a prior relationship. Planning tools exist to help address these goals thoughtfully, and a review is often recommended whenever a household composition changes.
Buying a Home
How a home is titled can affect whether it passes automatically to a co-owner, becomes part of a probate estate, or is protected by Florida’s homestead rules. Buyers often ask whether a home should be titled in a Trust.
Selling Property
Selling a home or investment property can change the assets a Trust or estate plan was built around, particularly if that property was specifically referenced in planning documents or funded a Trust.
Starting a Business
A business owner may want a succession plan addressing who continues to run the business, who inherits an ownership interest, and how the business interacts with the rest of an estate plan.
Caring for Aging Parents
Adult children stepping into a caregiving role often need to understand a parent’s own documents — including whether a power of attorney or healthcare surrogate designation is already in place — and may need to review guardianship alternatives if none exist.
Becoming a Grandparent
Many grandparents look at gifting strategies, custodial accounts, or Trust provisions for grandchildren. This is also a common time to revisit overall estate goals as a family grows across generations.
Retirement
Retirement often brings changes in income, the start of required retirement account distributions, and a shift in focus toward long-term care and healthcare planning — all reasons to revisit an existing plan.
Receiving an Inheritance
An inheritance can shift a family’s overall financial picture and may call for updated asset distribution planning to reflect the new circumstances.
Annual Estate Plan Reviews
Even without a major life event, periodic reviews help confirm that documents still reflect current wishes, that named agents and beneficiaries are still appropriate, and that the plan accounts for any changes in Florida law.
Estate Planning Documents, Explained
The guide breaks down common Florida estate planning documents in plain language. Here’s a quick overview of each.
Last Will and Testament
A document that directs how your property is distributed after death and can nominate a guardian for minor children. Property passing under a Will typically goes through Florida’s probate process.
Revocable Living Trusts
A Trust you create and can typically amend during your lifetime, used to hold property and direct how it is managed and distributed, often with the goal of avoiding a public probate process for Trust-funded assets.
Durable Powers of Attorney
A document naming someone to manage financial and legal matters on your behalf if you become unable to do so yourself. Learn more about powers of attorney and financial planning.
Healthcare Surrogate Designations
Names a trusted person to make medical decisions on your behalf if you are unable to communicate your own wishes to healthcare providers.
Living Wills
States your wishes regarding life-prolonging procedures in the event of a terminal condition, end-stage condition, or persistent vegetative state, as recognized under Florida law.
HIPAA Authorizations
Allows designated individuals to access your medical information and records, which can be important for family members assisting with your care.
Beneficiary Designations
The named beneficiaries on retirement accounts, life insurance policies, and payable-on-death accounts generally control who receives those specific assets — often independent of what a Will says.
Guardianship Planning
Addresses who would care for minor children or make decisions for an incapacitated adult if no other planning documents are in place. See our overview of healthcare and guardianship planning.
Why Families Download This Guide
What Families Are Saying
“Creating our Will and Trust was simple thanks to Shawn’s knowledge and attention to detail.”Vanessa J. — Estate Planning
“Julienne patiently explained everything and taught me things I never knew about estate planning.”John Tassia — Estate Planning
“Professional, knowledgeable and friendly. The entire process was explained clearly from beginning to end.”Carolyn Edwards — Estate Planning
Proudly Serving Families Throughout Northeast Florida
The DeVries Law Firm, P.A. helps families throughout Jacksonville and the surrounding communities think through their estate planning needs at every stage of life. The Florida Life Changes Planning Guide was written with the region’s communities in mind, including:
- Jacksonville
- Jacksonville Beach
- Atlantic Beach
- Neptune Beach
- Ponte Vedra
- Ponte Vedra Beach
- Orange Park
- Fleming Island
- St. Johns
- Nocatee
- Yulee
- Fernandina Beach
- Amelia Island
- Callahan
- Green Cove Springs
Ready to review your estate plan?
Florida Estate Planning: The Questions Families Ask Most
Short, plain-English answers to the estate planning questions Northeast Florida families search for most, expanded on further in the guide.
When should I update my Will?
Many people consider updating their Will after a marriage, divorce, birth, death of a beneficiary or executor, move to a new state, or significant change in assets. An annual review is also a good general practice.
Do I need a Trust in Florida?
Not every Florida resident needs a Trust. Whether one fits your situation depends on your goals, the types of assets you own, and whether avoiding probate or planning for incapacity is a priority. This is a question worth discussing individually.
What happens if I die without a Will?
If you die without a valid Will, Florida’s intestacy laws determine how your property is distributed, which may not match what you would have chosen. Property is typically distributed through Florida’s probate court process.
Does marriage affect my estate plan?
Marriage can affect beneficiary designations, spousal inheritance rights, and who you’d want named as a healthcare surrogate or agent under a power of attorney, making it a common time for a plan review.
Should I update my estate plan after divorce?
Yes — reviewing every document is generally recommended after a divorce, since former spouses may still be named as beneficiaries, agents, or surrogates in older documents.
What estate planning documents does every adult need?
Most Florida adults benefit from at minimum a Will, a durable power of attorney, a healthcare surrogate designation, and a living will. See our overview of legal documents every adult needs.
How often should I review my estate plan?
An annual review is a common recommendation, along with a review any time a major life event occurs, such as those covered throughout this guide.
Can I protect my children through estate planning?
Estate planning can address guardianship nominations and how and when a child would receive an inheritance, often through Trust provisions designed with a child’s age and needs in mind.
What happens to my digital assets?
Digital assets, including online accounts and cryptocurrency, can require specific planning language to give a fiduciary lawful access. Learn more in our digital asset planning guide.
Should beneficiaries be reviewed regularly?
Yes. Beneficiary designations on retirement accounts and life insurance often control asset distribution independent of a Will, so outdated designations are a common and avoidable planning gap.
Do I need a power of attorney?
A durable power of attorney allows a person you trust to manage financial matters if you’re unable to. Without one, family members may need to pursue a guardianship proceeding to gain that authority.
What is a healthcare surrogate?
A healthcare surrogate is a person you name to make medical decisions on your behalf if you’re unable to communicate your wishes to a healthcare provider.
Can estate planning help avoid probate?
Certain planning tools, such as a properly funded revocable living Trust or beneficiary designations, may allow some assets to pass outside of the probate process, depending on how they’re structured.
When should parents create an estate plan?
Many parents choose to create or update an estate plan around the birth or adoption of a child, primarily to address guardianship and how assets would be managed for a minor.
How often should retirees review their estate plans?
Retirement often brings changes in income, healthcare needs, and long-term goals, making it a common and worthwhile time for a full plan review.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the guide really free?
Yes. The Florida Life Changes Planning Guide is a free download with no cost or obligation.
What is included in the guide?
The guide covers nineteen topics, from major life events like marriage, divorce, and retirement to estate planning fundamentals like Wills, Trusts, and powers of attorney.
Does downloading the guide create an attorney-client relationship?
No. Downloading this guide, or contacting The DeVries Law Firm, P.A. through this page, does not create an attorney-client relationship.
Is this guide legal advice?
No. The guide is educational and informational only. It is not a substitute for individualized legal advice about your specific situation.
When should I update my Will?
Common triggers include marriage, divorce, the birth of a child, the death of a named beneficiary or executor, a move to Florida from another state, or a significant change in assets.
When should I update my Trust?
A Trust is often reviewed after the same major life events that prompt a Will review, as well as whenever assets are bought, sold, or need to be re-titled in the name of the Trust.
What documents should every adult have?
Most Florida adults benefit from a Will, a durable power of attorney, a healthcare surrogate designation, and a living will, at minimum.
Do I need estate planning if I’m young?
Many young adults choose to put a basic plan in place, particularly a healthcare surrogate designation and power of attorney, since incapacity planning is relevant at any age.
Does marriage affect my estate plan?
Yes. Marriage often changes beneficiary designations, inheritance rights, and who should be named to make financial or healthcare decisions on your behalf.
What happens to my estate plan after divorce?
A divorce is a common reason to review every planning document, since a former spouse may still be named as a beneficiary, agent, or surrogate.
Can estate planning help avoid probate?
Some planning tools, like a properly funded revocable living Trust, may allow assets to pass outside of probate, depending on how they are structured and titled.
What is a healthcare surrogate?
A healthcare surrogate is a person you designate to make medical decisions for you if you become unable to communicate those decisions yourself.
What is a durable power of attorney?
A durable power of attorney names someone to handle financial and legal matters on your behalf, and it remains effective even if you later become incapacitated.
How often should I review my estate plan?
An annual review is a common recommendation, in addition to reviewing your plan after any major life event.
What happens if I move to Florida from another state?
Estate planning documents created in another state may not fully align with Florida law, so a review after relocating is generally recommended.
Should grandparents have estate plans?
Yes. Grandparents often consider gifting strategies, Trust provisions for grandchildren, and how a growing family affects their overall planning goals.
What if I own a business?
Business owners often benefit from succession planning that addresses who continues running the business and how an ownership interest is handled within the broader estate plan.
What if I have minor children?
Parents of minor children often use their estate plan to nominate a guardian and to control how and when a child would receive an inheritance.
What is a living will?
A living will states your wishes about life-prolonging medical procedures in certain end-of-life circumstances recognized under Florida law.
What is a HIPAA authorization?
A HIPAA authorization allows people you name to access your medical records and information, which can help family members assist with your care.
Do beneficiary designations override my Will?
Assets with a named beneficiary, such as retirement accounts or life insurance, generally pass according to that designation, independent of what a Will states.
What happens if I buy or sell property?
Buying or selling property can affect how a home is titled, whether it’s included in a Trust, and how it fits into your overall estate plan, making it worth a review.
What happens if I receive an inheritance?
An inheritance can change your overall financial picture and may call for updated planning to reflect how you’d like those assets distributed in the future.
What should retirees think about in estate planning?
Retirees often focus on required retirement account distributions, long-term care planning, and healthcare directives, in addition to reviewing existing documents.
What is guardianship planning?
Guardianship planning addresses who would care for minor children or make decisions for an incapacitated adult if no other documents are already in place.
How does a blended family affect estate planning?
Blended families often need planning that thoughtfully balances the interests of a current spouse with children from a prior relationship.
What are digital assets, and do they need planning?
Digital assets include online accounts, cryptocurrency, and other digital property. Specific planning language can help give a fiduciary lawful access to these assets.
Can I make changes after my plan is created?
Most estate planning documents can be updated as your circumstances or wishes change, which is part of why periodic reviews are recommended.
What is probate?
Probate is the Florida court process through which a deceased person’s assets are identified, debts are addressed, and remaining property is distributed to beneficiaries or heirs.
Is a Trust only for wealthy families?
No. Families of many different financial circumstances use Trusts for reasons beyond wealth, such as privacy, incapacity planning, or providing for a minor or family member with special needs.
How do I get started?
Downloading the free guide is a helpful first step. From there, you’re welcome to call The DeVries Law Firm, P.A. at (904) 473-7786 to discuss your specific situation.
Download Your Free Florida Life Changes Planning Guide Today
Prepare for life’s biggest milestones with a free educational guide designed to help Florida families understand when to review their estate plans.
Attorney Advertising: This website contains attorney advertising. The information provided is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be considered legal advice. Downloading this guide or contacting The DeVries Law Firm, P.A. does not create an attorney-client relationship. Every estate planning matter is unique and depends on your individual circumstances and applicable Florida law. Please consult an attorney regarding your specific situation.