Secure Your Future with Experienced Estate Planning Attorneys in Florida
About Us
Protecting your family, your assets, and your legacy
At Willis & Davidow, we help Florida families plan for the future with confidence. Our estate planning attorneys in Naples, Florida, guide clients through every step of designing and implementing comprehensive legal strategies that protect assets, ensure medical and financial wishes are honored, and provide clarity for loved ones.
Every family’s circumstances are different — and so is every estate plan. Whether you’re creating your first will, setting up a trust, or protecting family assets, we make the process approachable, personal, and legally sound.
FAQs About Estate Planning in Florida
Do I need an attorney to make an estate plan in Florida?
While online templates exist, Florida’s laws are highly specific. A single error can make your will or power of attorney invalid. Working with an attorney ensures your documents hold up legally and reflect your true intent.
How often should I update my estate plan?
You should revisit your plan after major life events such as marriage, divorce, births, deaths, significant inheritance, or changes in your financial condition.
Can I avoid probate in Florida?
Yes, through strategies like trusts, beneficiary designations, and Lady Bird deeds. These tools help transfer property directly without court involvement.
What happens if I move to Florida from another state?
Out-of-state wills and trusts may not meet Florida’s formalities. We review and update existing documents to align with Florida law.
Request a consult with a Naples estate planning attorney.
Tailored Legal Guidance
Our Naples Estate Planning Services
Wills & Trusts
Establishing a valid last will or creating a Revocable Living Trust ensures that your estate is distributed according to your wishes—efficiently and without unnecessary court involvement. We’ll help you determine which approach best serves your goals for privacy, flexibility, and probate avoidance.
Asset Protection Strategies
Preserve your wealth and shield it from creditors, taxes, and lawsuits through carefully designed legal instruments such as Family Limited Partnerships, Lifetime Trusts, and Irrevocable Trusts. We’ll tailor these strategies to your personal and business circumstances.
Estate Tax Planning
Our firm helps Florida families implement sophisticated estate tax reduction strategies—including Grantor Retained Annuity Trusts (GRATs), Qualified Personal Residence Trusts (QPRTs), and Charitable Remainder Trusts—to maximize what you pass on to your heirs while minimizing federal and state estate taxes.
Powers of Attorney
A Durable Power of Attorney allows you to designate someone you trust to make financial decisions if you become unable to do so. Our attorneys draft clear, compliant documents that protect your interests in any situation.
Healthcare Directives
A Living Will and Healthcare Surrogate Designation ensure your medical and end-of-life wishes are respected. These documents relieve your loved ones from difficult decisions and keep your voice present when you can’t speak for yourself.
Family Wealth Transfer
We assist families with thoughtful, tax-efficient wealth transfer plans, ensuring that assets move seamlessly to the next generation. Whether through lifetime gifting, generation-skipping trusts, or coordinated beneficiary designations, our lawyers guide you through every step.
What Is Civil Litigation?
Civil litigation refers to any legal dispute between two or more parties seeking financial compensation or specific performance, rather than criminal penalties. Common civil cases include:
- Breach of contract or business disputes
- Real estate and property disagreements
- Construction defects and contractor issues
- Insurance, negligence, and liability claims
- Partnership and shareholder conflicts
- Debt recovery and professional negligence
Our civil law attorneys represent both plaintiffs and defendants throughout Florida, guiding clients through every stage of the litigation process — from pre-suit investigation to trial and appeal.
Specialized in
Coordinated Estate Planning for All Life Stages
Our clients include young families, professionals, retirees, and business owners. No matter your life stage, estate planning helps you gain control over the future.
Remember: A good estate plan is a living document — it should evolve as your circumstances change. We recommend reviewing and updating it every three to five years or after major life events.
Young Professionals
Establish financial and healthcare directives early.
Parents of Minors
Create guardianship designations and trusts for children.
Business Owners
Build succession plans to ensure continuity.
Retirees
Review wills, trusts, and beneficiary designations regularly.
Snowbirds/New Florida Residents
Update out-of-state documents to comply with Florida law.
Protect what you’ve built. Plan for tomorrow, today.
Comprehensive Planning
Advanced Estate Planning & Trust Strategies in Naples, Florida
Revocable Trusts and Probate Avoidance
A Revocable Living Trust is one of the most versatile estate planning tools available. It allows your assets to pass directly to your chosen beneficiaries without probate, maintaining privacy and continuity in the event of incapacity. Adequately funding your trust—by retitling property and financial accounts—is essential to realizing its full benefits. Our attorneys provide guidance and hands-on assistance with this process.
Advanced Estate Planning Options
Depending on your goals, our firm may recommend additional tools such as:
- Irrevocable Life Insurance Trusts (ILITs) to exclude policy proceeds from estate taxes.
- Family Limited Partnerships (FLPs) are used to manage and transfer family business interests.
- Charitable Trusts for clients wishing to leave a philanthropic legacy.
- Grantor Retained Unitrusts (GRUTs) and Annuity Trusts (GRATs) to transfer appreciating assets efficiently.
- Tuition and Medical Expense Planning to make tax-free gifts directly to providers.
Real Estate and Homestead Considerations
When transferring real estate into a trust, it’s essential to consider Florida’s homestead laws and potential bankruptcy implications. Our Naples estate planning lawyers assist with deeds, title insurance reviews, and compliance with county property appraiser requirements to ensure continued homestead exemption protection.
Coordinating Life Insurance and Retirement Plans
Beneficiary designations are a vital part of your estate plan. We ensure your life insurance policies, retirement accounts, and IRAs align with your overall trust and estate documents—avoiding unintended tax or creditor exposure.
Revocable Trusts and Probate Avoidance
A Revocable Living Trust is one of the most versatile estate planning tools available. It allows your assets to pass directly to your chosen beneficiaries without probate, maintaining privacy and continuity in the event of incapacity. Adequately funding your trust—by retitling property and financial accounts—is essential to realizing its full benefits. Our attorneys provide guidance and hands-on assistance with this process.
Advanced Estate Planning Options
Depending on your goals, our firm may recommend additional tools such as:
- Irrevocable Life Insurance Trusts (ILITs) to exclude policy proceeds from estate taxes.
- Family Limited Partnerships (FLPs) are used to manage and transfer family business interests.
- Charitable Trusts for clients wishing to leave a philanthropic legacy.
- Grantor Retained Unitrusts (GRUTs) and Annuity Trusts (GRATs) to transfer appreciating assets efficiently.
- Tuition and Medical Expense Planning to make tax-free gifts directly to providers.
Real Estate and Homestead Considerations
Coordinating Life Insurance and Retirement Plans
Why Choose Our
Naples Estate Planning Lawyers
For decades, Willis & Davidow has been a trusted legal partner for Florida families, professionals, and business owners. We’re known for combining deep legal expertise with compassion and clarity.
Our Advantages:
- Florida-Based Expertise – Deep understanding of Florida’s homestead, trust, and incapacity laws.
- Customized Planning – No templates or one-size-fits-all solutions. Every document is crafted to your goals.
- Collaborative Process – We coordinate with your financial planner and CPA for integrated strategies.
- Responsive Counsel – Clear communication and personal attention at every stage.
- Legacy-Focused Approach – We help you protect what you’ve built and ensure it endures.
Whether your estate is simple or complex, our attorneys will ensure that your plan reflects your values and priorities — with every “what if” accounted for.
“It’s rare to find a law firm that combines professional expertise with this level of compassion. We are truly grateful for their help and would recommend them without hesitation to anyone in need of estate planning services.” – Mona D.
“Excellent experience working with this firm on estate planning. The team on my account has been very responsive and thorough and anticipated needs that I didn’t know I should need. Highly recommended.” – Barb B.
“Excellent counsel and guidance. Great advice re: estate planning and trust matters.” – Edward M.