Attorney Wayne Williamson Guiding clients through legal issues and estate planning
Attorney Wayne Williamson has been practicing law in Northwest Florida for almost 20 years not only helping clients get out of legal trouble, but avoiding it as well. “In the legal profession,” says Williamson, [...]
Do You Really Need an Estate Plan?
Estate planning can meet a wide variety of needs. However, many people don’t feel that an estate plan is a necessity for them. Or, they may think about putting it off until “later.” Sometimes, [...]
White, David. “Williamson Law Firm, Wayne Williamson” SoWal Life, Jan 2017 http://southwalton.life/attorney-wayne-williamson-guiding-clients-legal-issues-estate-planning
Guiding clients through legal issues and estate planning
Attorney Wayne Williamson has been practicing law in Northwest Florida for almost 20 years not only helping clients get out of legal trouble, but avoiding it as well. “In the legal profession,” says Williamson, “the old adage, ‘If you only knew what you didn’t know,’ comes up almost every day. It would be funny if it wasn’t so sad to see folks come into court representing themselves only to leave having lost their rights.” Wayne’s expertise is in civil litigation but also includes real estate, probate and estate planning. He has become one of Northwest Florida’s “go to” lawyers when out of state concerns need representation. His long term experience in our courtrooms is a valuable commodity.
“I’ve told many clients that you can be right on the substance but lose on procedure,” says Williamson. “Civil court, for the most part, is there to protect people’s rights. But if the proper procedures are not used at the right time and in the right order, people can have the law on their side but still lose their rights. The satisfaction I get is giving my clients peace of mind as we navigate through an area most people know nothing about. I just recently helped an elderly woman and her children set up an estate plan. Her reason for hiring me was that she didn’t want her children to go through what she went through when her husband passed away. That’s the best part of my job.”
On when to start an estate plan Wayne says, “I think in life, we are never promised tomorrow so having an estate plan or trust is important to protect those that we may leave behind. It is especially troublesome for a blended family where the husband and wife have kids from prior marriages. The bottom line is that if the person does not have an estate plan, the State of Florida has made one for them. The State of Florida’s plan mostly likely will not pass the estate to the heirs the same way a person would do it in a will or trust. It is always better to make your own plan.”
Do You Really Need an Estate Plan?
Posted on : March 1, 2017, By: Wayne Williamson
Estate planning can meet a wide variety of needs. However, many people don’t feel that an estate plan is a necessity for them. Or, they may think about putting it off until “later.” Sometimes, later doesn’t come until it’s too late. Here are some reasons you may stand to benefit from an estate plan and how you can begin the process of ensuring that your family is protected in the event of your death or incapacitation.
You Have Significant Assets
If you inherited a great deal of money or built significant assets throughout your lifetime, it’s natural to want to be sure those assets will be protected and passed down to your beneficiaries according to your wishes. An estate plan helps you allocate your assets as you desire. This is particularly important for individuals with a large amount of liquid and/or physical assets.
You Need to Ensure Your Family Will Be Protected
If you are the primary wage earner, your passing puts a significant financial burden on your spouse and dependents. An estate plan helps you allocate your assets to them to avoid probate and reduces estate taxes. This way, your loved ones get the majority of your assets when you pass away.
You Have a High Likelihood of Becoming Incapacitated at Some Point In Your Life
If you have an illness or a disease that has a higher probability to leave you incapacitated in the future than the average person, it’s very important for you to have an estate plan. Your estate plan would also need to include power of attorney and a medical proxy. If you do become incapacitated, you want to make sure that the individuals who are handling your assets and who are making medical decisions for you are people who you trust.
When to Contact an Estate Planning Attorney
It’s never too soon to contact an estate planning attorney to discuss your legal options. While few people want to dig in and figure out what they want to happen to their estate after their death, it’s necessary for those who have a great deal of assets or specific wishes they would like honored.
Contact the Williamson Law Firm today to learn more about estate planning and how we can help. Call now for a consultation at 850.685.3091.
