Estate Planning Attorneys serving
St. Petersburg
Planning ahead is one of the most practical things you can do for the people you love. A strong estate plan helps you stay in control during your lifetime and makes things easier for your family if something happens. It can also reduce confusion, prevent conflict, and limit unnecessary court involvement. At McNary Law, we help individuals and families in St. Petersburg and across Pinellas County create estate plans that fit real life. Clear documents. Thoughtful options. No fluff. Many services can be handled remotely, so you can move forward without turning your schedule upside down.
Estate planning in Florida, what it usually includes
Estate planning is not just a will. Most people need a set of documents that work together based on their goals, family structure, and how assets are titled. The right plan is the one that matches how your life actually works.
Here are the tools we discuss most often with St. Petersburg clients:
Wills
A will directs who inherits, names the person responsible for handling the estate, and can include other instructions that matter to your family. Florida’s probate code governs wills and estate administration.
Trusts
A trust can be used to control how and when assets are distributed. In many situations, it can also reduce the amount of court supervised probate administration. Trusts and trust administration in Florida are governed by the Florida Trust Code.
Powers of attorney
A power of attorney gives someone legal authority to act on your behalf for financial and legal matters during your lifetime. This is a core part of incapacity planning.
Advance directives
Advance directives address health care decision-making and your wishes regarding medical care. Florida law recognizes and regulates advance directives, including the role of a health care surrogate and related documents.
Probate planning
Even when probate is expected, good planning can reduce delays, costs, and confusion. Probate administration is governed by Florida’s probate code.
Digital assets planning
Email, cloud photo libraries, subscriptions, and online financial access can become a real problem if no one has authority to manage them. Florida has a statute addressing fiduciary access to digital assets.
St. Petersburg and Pinellas County concerns we see all the time
People in St. Petersburg come to estate planning for different reasons, but a few themes show up again and again:
- Avoiding uncertainty later. Families should not have to guess what you would have wanted.
- Planning for incapacity. If something happened tomorrow, who could legally handle finances and make medical decisions today?
- Blended families and second marriages. Default inheritance rules are not designed for modern families, so planning matters.
- Protecting children and dependents. Many families want responsible decision-makers and guardrails around distributions.
- Privacy and efficiency. Some families want to reduce court involvement where possible and keep personal details more private, depending on the assets and goals.
- Coordination across accounts. Beneficiary designations, jointly owned property, and trust funding decisions can change the outcome if they are not aligned with the plan.
Estate planning is not about doing something complicated. It is about making clear decisions now so your family is not forced to manage a crisis later.
Wills vs. trusts, and why many plans use both
A will and a trust can both play an important role, but they do different jobs. Part of good planning is choosing the right tool for the goal.
When a will is the right fit
A will is often appropriate when your goals are straightforward and you want clear instructions for what happens at death. A will can also name the personal representative who will handle the administration and, when applicable, nominate guardians for minor children.
When a trust may be a better fit
A trust can be useful when you want more control over how assets are distributed, when you want a plan that accounts for beneficiaries who need structure, or when you want to reduce the time and administrative friction probate can create in many situations. Florida’s trust statutes govern trust administration and trustee duties.
The practical reality for many Pinellas County families
Many plans use both, plus incapacity documents, because one document rarely covers everything well. A coordinated plan usually includes a will or trust strategy, plus powers of attorney and advance directives so your plan works during your lifetime and after.
Incapacity planning, the part most people overlook
Most people think estate planning is only about death. A good plan also covers what happens if you are alive but cannot make decisions.
Two areas matter most:
Financial decision-making
A durable power of attorney can allow someone you trust to manage bills, banking, property transactions, and other legal and financial tasks if you cannot.
Health care decisions
Advance directives can appoint a health care surrogate and communicate your wishes about medical treatment. Florida’s health care advance directive statutes provide definitions and structure for these documents.
For many clients, this is the part of planning that creates the most immediate peace of mind.
Digital assets, because your life is online now
Your estate plan should not ignore your digital life. Email accounts, photo libraries, cloud storage, subscriptions, and password protected financial access can become serious problems if no one has authority.
Florida’s Fiduciary Access to Digital Assets Act provides a framework for fiduciaries seeking access, but good planning starts with making sure your documents and instructions line up with what your family will actually need.
Our St. Petersburg estate planning process
We keep the process straightforward and client-friendly.
- Consultation and goals
We learn what matters to you, who you want to protect, and what concerns you want to address. - Information gathering
We review what you own, how it is titled, and any existing planning documents. - Recommendations
We walk you through your options in plain language and recommend a plan that fits. - Drafting and review
You review drafts, ask questions, and we refine until it is right. - Signing and implementation
We execute documents properly and provide practical guidance for next steps, like beneficiary updates or trust funding when applicable.
Many services can be handled remotely depending on the documents and your situation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a will if I have a trust?
Sometimes, yes. Many trust-based plans still include a will for specific legal purposes and as a backstop for assets that were never transferred into the trust.
What happens if I die without a will in Florida?
Florida intestate succession rules determine who inherits. That outcome can be very different from what you would choose.
Can I handle estate planning remotely if I live in St. Petersburg?
Often, yes. Many steps can be completed remotely depending on the documents and signing requirements.
What documents help if I become incapacitated?
Most people consider a power of attorney for financial matters and advance directives for health care decision-making.
Does probate always happen?
Not always. It depends on what you own, how assets are tls like trusts or beneficiary designations apply. Probate administration in Florida is governed by Florida’s probate code.
Talk to a St. Petersburg estate planning attorney
If you are ready to put your plan in place, we can help. Whether you need a will, a trust, powers of attorney, advance directives, or a coordinated plan that ties it all together, McNary Law will walk you through it clearly and build documents around your goals.