Are you looking for an estate planning lawyer?
Estate planning focused on your family, your wishes, and what comes next.
If you have been meaning to “get your affairs in order” for years, you are far from alone. Most people know they need a plan. They just do not know where to start or what it actually involves. A thoughtful estate planning lawyer can turn a vague worry into a clear set of documents that protect the people you love. The McKinney Law Group Family & Divorce Lawyers helps individuals and families decide who inherits, who decides, and who steps in if something happens. Let us help you put a real plan in place.
Estate Planning Lawyer
Estate planning is the work of deciding what happens to your property, your care, and your dependents if you become unable to manage things or pass away. Without a plan, the law decides for you, and those default rules rarely match what you would have chosen. A solid plan replaces guesswork with your own instructions, in writing, while you still have the chance to give them. There are real reasons planning matters, and most of them come down to sparing your family stress and cost later. A plan also gives you a say in moments you will not be there for, from who raises your children to who makes your medical decisions.
An estate planning attorney helps you build that plan and keep it current. We draft the documents, explain the choices in plain language, and make sure everything fits together. Life changes, and so should a plan. A marriage, a divorce, a new child, or a new business can all be reasons to revisit what you signed years ago. Many people sign a will once and never look at it again, which is how plans quietly fall out of date. Our Tampa, FL child support law firm treats a plan as something living, meant to be reviewed as your family and your finances change.
Types of Estate Planning Matters We Handle
Estate planning is not one document. It is a set of tools, and the right mix depends on your family, your assets, and your goals. We help clients choose and assemble the pieces that fit. Here is the range of work we handle, with the aim of a plan that fits your life rather than a stack of forms.
- Wills. A will directs who receives your property and names a guardian for minor children. We help you put together a thorough estate planning checklist so nothing important is left out. A clear will also reduces the chance of conflict among the people you leave behind.
- Trusts. A trust can manage property during your life and pass it on without the delay and expense of probate. We match the type of trust to what you actually need. Used well, a trust can spare your family a long and public court process.
- Powers of attorney. This tool lets someone you trust handle financial matters if you cannot. Choosing the right person, and the right limits, matters more than people expect. The wrong choice can cause as much trouble as having no document at all.
- Healthcare directives. These documents state your medical wishes and name who speaks for you if you cannot speak for yourself. They spare your family painful guesswork during a crisis.
- Guardianship designations. Parents of young children can name who would raise them. We help you think through choosing a guardian and put that choice in writing.
- Beneficiary planning. Accounts and policies often pass outside a will, so the named beneficiaries have to line up with your overall plan. We check that the pieces agree.
- Updates after life changes. A plan written years ago may no longer reflect your life. We handle updates after a divorce and other major events.
Why Choose The McKinney Law Group Family & Divorce Lawyers as my Estate Planning Lawyer?
A Family-Centered View of Planning
Damien McKinney earned his law degree from Stetson University, founded the firm, and has worked in family-centered legal matters since 2006. He has been named a Rising Star by Super Lawyers every year since 2012 and received a 2016 Distinction of Excellence, an honor limited to the top five percent of attorneys in the state. He also serves as a state-certified family law mediator, which sharpens his eye for the family dynamics that estate planning has to anticipate.
Stephanie Koether works with him on planning matters. She earned her law degree with honors from the University of Miami after her undergraduate years at Fordham University, and she belongs to the Family Law Section.
Because we work closely with families through marriage, children, and sometimes divorce, we understand how planning intersects with a prenuptial agreement and other life decisions. We have helped many clients leave behind clear instructions instead of confusion. The value of that work shows up when a family is grieving and finds that everything was already taken care of.
Areas We Serve
Serving Florida
Clearwater, FL
- Family
- Divorce
- dissolution of marriage
- child custody
- child support
- post judgment modification and enforcement
- postnuptial agreement
- prenuptial agreement
Miami, FL
St. Petersburg, FL
Tallahassee, FL
Tampa, FL
- Divorce
- Family
- dissolution of marriage
- Alimony
- spousal support
- annulment
- adoption
- parental rights
- custody and time sharing
- child support
- child protective services defense
- dcf false allegation
- pre and post nuptial agreement
Trinity, FL
Serving North Carolina
Ashville, NC
Black Mountain, NC
Fletcher, NC
Hendersonville, NC
Raleigh, NC
Understanding Estate Planning
Core Documents and What They Do
A good plan usually rests on a few key documents, each with a different job. Knowing what each one does helps you see why a single form is rarely enough. Together, they cover both what happens to your property and who steps in if you cannot act for yourself.
- A will. It directs who inherits and names guardians for minor children, taking effect after death. Without one, the state’s default rules decide for you.
- A trust. It can hold and manage assets during life and pass them on privately, often avoiding probate. The right type depends on your goals and your family.
- A financial power of attorney. It lets a trusted person handle money matters if you cannot. Choosing that person carefully is as important as the document itself.
- A healthcare directive. It records your medical wishes and names a decision-maker for you. It spares your family from guessing during a crisis.
- Beneficiary designations. They control accounts and policies that pass outside your will. They need to match the rest of your plan, not contradict it.
What Are Important Aspects of an Estate Plan?
A few things separate a plan that works from one that creates problems. Most come down to care and follow-through, because a plan is only as good as the attention behind it.
- The right people. Naming trustworthy, capable people to act is the heart of any plan. The best document fails if the wrong person holds the pen.
- Consistency. Your documents and your beneficiary designations need to tell the same story. A mismatch can undo your intentions entirely.
- Clarity. Plain, specific instructions prevent disputes among the people left behind. Vague language invites the very conflict a plan should prevent.
- Regular review. A plan should be revisited after major life events, not filed and forgotten. A marriage, a birth, or a move can all call for an update.
What Is The Estate Planning Process Timeline?
Putting a plan together is more manageable than most people fear. Here is how the work usually unfolds, and for most clients the hardest part is simply starting.
- Conversation. We talk through your family, your assets, and what you want to happen.
- Recommendations. We suggest the documents that fit your goals and explain each one.
- Drafting. We prepare the documents and review them with you in plain language.
- Signing. The documents are executed properly so they hold up when needed.
- Future updates. We revisit the plan as your life changes so it stays accurate.
What Should You Bring to Your Estate Planning Consultation?
A first meeting is more productive with a little information in hand. You do not need everything, but a few items help us shape the plan.
- A list of major assets, including property, accounts, and business interests.
- Names of people you may want to serve as guardian, trustee, or agent.
- Existing documents, if you have an old will or trust to update.
- Notes on your wishes, especially for children and specific gifts.
Expect a straightforward conversation about your goals. We will explain what a plan can and cannot do, recommend what fits your situation, and avoid pushing documents you do not need. You will leave with a clear sense of what your plan should include and why.
What Are Important Legal Resources for Estate Planning?
Estate planning touches taxes and benefits, so it helps to know where reliable information lives. These public resources can give you useful background before we build your plan. Most families owe no federal estate tax, but it still helps to understand how the rules work.
- The Internal Revenue Service explains the federal estate tax and when a return is required.
- The IRS also answers common estate tax questions for families and executors.
- The Social Security Administration outlines survivor benefits for spouses, children, and dependents.
- It also describes broader family benefit eligibility tied to a worker’s record.
Reach Out to The McKinney Law Group Family & Divorce Lawyers to Schedule a Consultation
A plan you keep meaning to make does nothing for the people you love. A thoughtful estate planning lawyer can help you put clear, protective documents in place while the choice is still yours. The McKinney Law Group Family & Divorce Lawyers is ready to listen, recommend what fits, and prepare a plan that reflects your wishes. Contact us to schedule a consultation and finally cross this off your list.