The Judy-Ann Smith Law Firm provides legal services to meet the needs and goals of individuals and families. We strive to fully understand the circumstances, needs and goals of our clients and to develop customized strategies to accomplish our clients' objectives and long term goals.
Our law firm allows us to serve clients throughout the state of Florida, as well as out of state clients with family or assets in Florida. We meet clients in person in Jacksonville, Florida and in Gainesville, Florida by appointment. We have other convenient options to connect with you such as Skype, video conferencing, email and our client portal.
Attorney Judy-Ann Smith is available to assist you with:
Estate Planning
Estate planning involves two areas (1) planning in advance for the transfer of assets at time of death and (2) planning for the management and administration of your estate should you become incapacitated. A good estate plan should reflect the specific goals and needs of the client. Most importantly a good estate plan should give you peace of mind. Everyone can benefit from estate planning, if you own any property (real or personal) then having an estate plan is a good idea.
Wills
A Will is a document used to communicate how the assets of a deceased are to be distributed among the beneficiaries. You will also choose the personal representative (administrator) who is to administer your estate.
Trusts
A Trust is a legal document that provides instructions on how to manage and distribute a trust estate for the benefit of others. Trusts are commonly used for transferring family wealth, avoiding some aspects of probate and shielding trust assets from creditors.
Advance Directives
Designation of Health care surrogate – a person you designate to make your healthcare decisions should you become incapacitated or unable to give informed consent. Living will – expresses a person's instructions regarding life prolonging procedures and anatomical gift – a donation of all or part of a human body to take effect after the donor's death and to be used for transplantation, therapy, research, or education.
Planning for Children
Adequately protect your children in your estate plan by nominating a guardian and appointing a custodian for your minor children.
Pet Trusts
A pet trust provides for the care and maintenance of your pet in the event of death or incapacity.
Probate
Probate is a court supervised process of identifying the assets of a decedent (deceased), paying the debts of a decedent, and distributing the assets of a decedent to his or her beneficiaries. Distributing the assets of a decedent in a probate proceeding is necessary to pass ownership from the decedent to the beneficiaries.
Property
Titling of property, deeds and landlord/tenant.
For a consultation call 904-562-1369 or email – [email protected]
Appointments available – evenings and weekends.
