How it works

It all begins with a conversation. Here's exactly what happens from your first call to the day you sign.

1. Call us. We set up your first attorney meeting.
2. Meet your client coordinator. They guide you through the whole process.
3. Meet with an attorney and share your story. We talk about your family, your goals, and your worries.
4. Fill out a simple form. Your coordinator helps, so it's quick and easy.
5. Lock in a signing date. You know exactly when your plan will be finished.

For an estate plan, you know the price before you sign. We start with a chat, the attorney looks at what you actually need, and then we quote a flat fee that shows the price, the work included, and any out-of-pocket costs. For probate, trust administration, and guardianship, we explain how fees work at your first meeting.

I think a plan should be something you can explain to your own family, so we take the time to go through each piece until it makes sense.

Families from Sunrise

Our office is in Davie, about 9 miles south of Sunrise City Hall, straight down Flamingo Road. We're at 12401 Orange Drive, Suite 219, in The Crexent office buildings near Flamingo Road and Griffin Road, and we're open Monday to Friday, 9 to 5.

Most people who call us are planning for themselves. Maybe your will was written when the kids were small, or you never got around to one. A will, a revocable living trust, a power of attorney, and health care documents are the usual starting points, and we'll help you sort out which ones fit.

Sometimes the call comes from farther away. A mom or dad has lived in Sunrise for years, maybe in Sunrise Lakes or another 55+ community, and a son or daughter in another state realizes nothing is in order. If that's you, you don't need the answers before you call. Tell us about your parent and what you know so far, and we'll explain how it works when family is far away. We meet over Zoom and send the paperwork by mail, so nobody has to fly in.

If you're here for someone else

Someone passed away

We handle probate and estate administration, and trust administration when there was a trust. It's fine if you don't know the terms or have the papers together, and you can reach out even if you live out of state. Call 954-862-1479 or send a few lines through our contact form, and you'll usually hear back from us the same business day. You can also read our probate page or the flyer "What To Do When A Loved One Passes Away" on our Resources page.

Helping a parent

When you reach out, tell us a little about your mom or dad and their situation. Your parent is our client, so your parent and the attorney decide together how much family is involved. If you can't be here in person, we meet over Zoom and send the paperwork by mail.

What a plan usually includes

These are the documents most families hear about, and what each one does.

• A will names who receives your property and who settles your estate after you die.
• A revocable living trust can let your property pass without probate and lets someone you choose manage it if you can't.
• A durable power of attorney names someone to handle money and paperwork. It works from the day it's signed and keeps working if the person who signed it becomes incapacitated.
• A health care surrogate designation names who can make medical decisions.
• A living will records wishes about end-of-life care.

Questions we hear from Sunrise

My situation is simple. Do I still need a lawyer for a will?

Simple is a fine place to start, and people with a condo and a checking account come to us too. Florida has specific signing rules for a will, and a lawyer can make sure yours follows them and names the right people. We'll tell you plainly what you need and what you don't.

What happens to my condo when I die?

That depends on how it's titled and what your plan says. It can pass through a will, which usually means probate, or through a trust or the way the deed is set up. Florida also has special rules for a homestead, so it's worth going over with an attorney.

My parent already has a will. Is that enough?

It might not be. A will covers what happens after death, and it doesn't name anyone to handle money or medical decisions while your parent is alive. An older will may also no longer match the family. It's worth having it looked at.

Get started

Call 954-862-1479, send a couple of sentences through our contact form, or email info@jakoblegal.com. Whether it's your plan or a parent's, that's enough to begin.

If you'd like something to work on first, download a free sample of my workbook, My Life & Legacy Organizer, from our Resources page. The full 117-page book is on Amazon.

This page is general information, not legal advice, and contacting us does not create an attorney-client relationship.