WILLS & PROBATE LAW

Benefits of a Will

The will is at the core of every basic estate plan. While the will allows you to name a personal representative to administrate your estate (someone who you trust), and while it allows you to decide who gets what and when, it serves many more purposes than that.
Some of the immeasurable benefits of having a well-drafted will include:
• It allows you to name a guardian for minor children.
• You can appoint someone that you trust to act as the personal representative.
• You can appoint someone to make health care or financial decisions on your behalf if you become too injured or incapacitated to make these decisions for yourself.
• You can determine who receives your assets and property when you die by Will or QCD
• You can select beneficiaries such as grandchildren or favorite charities who otherwise wouldn’t benefit from your generosity under Florida’s intestate succession laws.

It’s important to keep your will updated, especially when there are major life-changing events such as a marriage or divorce, a birth or a death in the family. Without a valid will in place, upon your death your estate’s assets are distributed under Florida’s intestate succession laws. In this case your assets may be distributed in a manner that you wouldn’t have wanted. By keeping your will current, you can be sure that it will reflect your family’s dynamics as well as any changes in relationships as time goes by.

If wills are written incorrectly, it may not be viewed as valid in the probate court. At Lopez Law Firm we can help clients determine what can and cannot be stated in a will, and help those who already have a will keep it up-to-date. We strive to give our clients excellent legal advice and assistance.

 Wills and Estate Planning

When it comes to planning your estate, your situation and your wishes are not the same as anyone else’s. Computerized documents cannot fully deal with the nuances of your needs and wishes. The law offices of Mery Lopez, provides carefully customized WILLS and other estate and advance planning documents. Each is specifically created to accomplish your particular wishes and to meet your family’s particular needs. Because they are created on an individual basis, rather than through a one-size-fits-all computer program, our office guarantees satisfaction.

Advance healthcare directive (Living Will)

An advance healthcare directive, also known as living will, personal directive, advance directive, or advance decision, is a legal document in which a person specifies what actions should be taken for their health if they are no longer able to make decisions for themselves because of illness or incapacity. In the U.S. it has a legal status in itself, whereas in some countries it is legally persuasive without being a legal document.
A living will is one form of advance directive, leaving instructions for treatment. Another form is a specific type of power of attorney or health care proxy, in which the person authorizes someone (an agent) to make decisions on their behalf when they are incapacitated. People are often encouraged to complete both documents to provide comprehensive guidance regarding their care.[1] An example of combination documents includes the Five Wishes in the United States. The term living will is also the commonly recognized vernacular in many countries, especially the U.S.A

Integrity • Diligence • Experience

To ensure that your WILL and all of your other estate and advance planning documents will realize your vision of the future, Attorney Mery Lopez takes the time necessary to interview you and gain a thorough understanding of all the relevant details and your last wishes. She will work with you and any other family members whom you wish to involve in your planning. After gaining the necessary understanding of your assets, your family, the needs and abilities of your intended beneficiaries, and the way that you want your property left, she can create an estate plan that incorporates all the necessary pieces.


These pieces may include:

  • Wills
  • Health care proxies
  • Living wills
  • Powers of attorney (health care power of attorney, durable power of attorney)