Estate Planning Attorney
You’ve worked hard your whole life to build your estate. When the time comes, you want to ensure that your assets end up in the right hands.
At Selis Law Firm in Palm Coast and Ormond Beach, FL, we help families prepare for the future with estate planning.
If you are ready to start your estate plan, contact attorney Scott A. Selis today. We serve clients in Volusia County and beyond.
Estate Planning Done Right
Attention to Detail
Other estate planning attorneys may advertise that they will get your plan set up as quickly as possible, but that's not the right approach to estate planning. Planning quickly is not as important as planning correctly. At Selis Law Firm, our lawyer takes the time to make sure that every asset is correctly titled, all beneficiary designations are accurate, and every form is properly filed.
Understanding Your Goals
Scott Selis is not the type of lawyer who just fills out paperwork for you, and he does not take a one-size-fits-all approach to estate planning. When you meet with him for help with your estate planning, he will get to know you and ask questions about your goals. Then, he will advise you on the best legal and financial strategies for providing for your family.
Convenient Service
We make estate planning as easy as possible for our clients. If you are unable to leave your home to meet with our attorney in Ormond Beach or Palm Coast, he will come to you for no extra charge. Our attorney serves clients from Volusia County, Flagler County, and other areas of the state. We regularly conduct business over video calls or phone calls, we utilize electronic signatures, and we work with traveling notaries.
"The Best in Estate Planning."
"Wonderful Attorney's office. They have the utmost knowledge of estate planning whether you are a snowbird like myself or year around resident. I would highly recommend this firm to anyone interested in the best in Estate planning. They have an excellent knowledgeable staff as well." Jack Caufield, 5-Star Google Review
What Is Estate Planning? And Why Is It Important?
Your estate is everything you own, including your home, your money, and your investments. When you die or become incapacitated, your assets have to go to someone. That's what estate planning is all about: making sure that your estate is handled according to your wishes after you are gone.
Unfortunately, estate planning is not as easy as writing down everything you own and putting someone's name next to each item. Federal and some state laws impose heavy taxes on inheritances, and the probate process can be costly and stressful. If you don't make the proper arrangements, much of your estate may go to the government instead of your family or your favorite charities. That's why individuals from Daytona Beach, Volusia County, and Flagler County contact estate planning attorney Scott A. Selis.
As an attorney primarily focused on elder law, Scott has helped numerous families in Florida plan for the future through the establishment of wills and living wills, revocable and irrevocable trusts, and more. By working with a lawyer who knows the intricacies of estate law, you can protect your assets and potentially provide for your family for generations to come.
Get Started Today Contact Selis Law Firm
No matter the size of your estate, you should at least consult with an estate planning attorney. If you are beginning to think about how you can best provide for your family's future, contact Selis Law Firm. We have offices in Ormond Beach and Palm Coast, FL, and we serve clients from Volusia County, Flagler County, and other areas of the state.
When you meet with attorney Scott A. Selis, he will ask about your situation and thoroughly explain all the options available to you and your family. Many clients are surprised about how much our law firm can do for them. A sentiment we often hear is, "I wish I called you sooner!"
You can set up an initial consultation with our attorney by contacting us online or giving us a call. If you are unable to travel to one of our offices, Scott can come to you, or we can conduct your consultation over a phone or video call.
Call Us: (866) 735-3377
"Scott Selis Has Done An Outstanding Job."
"My wife and I knew it was time to get serious about estate planning for the benefit of our family when we are gone. Scott Selis and his team has done an outstanding job of preparing our trusts, reviewing and rewriting our wills, and rewriting our property deeds to be in accordance with Florida law. The steps and the process they walked us through was organized and easy to understand. We highly recommend Selis Elder Law for your family estate planning needs." Larry and Bonnie Blankenship, 5-Star Google Review
Estate Planning in Florida What You Should Know
No State Estate Tax
The state of Florida does not tax the estates of deceased individuals, no matter the size of the estate. However, the federal government does have what is known as an "inheritance tax," which affects large estates. Also, real estate or other property owned in other states may be subject to those states' tax codes.
Trusts in Florida
In Florida, you can create a trust during your lifetime, or you can specify in a will that certain assets will be transferred to a trustee at the time of your death. Trusts can be created for the benefit of a family member, a friend, a charitable organization, or even your pet.
Probate in Florida
Assets that are co-owned or that have designated beneficiaries do not usually have to go through probate in Florida. Any property solely owned by the deceased person must go through probate.
Do You Have Questions? We'd Love to Answer Them
At Selis Law Firm in Ormond Beach and Palm Coast, we are committed to thoroughly educating our clients about their legal options. We understand that estate law can be complicated, and that planning for your family's future can be emotional. That's why we conduct every conversation with the utmost compassion, empathy, patience, and respect.
If you are becoming overwhelmed as you consider trusts, probate, and estate taxes, contact our lawyer today. Scott A. Selis can help you figure out what's best for you and your family. We welcome clients from throughout Volusia County and the entire state.
Give Us a Call: (866) 735-3377
Our Estate Planning Services
You've lived a unique life, and you deserve an estate planning attorney who will take the time to understand that life before he recommends any estate planning strategies or tools. At Selis Law Firm in Ormond Beach and Palm Coast, Scott A. Selis and his friendly team will do just that. Once he gets to know you and your situation, Scott will advise you of the best legal mechanisms and arrangements to ensure your wishes are honored at the end of your life. Some of the estate planning tools he may recommend include:
Wills
In Florida, a will must be signed in the presence of at least two witnesses in order to be considered valid. Estate planning attorney Scott A. Selis can help you draft a will, making sure that you cover all of your bases so that your wishes are met, and he can serve as one of the witnesses. If you'd like, he can also serve as your executor, or "personal representative," as it's known in Florida.
Living Wills
A living will is a document that expresses your wishes related to end-of-life healthcare. To be valid, a living will must be signed in front of two witnesses, and one of those witnesses must not be a blood relative. Our attorney, with offices in Ormond Beach and Palm Coast, can help you draft a living will and serve as a witness. We welcome clients from Volusia County and throughout Florida.
Trusts
Trusts are important estate planning tools because they allow assets to transfer without going through probate, but they are difficult to arrange without the assistance of an attorney. After reviewing your estate and asking about your intentions for your assets, Scott A. Selis can explain the different kinds of trusts to you. Then, when you've decided what kind of trust you'd like to create, Scott can help you complete the necessary legal forms.
Powers of Attorney
While a living will expresses your wishes for end-of-life healthcare, the power of attorney gives an individual legal authority to make decisions related to your care should you ever be on artificial life support. Our lawyer can help you understand the subtle differences between these arrangements, and he can help you file the necessary documents to give someone you trust your power of attorney.
Serving Flagler County, Volusia County, and Clients throughout Florida
With today's technology, we can meet the estate planning needs of clients throughout the state. Although our offices are located in Flagler County and Volusia County, you can attend a virtual consultation with us from the convenience of your home.
"Invaluable to Our Family."
This firm provides a specialized law practice in estate and elder law that has proved invaluable to our family... Scott takes the time to carefully evaluate each client's specific situation and needs. He listens carefully before making any recommendations. He does not simply prepare a will and associated documents. He reviews and updates needs on a regular basis... Estate and elder are much more complex than we thought and we are very pleased to have Scott on our team. Joseph Dunn, 5-Star Google Review
Planning for Long-Term Care
At Selis Law Firm in Ormond Beach and Palm Coast, we don't just help our clients determine what will happen with their property after they are gone. We also help them plan for their golden years when they may need to move into an assisted living facility or nursing home.
Tragically, many seniors discover that the high costs of long-term care can take a sizable bite out of their life savings, meaning they have fewer assets to leave to their loved ones or their favorite causes. When you meet with attorney Scott A. Selis to discuss estate planning, he can help you take these expenses into consideration. He can work with you to develop a plan that provides for your comfort and independence while also leaving as much as possible for your family.
Because he is an attorney focused on elder law in Florida, Scott is uniquely qualified to advise you as you make these difficult but important decisions.
A Compassionate and Empathetic Law Firm Contact Us Today
When it's time to make decisions about the final chapter of your life, you don't want to work with a law firm that will just file a form for you as quickly as possible and then send a bill. You want to work with a team of kind and friendly legal professionals that will get to know you and take all the time needed to achieve your estate planning goals. That's what you'll find at Selis Law Firm in Ormond Beach and Palm Coast, FL.
As a practice focused exclusively on elder law, we know how emotional these conversations can be, so we do our best to make you feel comfortable and cared for. Our offices have a home-like atmosphere, and Scott will likely entertain you with some of his famous lawyer jokes.
For knowledgeable and compassionate legal assistance, contact Selis Law Firm today. You'll likely find that we can do more for you and your estate than you realize.
Call Us: (866) 735-3377
More 5-Star Reviews
Pat Logan
2021
Our family has been a client of Selis Elder Law of Florida for the past three years. We actually followed Scott Selis from another law firm because of Scott Selis' expertise and compassion. A couple of his expert staff went with Scott when he opened his own law firm. This says a lot about his character and integrity. Scott's guidance in creating two trusts for our family made it easy and he answered very question that we had. If you or your family needs an Elder law firm we highly recommend Selis Elder Law of Florida. You will be very pleased with the care that he and his staff show you and most importantly the results.
Bonnie Bobbitt
2019
Scott Selis helped create a trust for our family that lawfully protected our mother's VA benefit. We had previously engaged the services of another attorney who put together a trust that would not have served this purpose. Scott's know-how enabled her benefit to be protected, which enabled her to have the quality of life that we wanted for her. He also created a new will which served her and our family in the best way. At all times, Scott was caring, efficient, warm, and highly capable, as is his staff. I highly recommend Scott and his team for addressing anyone's elder law needs.
Estate Planning FAQs
Why is probate so bad?
Probate isn't necessarily a bad thing. It exists so that the court can be sure that a deceased person's wishes in regards to their estate are properly carried out. However, any estate planning attorney will tell you to do everything you can to keep your assets out of probate because it is a costly and time-consuming process. To make sure your loved ones receive the most of what you've worked so hard to acquire, you should consider establishing trusts or designating beneficiaries on your accounts.
What does an estate planning attorney cost?
At Selis Law Firm in Ormond Beach and Palm Coast, the cost of our services varies from case to case and situation to situation. There's no way to provide a quote without first understanding your goals. Our attorney will answer all questions about legal fees during your initial consultation.
When should I call an estate planning attorney?
It's never too early to start thinking about how you'll provide for your loved ones or your favorite charities after you are gone. Although we are primarily focused on elder law, we provide estate planning services to clients of all ages. When you are ready to start planning for the future, contact Selis Law Firm.
