Free Estate Plan Readiness Assessment | The Siegel Law Group

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Is Your Family
Actually Protected?
Most Aren't.

68%

of Americans have no will or trust — meaning a court decides what happens to their assets, their home, and who raises their children. In Florida, even the 32% who have a will often still face full probate court.

Source: Caring.com 2024 Wills and Estate Planning Study

10 questions. Free. Completely confidential. Find out exactly where your plan stands — and what needs to change — before a crisis makes the decision for you.

Barry D. Siegel, Esq. Founder & CEO · Elder Law · 24+ Years

Barry D. Siegel, Esq. — Estate Planning Attorney, Boca Raton FL

Barry D. Siegel, Esq. Founder & CEO · 24+ Yrs

See Exactly Where Your Plan Stands 10 questions · Personalized results · No obligation

Let's Find Out Where You Stand

10 quick questions. Completely confidential. You'll receive a personalized gap analysis with specific next steps — tailored to your Florida situation and your family.

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🔒 Confidential · Free · Attorney-reviewed results · No obligation ever

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Family Protection

Assessing...

Question 1 of 10 — Current Documents

What estate planning documents do you currently have in place?

Be honest — there are no wrong answers here. This is the starting point for your entire assessment.

🚫

Nothing — I have not startedNo will, trust, power of attorney, or healthcare directive in place

📄

A will — but nothing elseCommon starting point, but a will still goes through Florida probate court

📋

A will plus power of attorney and/or healthcare directiveGood foundation — but without a trust, your estate still faces probate

📂

A trust — but I am not sure our assets are actually in itVery common issue — an unfunded trust offers no probate protection

⏳

I have documents, but they are outdated or not reviewed in yearsPlans from before a major life change often have dangerous gaps

✅

A funded trust, will, POA, and healthcare directive — all currentUpdated within the last 3 years with assets in the trust

1 of 10

Question 2 of 10 — Incapacity Planning

If you had a medical emergency tonight and could not speak or make decisions, who has the legal authority to act for you?

Under Florida law, your spouse does not automatically have authority over your individual accounts or medical decisions.

✅

I have a durable power of attorney and a healthcare directive — both currentSomeone I trust can step in immediately for both financial and medical decisions

📋

I have one of these documents — but not bothEither financial authority or medical authority is covered, but not both

🤞

I assume my spouse would handle everythingA very common assumption — but Florida law requires specific documents

😰

Nobody — I have nothing in place for thisWithout these documents, a Florida court must appoint a guardian

2 of 10

Question 3 of 10 — Probate Exposure

Do you own a home or other assets in Florida that are titled in your name alone — not in a trust?

Any asset titled in your name alone must go through Florida probate — public, 9–24 months, and roughly 3% in attorney fees under §733.6171.

✅

My major assets are titled in my trust — probate is avoidedHome, bank accounts, and investments are held in the trust

🔍

Some assets are in a trust, but others are still in my namePartially funded — untitled assets will still go through probate

🏠

I own property and accounts in my name alone — no trustEverything will require probate court before your family receives it

🤷

I am honestly not sure how my assets are titledThis is more common than you'd think — and it matters enormously

3 of 10

Question 4 of 10 — Your Situation

Which of these applies to your situation?

Each scenario has specific Florida planning considerations that standard plans often miss.

💍

Second marriage or blended familyFlorida's elective share law (§732.201) can override your will

👶

Minor children — worried about who raises them and what they inheritOnly a will designates a guardian. Only a trust protects their inheritance.

🌳

Protecting children's inheritance from future divorces or creditorsBloodline planning ensures assets stay with your family

💼

Significant retirement accounts or IRAs to pass onThe SECURE Act created a 10-year forced distribution window

☀️

Recently moved to Florida from another stateYour plan may miss Florida-specific tools — homestead, Lady Bird deeds, elective share

❤️

A loved one with special needs or a disabilityA direct inheritance can immediately eliminate SSI and Medicaid eligibility

🌴

None of the above — relatively straightforward situationMarried, no blended family, no special circumstances

4 of 10

Question 5 of 10 — Estate Value

Approximately what is the total value of your estate — home, savings, retirement accounts, and other assets combined?

Helps us calibrate which planning tools provide the most protection. All responses are completely confidential.

🏠

Under $250,000Probate still applies at any estate size — a basic plan is essential

💵

$250,000 – $750,000A trust saves $7,500–$22,500 in attorney fees alone — plus 12–24 months in court

💵💵

$750,000 – $2 millionAdvanced trust structures and coordinated beneficiary designations are essential

🏆

Over $2 millionMulti-generational planning and irrevocable trust strategies are critical

5 of 10

Question 6 of 10 — Beneficiary Designations

Are the beneficiaries listed on your life insurance, IRAs, and retirement accounts current and coordinated with your estate plan?

Beneficiary designations override your will and your trust. One outdated form can send an inheritance directly to an ex-spouse or a deceased relative.

✅

Yes — I've reviewed them recently and they match my current wishes and trustBeneficiary designations, trust, and will are all aligned

🤷

I think so — but I haven't reviewed them in a few yearsLife changes like marriages, divorces, or deaths may have created mismatches

⚠️

No — I know some are outdated or I haven't updated them since a life changeA divorce, remarriage, or death since your last update is a critical gap

😬

I've never checked — I'm not sure who is listedThis is surprisingly common — and often the most expensive mistake we find

6 of 10

Question 7 of 10 — Long-Term Care Planning

If you or your spouse needed nursing home care tomorrow, do you have a plan to protect your home and savings?

In Florida, nursing home care averages $108,000+ per year. Without Medicaid planning, a couple can lose everything before qualifying for any government assistance.

🛡️

Yes — I have long-term care insurance that would cover most costsA meaningful safety net — though policy gaps are worth reviewing

✅

Yes — we've done Medicaid planning and structured our assets accordinglyIrrevocable trust, spousal protections, or other strategies are in place

💸

We'd pay out of pocket — but I haven't thought about how long that would lastAt $108K/year, most families exhaust savings faster than expected

😰

No plan — I haven't thought seriously about this yetFlorida's 5-year Medicaid look-back period means planning must happen well in advance

🤷

I'm not very concerned about this right nowWorth revisiting — the average age of nursing home admission is 79

7 of 10

Question 8 of 10 — Plan Currency

When did you last have an attorney review your estate plan — or any part of it?

Tax laws, Florida statutes, and life circumstances change constantly. A plan that was perfect in 2018 may actively work against your family today.

✅

Within the last 3 yearsCurrent — though major life events since then still warrant a look

🕐

3 to 7 years agoThe SECURE Act (2020) and Florida law updates may have created gaps in your plan

📅

More than 7 years agoSignificant legal changes have occurred — a full review is strongly recommended

🚫

Never — I have no plan or have never had it reviewedYou're starting from zero — which means we can build it exactly right

8 of 10

Question 9 of 10 — Family Dynamics

Do any of these family dynamics apply to your situation?

These are the situations most likely to cause family conflict, legal disputes, or unintended outcomes — even with a plan in place.

💳

A child or heir who struggles with money, debt, or addictionA lump-sum inheritance can disappear quickly — a spendthrift trust controls distributions

🚪

An estranged family member or someone I would not want to inheritWithout specific language, Florida intestacy may give them a share regardless

⚔️

I'm concerned my family could fight over my estateContested estates can cost more in legal fees than the assets are worth

✈️

My heirs live in different states or countriesMulti-state estates often trigger probate in each state where property is held

🤝

None of the above — my family dynamics are straightforwardThat's a real gift. Your plan can still reflect exactly who gets what and when.

9 of 10

Question 10 of 10 — What's Driving This

What is prompting you to look into estate planning right now?

Understanding where you are in this process helps us make your free consultation as useful as possible from the first minute.

🔔

A recent life event — marriage, divorce, new baby, inheritance, or loss of a loved oneLife changes are the most important time to review or create a plan

🏥

A health concern — mine or a family member'sA diagnosis often brings clarity about what needs to be in place — and how quickly

👀

I've watched a family or friend go through probate — and I don't want that for my familySeeing it firsthand is one of the most powerful motivators

📆

I've been meaning to do this for years — and it's timeThe most common answer. The best time was earlier. The second best time is now.

🔍

Just researching my options — not ready to commit to anything yetThat's exactly what this assessment is for. No commitment required.

10 of 10

Is Your Family Actually Protected? Most Aren't.

Is Your Family
Actually Protected?
Most Aren't.