Florida Estate Planning, Elder Law
& Probate Attorneys

At the Karp Law Firm, we help families plan for life's inevitabilities. Estate Planning is reflected in legal documents that give shape to our preferences during life, and to our instructions for the distribution of property when we pass away. In this pursuit, our lawyers create wills, living trusts, durable powers of attorney, special needs trusts, and design wealth transfer and tax planning strategies.

Our attorneys can help you draft a Durable Power of Attorney to minimize obstacles your loved ones may face in handling your financial affairs if you become incapacitated. This will help to keep the courts out of your affairs and minimize the chances of your being subjected to guardianship. Living Trusts can also provide protection against guardianship.

Our attorneys will work with you to ensure that when you die - and that is a "when" and not an "if" - you will have a plan ready for protecting minor children and dependents, and for passing on your assets to your loved ones that will minimize taxes, time spent in court, and unnecessary legal fees.

We urge you to click below to learn more about our firm's estate planning law practice.

As Florida Medicaid lawyers, we work with clients to determine if they can qualify for Medicaid Benefits and/or Veterans Benefits.

Once we have had an opportunity to meet with the client and learn about their needs and objectives, financial and family situation, and the benefits to which they are entitled, we can then help develop a plan to assist families struggling to pay for a loved one's long-term nursing home expenses and preserve assets.

We also help veterans and veterans’ widows determine if they qualify for V.A. Aid & Attendance benefits.

We help personal representatives (executors) of an estate through probate, the legal process by which a decedent's assets are distributed. We will file the decedent's will with the probate court, handle all court proceedings, distribute bequests to heirs, notify and pay creditors, resolve claims against the estate, arrange for tax returns, and take all other administrative steps to assist the executor through the process of probate. We also help personal representatives through these matters when there is no will (intestacy).

If the decedent had a trust, we will also help the trustee with the necessary administrative steps.

At the Karp Law Firm, we understand that the time following the death of a loved one is extraordinarily difficult for families. The complex responsibilities can be overwhelming without experienced assistance at your disposal. Our lawyers and staff provide clients with the same understanding and sensitivity that we would want for ourselves and our own families.

For many people, there comes a time in their lives when they are unable to express their wishes regarding the medical treatment they wish to receive. To prepare for this possibility, we urge you to contact our experienced elder law attorneys to draft appropriate advance health care directives. Advance directives are written instructions that express your wishes regarding medical treatment, and authorize an individual(s) to make decisions on your behalf.

Without appropriate documents, Florida law decides who makes health care decisions for you - and that person may not be who you would choose. Or you could become the subject of a guardianship proceeding.

By providing a clear roadmap of your wishes, advance directives provide family members with peace of mind if called upon to make your health care decisions. They also reduce the possibility of family conflict about what treatments you really want or don’t want.

Advance directives include a Health Care Surrogate, Living Will and other documents. Learn more about our Health Care and Advance Directives legal practice.

Probate litigation and estate litigation are highly complex areas of law. As our aging population passes on assets to the younger generation, increasing numbers of families are involved in estate disputes.

With regard to Will contests, probate litigation and trust litigation, The Karp Law Firm acts as co-counsel with litigation attorneys. The basis for a claim against an estate must be very specific and meet a high legal standard.

Whether you are bringing a lawsuit against an estate or defending an estate, you can count on The Karp Law Firm to assist you.

Learn more about estate litigation and how we can assist you.

Unfortunately, families do not always agree when it comes to the care of a parent or other aging family member. Family members may disagree about the individual’s living arrangements, health care choices and other issues. After a loved one passes away, family members may also experience conflict over inheritances included (or excluded) in the parent’s estate plan.

When this happens, we can help.

A Florida Supreme Court Certified Circuit Court Mediator, Attorney Joseph Karp can help families resolve their conflicts outside of the court system, saving money that might be otherwise spent on lawsuits, and helping to preserve family harmony. Mr. Karp encourages all parties in the mediation to share their opinions; ensures all participants have an opportunity to be heard; and will suggest alternative solutions.

Learn more about our Elder Law Mediation and Estate Mediation services.