Estate Planning Lawyers in Fort Walton Beach

5 estate planning attorneys are listed in Fort Walton Beach. Many clients here are military families from Eglin Air Force Base and Hurlburt Field, retirees, and owners of coastal property — situations where a few Florida rules matter more than usual.

Florida rules worth knowing

• Signing a will. A Florida will must be signed in front of two witnesses. Adding a notarized self-proving affidavit lets the will be admitted to probate without tracking down the witnesses later. A handwritten will without witnesses is not valid in Florida.
• Homestead. If you are survived by a spouse or a minor child, Florida's constitution limits who can receive your homestead. Couples who want a different result usually need a written waiver from the spouse.
• Personal representative. A person who lives outside Florida can serve as personal representative only if they are a close relative, such as a child, parent, sibling or spouse.
• No state estate or inheritance tax. Florida does not tax estates or inheritances at the state level; federal estate tax rules still apply to large estates.

Probate for Fort Walton Beach residents is handled by the Circuit Court of Okaloosa County, part of Florida's First Judicial Circuit. Small or older estates may qualify for summary administration, a shorter procedure than formal administration.

For service members: where you are legally domiciled — not just where you are stationed — decides which state's rules apply to your estate. Mention your home of record and any property in other states at the first meeting.

This page is general information, not legal advice. Laws change; confirm the details with a licensed Florida attorney.

Lawyers listed in Fort Walton Beach also cover Family Law (6), Criminal Law (5) and DUI & DWI (5). The same practice elsewhere in Florida: Gainesville (20), Fort Myers (16) and Orlando (12). Across Florida the directory lists 103 attorneys in this practice; Fort Walton Beach is 11th by their number among 11 cities.