Serving Fayette County, Georgia and St. Lucie County, Florida
Estate Planning Attorneys in Port St. Lucie, FL and Fayetteville, GA
Your plan, built around your family — not a template
Your Plan Protects More Than Your Assets
An estate plan is not primarily a document about death. It is a document about life — specifically, what happens to your family, your finances, and your medical decisions during the moments when you cannot speak for yourself.
Without a plan, those decisions fall to a court. Florida and Georgia both have default rules that determine who inherits your estate, who manages your finances, and who makes your healthcare decisions if you become incapacitated. Those rules were written for the average family, not yours. A properly drafted estate plan replaces the default with your actual wishes, written in legally enforceable language, and carried out by the people you choose.
The cost of building that plan is a fraction of what your family will spend navigating probate court without one.
Estate Planning Services at Simmons, Finney & Winfield
Wills
Legally binding instructions for the distribution of your estate and the appointment of guardians for minor children
Trusts
Revocable and irrevocable trust structures that transfer assets outside of probate and carry out your wishes with or without court involvement
Powers of attorney
Durable financial powers of attorney appointing a trusted person to manage your finances if you become incapacitated
Advance directives
Written instructions for your medical care if you are unable to communicate them yourself
Healthcare surrogates
Florida-specific designation naming the person authorized to make medical decisions on your behalf
Florida and Georgia Have Different Requirements — and Both Matter
Estate planning law is state-specific. A will or power of attorney drafted in Georgia does not automatically satisfy Florida's execution requirements, and vice versa. If you own property, financial accounts, or a business in both states, your plan needs to be built with both sets of requirements in mind.
Our Georgia office in Fayetteville handles estate planning for clients across Fayette County and the surrounding area under Georgia law. Elizabeth Williams Winfield leads that practice. Our Florida office in Port St. Lucie handles estate planning under Florida law for clients across St. Lucie County and the Treasure Coast. Evett L. Simmons leads that practice. For clients with assets or family in both states, our attorneys coordinate across offices to make sure your plan holds up everywhere it needs to.
The Attorneys Behind Your Plan
Elizabeth Williams Winfield leads estate planning at our Fayetteville, Georgia office. She is court-appointed County Guardian for Fayette County and court-appointed County Administrator for Clayton County — roles that require her to manage estates and financial affairs for individuals with no other advocate. She brings that same standard of attention to every estate plan she drafts for private clients.
Evett L. Simmons leads estate planning at our Port St. Lucie, Florida office. She is AV Martindale-Hubbell rated, holds an Honorary Doctor of Laws from Suffolk University, and served as the 58th President of the National Bar Association. Her Florida estate planning practice serves individuals and families across St. Lucie County and the broader Treasure Coast.
What a Consultation Looks Like
You’ll meet with the attorney who will handle your matter to discuss your current situation and review any documents you already have. Together, you’ll identify what is missing or needs updating and leave with a clear understanding of the next steps, the documents involved, and what it will take to put your plan in place.
(772) 873-5900 — Florida Office |
(678) 788-6030
— Georgia Office.
Estate Planning
Wills & Trusts
The foundation of most estate plans. A will directs the distribution of your estate and names guardians for minor children. A trust transfers assets to beneficiaries outside of probate. Many plans include both.
Powers of Attorney
A durable power of attorney appoints someone you trust to manage your financial affairs if you become incapacitated. Without one, your family may need to petition a court for that authority.
Advance Directives
Written instructions for your medical care when you cannot communicate your own wishes. In Florida, this includes the designation of a healthcare surrogate. In Georgia, it includes an advance directive for healthcare combining a living will and healthcare proxy.
Common Questions About Estate Planning in Florida and Georgia
Do I need an estate planning attorney in Georgia, or can I use an online form?
Online forms can produce documents that look correct but fail to meet Georgia's execution requirements — specific witness and notarization rules that determine whether a will or power of attorney is legally valid. An attorney reviews your full situation, drafts documents that hold up to scrutiny, and makes sure the plan actually accomplishes what you intend.
Do I need a will if I already have a trust?
Yes. A trust only controls assets that have been transferred into it. Any assets left outside the trust at your death — accounts you forgot to retitle, property acquired after the trust was drafted — pass through your estate. A pour-over will captures those assets and directs them into the trust, closing the gap.
What is a healthcare surrogate in Florida?
A healthcare surrogate designation is a Florida legal document that names the person authorized to make medical decisions on your behalf if you are unable to make them yourself. It is distinct from a living will, which records your specific wishes about life-prolonging treatment. Florida law recommends having both.
How do I avoid probate in Georgia?
The most common strategy is a revocable living trust, which holds your assets during your lifetime and transfers them to beneficiaries at death without court involvement. Other tools include joint ownership with right of survivorship, beneficiary designations on financial accounts and life insurance, and transfer-on-death deeds for real property. The right combination depends on the size and complexity of your estate.
What does estate planning cost at Simmons, Finney & Winfield?
The consultation is $350, credited toward your engagement on retention. The cost of the plan itself depends on the documents required and the complexity of your situation — your attorney will give you a clear fee structure at the consultation before any work begins.
Do I need a separate estate plan for Florida and Georgia if I own property in both states?
You need a plan that satisfies the legal requirements of both states. That does not always mean two entirely separate plans, but it does mean your documents must be drafted with both states' execution requirements in mind. Our attorneys coordinate across offices for clients with assets in both Georgia and Florida.
Ready to Put a Plan in Place?
Estate planning is easier than most people expect when you have an attorney who takes the time to understand your situation. Schedule a consultation with our Georgia or Florida office and walk away with a clear picture of what you need and what it will take to get there.