Most Florida families have an estate plan built on bad information. In this episode, Stephen Lacey breaks down the myths that quietly drain estates, delay inheritances, and tear families apart, starting with the one that surprises almost everyone: a will does not avoid probate.
Stephen brings 25 years of Florida estate planning experience to the conversation. He covers why middle-class families need a plan as much as the wealthy do, what Florida’s homestead and elective share laws can do to a surviving spouse, and why an estate plan signed decades ago in another state can create serious problems today.
He also shares a case that still stays with him, one that shows exactly what happens when planning falls short and family conflict fills the gap.
If any of this sounds familiar, this episode is a good place to start.
In this episode, you will hear:
- Why a will does not avoid probate in Florida, and what a will actually does
- Estate planning for every family, not just high-net-worth individuals
- How Florida’s intestacy statutes decide where assets go when there’s no plan
- The five life changes that should trigger an immediate plan review
- Why out-of-state estate plans often fail Florida’s homestead and elective share laws
- The real risks facing blended families and surviving spouses without proper documents
- Why “set it and forget it” is one of the most costly mistakes Florida families make
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