South Florida's Premier Estate Planning Attorneys - Trusted By Generations of Floridians℠ - Since 1978

(561) 990-9897
Living Trust Attorney Boca Raton | Palm Beach & Broward County | Florida Wills & Trusts

Living Trust Attorneys in Boca Raton, Florida

A living trust is one of the most effective tools for protecting your assets, avoiding Florida probate, and ensuring your wishes are carried out exactly as you intend. Our Board Certified attorney has brought peace of mind to over 11,000 South Florida families.

Board Certified 47+ Years Experience 11,000+ Clients

Schedule a Consultation

Discuss your estate planning needs with an experienced attorney.

(561) 990-9897
Schedule Consultation
Serving Palm Beach & Broward Counties
Florida Bar Board Certified
Boca Raton Resident Since 1955

What Is a Living Trust?

A living trust is a legal document that places your assets—your home, bank accounts, investments, and other property—into a trust while you're still alive. You remain in complete control as the trustee, managing your assets exactly as you do now. The difference is that when you pass away, those assets transfer directly to your beneficiaries without going through Florida's probate court.

Unlike a will, which only takes effect after death and must go through probate, a living trust works immediately and privately. Your family avoids the delays, expenses, and public nature of probate proceedings—a significant advantage for South Florida families.

In Florida, probate typically takes 6–12 months and can cost 3–5% of the estate's value in attorney and court fees. A properly funded living trust avoids this entirely.

Living trusts are also called "revocable trusts" because you can change or revoke them at any time during your lifetime. You can add or remove assets, change beneficiaries, or dissolve the trust entirely. You maintain complete flexibility while gaining significant protections for your family.

For Palm Beach County and Broward County residents, a living trust also provides protection if you become incapacitated—your successor trustee can step in immediately to manage your affairs without court intervention. This is particularly valuable for families with aging parents or those concerned about Alzheimer's or other conditions.

"We put off creating a trust for years because it seemed complicated. Grant made it so easy—he explained everything in plain English and handled all the paperwork. Now our home and accounts are protected, and our kids won't have to deal with probate."

— Richard & Ellen T., Delray Beach

"Having contact with Ms. Lebensohn has been incredible! She is professional, kind, and gets the job done! I would not hesitate to hire her again."

— Carol M.

What a Living Trust Includes

Living Trust vs. Will in Florida

Understanding the key differences helps you choose the right estate planning approach for your family.

FeatureLiving TrustWill Only
Avoids Florida Probate Yes No
Keeps Affairs Private Yes Becomes public record
Incapacity Protection Built-in No protection
Time to Distribute Assets Weeks 6–12+ months
Avoids Ancillary Probate (Multi-State) Yes Probate in each state
Court Supervision Required None Yes, probate court
Estate Administration Costs Minimal 3–5% of estate
Can Be Changed/Revoked Yes Yes
Names Guardian for Minor ChildrenRequires pour-over will Yes

Benefits of a Living Trust in Florida

A living trust provides significant advantages for South Florida families—benefits that a simple will cannot offer.

Avoid Florida Probate

Assets in your trust pass directly to beneficiaries without the 6–12 month delays, 3–5% costs, and court involvement of Palm Beach or Broward County probate.

Maintain Complete Privacy

Unlike wills filed in Florida probate court, trusts don't become public record. Your assets and beneficiaries remain completely private.

Incapacity Protection

If you become incapacitated, your successor trustee can manage your affairs seamlessly—no court-appointed guardian or expensive guardianship proceedings needed.

Control Distribution

Specify exactly when and how beneficiaries receive assets—at certain ages, for education, in increments over time, or with protections for special needs.

Multi-State Asset Protection

Own property in New York, New Jersey, or other states? A living trust avoids costly ancillary probate in each state where you hold real estate.

Flexible & Revocable

Change your trust anytime. Add assets, update beneficiaries, or modify terms as your life circumstances change—marriage, divorce, grandchildren, moves.

Who Should Consider a Living Trust?

Living trusts aren't just for the wealthy. Many Florida families benefit from the protections and simplicity a trust provides.

Florida Homeowners

If you own real estate in Boca Raton, Delray Beach, Parkland, or anywhere in South Florida, a trust helps your family avoid probate on your most valuable asset.

Blended Families

Ensure children from prior marriages are protected while also providing for your current spouse with carefully structured trust provisions.

Snowbirds & Part-Year Residents

Property in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, or other states? A trust avoids the need for separate probate proceedings in each state.

Privacy-Conscious Individuals

Keep your financial affairs private—trusts don't become public record like probated wills filed in Palm Beach County or Broward County court.

Parents of Minor Children

Control when and how your children receive their inheritance—structured distributions at 25, 30, and 35 rather than a lump sum at age 18.

Those Concerned About Incapacity

Your successor trustee can step in immediately if you become unable to manage your affairs—critical protection as we age.

Living Trust Cost in Florida

One of the most common questions we hear is "How much does a living trust cost in Florida?" The answer depends on your specific situation, but we believe in transparent, flat-fee pricing with no surprises.

While online legal services advertise trust templates for a few hundred dollars, these generic forms often fail to address Florida's unique laws—including homestead protections, elective share rules, and documentary stamp tax requirements. An improperly drafted or unfunded trust can actually make things worse for your family.

When you compare the cost of creating a living trust to the cost of Florida probate (typically 3–5% of the estate's value plus months of delays), most families find that a trust pays for itself many times over.

Factors That Affect Living Trust Cost

  • Single person vs. married couple (joint trust)
  • Number of real estate properties to transfer
  • Complexity of distribution instructions
  • Special provisions (special needs, asset protection)
  • Business interests or complex assets

Complete Living Trust Package

$1,500 – $3,500+

Flat fee · No hourly billing · No surprises

Package Includes:

  • Revocable Living Trust
  • Pour-Over Will
  • Durable Power of Attorney
  • Healthcare Surrogate
  • Living Will
  • Deed Preparation (1 property)
  • Trust Funding Guidance
Get Your Quote

Our Living Trust Process

We make creating your living trust straightforward. Most clients complete the process within two to three weeks.

1

Consultation

We discuss your goals, family situation, and assets to determine if a living trust is right for you. You'll leave with clear pricing.

2

Document Drafting

Our attorneys prepare your customized trust documents along with supporting estate planning documents (3–5 business days).

3

Review & Signing

We review every document with you at our Boca Raton office, answer your questions, and execute everything properly.

4

Trust Funding

We help transfer your assets into the trust—including preparing and recording deeds for your Florida real estate.

Related Estate Planning Services

A living trust works best as part of a comprehensive estate plan. Learn about related services.

Trust Amendments

Update your existing trust after life changes.

Pour-Over Wills

Capture assets outside your trust.

Deed Transfers

Transfer real estate into your trust.

Asset Protection

Advanced strategies beyond basic trusts.

Living Trust FAQs for Florida Residents

Answers to common questions about living trusts in Florida.

A will only takes effect after you die and must go through Florida probate court, which can take 6–12 months and cost 3–5% of your estate. A living trust takes effect immediately, avoids probate entirely, keeps your affairs private (wills become public record), and provides protection if you become incapacitated. Most comprehensive estate plans include both a trust and a pour-over will.
No. You serve as the trustee of your own revocable living trust, which means you maintain complete control over all assets. You can buy, sell, spend, and manage everything exactly as you do now. You can also change or revoke the trust at any time during your lifetime.
Living trust costs in Florida typically range from $1,500 to $3,500+ depending on complexity. Our comprehensive packages include the trust document, pour-over will, power of attorney, healthcare directive, living will, and trust funding assistance including deed preparation. We provide transparent flat-fee pricing during your consultation—no hourly billing surprises.
Most living trusts can be completed within 2–3 weeks from initial consultation to final signing. The timeline includes document drafting (3–5 business days), your review period, the signing appointment at our Boca Raton office, and trust funding. Complex situations involving business interests or multiple properties may take longer.
While not legally required, working with an experienced Florida estate planning attorney is strongly recommended. Florida has unique laws including homestead protections, elective share rules, documentary stamp tax requirements, and specific trust formalities that generic online forms don't address. An improperly drafted trust can fail to avoid probate or create unintended consequences.
A standard revocable living trust does not protect assets from your creditors during your lifetime—because you can revoke it, creditors can reach those assets. However, irrevocable trust strategies can provide asset protection. Florida also offers strong homestead protections that work alongside your trust planning. We can discuss whether asset protection planning makes sense for your situation.
A trust only controls assets actually transferred into it. If you create a trust but never re-title your assets, those assets will still go through probate—defeating the trust's primary purpose. This is why we include trust funding assistance, including deed preparation for real estate, as part of our service.
Yes. A revocable living trust can be amended or completely revoked at any time during your lifetime, as long as you're mentally competent. Many clients update their trusts after major life changes—marriage, divorce, births, deaths, moving to Florida, or significant changes in assets. We offer trust amendment services for existing clients.
For most Florida homeowners, a living trust offers significant advantages over a will alone: avoiding 6–12 months of probate, saving 3–5% in probate costs, maintaining privacy (wills become public record in Palm Beach and Broward County courts), providing incapacity protection, and avoiding ancillary probate if you own property in other states. A will is still included as part of a complete trust-based estate plan.
One size does not fit all when it comes to funding your trust. Although typically transfer of your home (including Florida homestead property), other real estate, bank accounts, brokerage accounts, and business interests into your living trust is usually worth considering. Retirement accounts (IRAs, 401ks) are not typically funded into your living trust due to certain adverse tax consequences. Life insurance can name the trust as beneficiary rather than being retitled. We provide detailed guidance on funding your trust with each type of asset, consistent with your unique needs.

Serving Palm Beach & Broward County Communities

Boca Raton Delray Beach Boynton Beach Highland Beach Parkland Weston Fort Lauderdale Southwest Ranches

Ready to Create Your Living Trust?

Schedule a consultation to discuss your estate planning goals. We'll explain your options clearly and help you decide if a living trust is right for your family.

(561) 990-9897
Schedule Consultation