Preparing Your Estate for Coming Storms

No one can argue that living in Florida can be a dream. Crystal coasts, mild winters… there is the hiccup, of course, of the reality that Florida experiences its fair share of natural disasters.

Natural disasters took prime focus on the world stage recently when Russia experienced an 8.8 magnitude earthquake. The sixth largest earthquake in reported history (which triggered a volcano) also prompted tsunami warnings and tsunami watches all over the world. Hawaii, Alaska, the entire U.S. west coast, Australia, and other nations had warnings and actions in place to deal with the looming threat.

Floridians are no strangers to preparing for what nature may have in store. Similarly, preparing your estate plan to protect your assets guards your loved ones and your legacy. This article will discuss some of the reasons that estate planning is vital for Floridians, and steps you can take to ensure your plan is ready for whatever nature throws your way. For specific, legal advice tailored to your own circumstances, contact an esteemed wills & probate attorney at Suncoast Civil Law.

Estate Planning Basics

Drafting a last will and testament is a great beginning to your estate plan – but it would be a mistake to just assume that the road must end there. Creating a comprehensive strategy for managing your assets and planning for your family – that is the real goal. This becomes even more important in Florida, where there is a known danger of future hurricane risk.

Effective estate plans might include legal tools and strategies that can help care for your wishes and your loved ones in unforeseen circumstances. Such as:

• A last will and testament – addressing distribution of assets and appointing guardians for minor children.
• A Power of Attorney – giving a named individual the authority to handle financial and legal issues if you become unable to do so.
• Advance healthcare directives – giving instruction on your wishes for medical care in the event you become incapacitated.
• Trusts – valuable tools that can manage and protect assets for your beneficiaries, and can be configured to avoid certain probate issues. Contact one of our attorneys to learn more.

Be Mindful

Whenever natural disasters occur, we are reminded of certain important things. First, preparedness matters. Chaos is limited when an accurate, comprehensive, up-to-date plan is in place.

Along with that, adequate storage and appropriate access to important information can be vital. Ensure that your preparation does not go to waste – your files must survive a natural disaster and be accessible to those who need to peruse it.  Store your files securely, have backups, digitize, and make sure your family knows and understands the plan. Creating a home inventory can be helpful here, too. So your loved ones can more easily navigate any necessary insurance claims.

Contact Suncoast Civil Law

While we can never know what precisely is coming our way, we do know this: mother nature is unpredictable. And the Atlantic has at least one storm left in her. A skilled Sarasota wills and probate lawyer at Suncoast Civil Law can help you navigate through your own probate issues, and help to build an estate plan that protects your assets, no matter what comes your way. Contact our office today to begin speaking with our experienced team.
 

Sources:

abcnews.go.com/US/tsunami-watch-issued-hawaii-after-80-magnitude-earthquake/story?id=124190121

weather.com/storms/hurricane/news/2025-07-24-hurricane-season-peak-august-september-october