South Florida Estate Planning and Probate Attorney

South Florida is one of the most culturally diverse and economically dynamic regions in the country. From the planned communities of western Broward County to the waterfront estates of Collier County, residents here hold assets that demand careful legal planning — international business interests, multi-generational real estate, vacation properties, and retirement portfolios built over decades.

Bucelo Diaz Law has offices in Weston and Naples, placing us at the center of the South Florida communities we serve. We focus exclusively on Florida estate planning, probate, wills, trusts, and real estate law — and we serve clients in English and Spanish.

Whether you live in Broward, Miami-Dade, Palm Beach, Collier, or Lee County, call (954) 399-1910 or contact us online for a free consultation.

Why Estate Planning Matters in South Florida

South Florida is not a single market — it is a collection of distinct communities with different demographics, property values, and planning needs. What ties them together is that residents here hold significant real estate, often across multiple counties or states, and many come from cultures where estate planning was not prioritized in prior generations.

Florida law provides powerful tools for protecting your family and your assets, but they are Florida-specific. The homestead exemption under Article X, Section 4 of the Florida Constitution protects your primary residence from most creditors and provides property tax benefits through the Save Our Homes cap. The elective share statute gives surviving spouses a right to 30% of the augmented estate. Trust administration in Florida follows Chapter 736, with its own rules for trustee duties, accountings, and distributions.

If you moved to South Florida from another state — and many residents have — your existing estate plan likely does not account for these Florida-specific provisions. A plan drafted in New York, New Jersey, or a Latin American country may create gaps or conflicts that only surface after it is too late to fix them.

For South Florida residents, a sound estate plan typically addresses:

• Homestead protection and proper titling. How your South Florida home is titled affects both its creditor protection and how it transfers at death. Mistakes in titling can inadvertently waive the homestead exemption or conflict with your will.
• International and cross-border assets. Residents with property, accounts, or business interests outside the United States need coordinated planning that addresses both Florida law and the laws of the foreign jurisdiction.
• High-value real estate. Waterfront condos in Fort Lauderdale, single-family homes in Weston, gulf-front properties in Naples — without a trust, each property passes through probate in the county where it is located.
• Blended and multi-generational families. Second marriages, stepchildren, and elderly parents living in the household create planning complexities that a basic will cannot address.
• Business succession. South Florida’s economy includes thousands of small businesses and professional practices. A succession plan protects the business, the owner’s family, and the employees who depend on it.

Estate Planning in Broward and Miami-Dade Counties

Our home office is in Weston, at the heart of western Broward County. We work with families across Weston, Pembroke Pines, Miramar, Davie, Plantation, Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood, and the surrounding communities every day. Many of our Broward County clients are dual-income professionals, business owners, and families with young children who need guardianship designations, trusts to avoid probate, and powers of attorney that ensure continuity if something happens unexpectedly.

Miami-Dade County adds another layer of complexity. International families with ties to Latin America and the Caribbean often hold assets across borders. Business owners in Doral, Coral Gables, and Brickell face succession questions that involve both Florida law and foreign corporate structures. Our bilingual team works with these families in English and Spanish to create plans that account for the full scope of their assets and obligations.

If you are looking for an estate planning attorney in Weston or the broader Broward-Dade area, our office is here to help.

Estate Planning in Collier and Lee Counties

Southwest Florida is home to one of the highest concentrations of wealth in the state. Naples, Bonita Springs, Marco Island, Estero, and the communities along the Gulf Coast attract retirees, seasonal residents, and high-net-worth individuals who are often establishing Florida domicile for the first time.

For new Florida residents, domicile establishment is the first step. Filing a Declaration of Domicile with the Collier or Lee County Clerk, updating your voter registration, and obtaining a Florida driver’s license are important — but the real work is updating your estate plan. Your will, trust, powers of attorney, and healthcare directives should be drafted or revised to comply with Florida law. Out-of-state documents may not work the way you expect when tested in a Florida court.

Collier County real estate also demands attention. Waterfront homes, golf course properties, and barrier island condos on Marco Island carry significant value. Without a trust, each property passes through Collier County probate — the 20th Judicial Circuit — adding cost, delay, and public disclosure to the transfer of your estate.

From our Naples office, we serve clients throughout Collier and Lee counties with in-person meetings, phone consultations, and Zoom sessions.

Probate in South Florida

When a loved one passes away in South Florida, their estate typically goes through probate in the county circuit court where they lived. Broward County probate is handled by the 17th Judicial Circuit. Miami-Dade uses the 11th Judicial Circuit. Collier County falls under the 20th Judicial Circuit. Each court has its own local rules and procedures, even though they all operate under the same Florida Probate Code.

We help families through every stage of the probate process:

• Formal administration — the standard process for estates valued at more than $75,000 or when the decedent passed less than two years ago.
• Summary administration — a simplified process for smaller estates or when the decedent has been dead for more than two years.
• Ancillary probate — required when a South Florida resident owned property in another state, or when a non-Florida resident owned property in Broward, Miami-Dade, Collier, or Lee County.
• Beneficiary representation — if you are a beneficiary or heir, we protect your legal rights and ensure the estate is administered properly.

The goal of good estate planning is to keep your family out of probate court altogether. But when probate is necessary, having an attorney who knows the local court procedures makes the process faster and less costly.

Estate Planning Services for South Florida Residents

Every estate plan we build is grounded in the Florida statutes that govern property transfers, trust administration, and probate. Our services include:

Wills and Trusts

A will names who inherits your assets and designates a personal representative. A revocable living trust goes further — it allows your South Florida home and other assets to pass directly to beneficiaries without court involvement. For couples, a joint trust consolidates shared assets into a single structure. Families with larger estates may also benefit from irrevocable trusts that remove assets from the taxable estate and provide creditor protection.

Powers of Attorney and Healthcare Directives

A durable power of attorney designates someone to manage your finances if you become incapacitated. A healthcare surrogate designation and living will ensure your medical wishes are followed. These documents are essential for every South Florida adult, but especially for seasonal residents who may not have family nearby when a medical emergency occurs.

Domicile Establishment for New Florida Residents

If you recently moved to South Florida from another state, your estate plan should be reviewed and updated to comply with Florida law. We help new residents establish domicile, update their documents, and ensure their plan takes full advantage of Florida’s homestead and creditor protections.

Why South Florida Clients Choose Bucelo Diaz Law

Communities We Serve in South Florida

Bucelo Diaz Law serves clients throughout South Florida, including the following communities. We also serve clients in Central Florida, North Florida, and statewide.

• Weston
• Fort Lauderdale
• Pembroke Pines
• Miramar
• Davie
• Plantation
• Hollywood
• Coral Springs
• Miami
• Doral
• Coral Gables
• Boca Raton
• West Palm Beach
• Naples
• Bonita Springs
• Marco Island
• Fort Myers
• Estero
• Cape Coral

Whether you live in a planned community in western Broward, a waterfront condo in Fort Lauderdale, or a golf course home in Naples, our attorneys deliver estate planning and probate guidance grounded in the Florida statutes that apply to your specific situation.