A Caring Team with a Personal Approach St. Petersburg's Expert Estate And Medicaid Planning Attorneys

St. Petersburg Estate Planning & Probate Lawyer

Helping Families Prepare for the Future

Thinking about the future can be stressful. There’s no telling what the future holds, and feeling unprepared for it can make it tempting to avoid thinking about it altogether. Thankfully, there are many things you can do to make sure that you and your loved ones will be taken care of.

HKH Elder Law is an:

We provide a wide range of legal services for our clients, including:

Every family has different needs. Our experience provides us with an important framework for assisting clients, but we provide every client with personalized service to learn more about their goals.

We strive to help our clients find peace of mind for the future. You deserve to feel protected, and our experienced legal team can help you live your life to the fullest while feeling assured that you have a plan for the future.

What Is the Probate Process in Florida?

Probate is defined as the court-supervised process of distributing the assets of a deceased individual. It also includes paying off their debts.

The assets that are included in the probate process may include:

  • Their Financial Accounts
  • Life Insurance Policy
  • Real Estate Solely in Their Name

The personal representative is required to have attorney representation and should employ an attorney that will walk them through this, sometimes confusing, process.

How Long Does Probate Take in Florida?

The probate process is different in every state. There are a variety of factors that determine the kind of process you are dealing with and how long you should expect to complete the probate process.

The complexity and time span for the probate process also depend on the circumstances of the estate. Most estates in Florida can be settled within one year.

To learn more about the specifics of the Florida probate process, visit our probate page.

Expert Firm That Takes Care of Clients Like Family

We Have The Expertise To Provide You With The Advice That You Need To Make Informed, Confident Decisions. We Are Here To Help Meet Your Needs And To Build A Trusted Relationship.

See What Our Clients Have To Say

  • HKH Elder Law guided us through the complications patiently, and efficiently. The words that come to mind are professionalism, flexibility, people skills, integrity, and responsiveness. Great experience - highly recommend!
    - Marcia F.
  • Experts in their field. Very knowledgeable. Offer free zoom meetings that cover so many subjects including Medicare, Medicaid, will, estate planning.”Experts in their field. Very knowledgeable. Offer free zoom meetings that cover so many subjects inc
    - Ursula R.
  • She and her entire team truly care about their clients.
    - Chelsie L.
  • "They will make things clear and simple for you."
    As a family member who has provided support for seven family members as they moved through the continuum of being healthy and independent to requiring end-of-life care, I can heartily recommend the Hill and Kinsella Law Firm. I was referred to April Hill by my own stellar estate planning attorney when I needed assistance with my parents in the Tampa Bay area. I couldn't be more pleased with the entire process for creating updated documents to the execution of those documents to follow-up counsel in applying the documents. If you are considering an attorney/firm to help you with this part of your life or are a family member who needs guidance, call Hill and Kinsella. They will make things clear and simple for you.
    - Tracy S.
    • Martindale Hubble
    • Florida Bar
    • NAELA
    • NEFL
    • Avvo

      Why Hire HKH Elder Law

      • We Are Client Focused & Results Driven
      • When You Hire Us, You Get The Whole Team
      • You Can Expect Fast Response Times

      We Are Here For You!

      Contact Us To Schedule Your Free Consultation
      • Please enter your first name.
      • Please enter your last name.
      • Please enter your phone number.
        This isn't a valid phone number.
      • Please enter your email address.
        This isn't a valid email address.
      • Please make a selection.
      • Please enter a message.
      • By submitting, you agree to be contacted about your request & other information using automated technology. Message frequency varies. Msg & data rates may apply. Text STOP to cancel. Acceptable Use Policy

      Need Answers to Your Questions?

      You Are Not Alone. We Are Here to Help.

      Whether you are wondering about estate planning or the rights that your elderly loved one is entitled to, there are many questions people have when dealing with these issues.

      Part of what makes creating a will or trust so intimidating is that few people understand what it entails or where to even begin. Like most things in life, estate planning becomes less of a daunting task once you start learning the process.

      You don’t have to do this alone. Our knowledgeable estate planning lawyers can guide through the entire process step-by-step. We encourage our clients to ask questions and have an open dialogue with our staff to ensure that they get the most of out of our services. We are here to help meet your needs and built a trusted relationship.

      Contact us today at (727) 240-2350!

      • Who is part of the life care plan Team?

        The life care plan team can include the elder law attorney, the client, elder care coordinators, geriatric care managers, nursing or medical advisors, financial advisors, and others as needed.

      • What does a life care plan do?

        A life care plan explains how the elder law attorney will protect and maximize the elder’s physical, legal, and financial well-being from the day the plan is created until the end of his or her life.

      • Can Medicaid take my assets after I die?
        The assets of a deceased person who has received Medicaid benefits are at risk of being taken by the state to repay for Medicaid services provided. Thorough consideration of Medicaid estate recovery should be part of good Medicaid planning by an elder law attorney.
      • What about just putting the money into a Medicaid Annuity?

        People finding themselves in a situation where a family member is going into the nursing home are sometimes led to believe that the purchase of an annuity is the best or even the only way out. This is rarely the case. In fact, the use of annuities in Medicaid planning is useful in only a very small percentage of cases. Often, the case can be handled in other ways that are more advantageous to the Medicaid applicant and family.

        An annuity, when purchased, leaves the person locked into what is usually a low-yielding investment, with the remainder possibly going to Medicaid.

        Medicaid laws, rules, and interpretations are constantly changing. Before you rely upon any Medicaid information or advice, you should make sure your advisor knows all the facts of your particular situation and the most current Medicaid laws, rules and interpretations.

      • Can I give away money without penalty?

        Most often not. There is a type of gifting that applies to federal estate tax issues but not Medicaid issues. There are a few specific times when one can gift money without penalty.

      • Why can’t I just give it to my children and then apply?

        Medicaid rules do not allow you to give away money within a certain time period called the lookback. If you give away money within that period you could make yourself ineligible for Medicaid for a long time.

      Let's Stay in Touch!

      You can find knowledgeable guidance for complex legal issues such as estate planning, wills & trusts, Medicaid, probate, elder law, and more at HKH Elder Law.