Estate Planning Attorney in Jupiter, FL
Quick Answers on Jupiter Estate Planning
- Florida has no state estate tax and no state income tax. Plans here only address federal estate tax (applying above a multi-million-dollar federal exemption per person).
- Jupiter estate matters route to the 15th Judicial Circuit Court in Palm Beach County. The PBC North County Branch at 3188 PGA Boulevard is the closest courthouse for many Jupiter matters.
- Our West Palm Beach office is approximately 25 minutes south of Jupiter. In-person consultations available for Jupiter residents who prefer them.
- A will from another state is generally valid in Florida, but homestead, elective share, and POA provisions usually need updating after relocation.
- Florida's elective share (Statute 732.2065) guarantees a surviving spouse 30% of the elective estate. A spouse cannot be fully disinherited.
- A revocable living trust avoids probate. A will alone does not.
- Florida homestead protection is unlimited by value for primary residences within the acreage limit (½ acre municipal, 160 acres rural).
Start Your Florida Estate Plan
Free 30-minute consultation. Our West Palm Beach office is approximately 25 minutes south of Jupiter. In-person or remote consultations available.
What does a complete Florida estate plan include?
Most Jupiter clients work with us on the same seven-document package, customized to their family and asset situation:
- Last Will and Testament. Names beneficiaries, appoints a personal representative (Florida's term for executor), and designates guardians for minor children.
- Revocable Living Trust. Holds titled assets outside of probate and directs their distribution. Most useful when the estate includes real estate in multiple states, business interests, or significant non-retirement financial assets. Deeper coverage on our trust creation practice.
- Pour-Over Will. Works alongside a trust to catch any assets that weren't retitled into the trust during life.
- Durable Power of Attorney. Authorizes someone to handle finances if you become incapacitated. Florida law requires specific formalities. See our breakdown on why a durable POA matters in Florida.
- Designation of Healthcare Surrogate. Names who makes medical decisions if you can't. Florida separates this from the financial POA.
- Living Will. Specifies preferences for end-of-life care.
- HIPAA Authorization. Allows designated people to access your medical information.
Jupiter client profiles
Jupiter's demographic mix concentrates several distinct estate planning client profiles.
Ultra-high-net-worth coastal residents. Jupiter's oceanfront, Intracoastal, and Loxahatchee River corridors include some of South Florida's most valuable residential properties. Estate planning here often involves federal estate tax exposure, multi-state property coordination, and sophisticated trust structures (ILITs, GRATs, SLATs, dynasty trusts).
Sailing and boating community. Jupiter's strong sailing and boating culture means many residents own significant marine assets (yachts, sailboats, sport fishing boats) plus marina slips or boat houses. Vessel ownership often involves multi-state registration considerations and specific estate planning treatment.
Retired executives and professionals. Jupiter draws a substantial population of retired executives, professionals, and business owners. Plans here often integrate executive compensation legacies (stock options, deferred compensation, pension elections) with current Florida residency and estate structures.
Country club community residents. Admirals Cove, Jupiter Hills, Trump National, Loxahatchee Club, and Frenchman's Creek concentrate significant wealth in members-only communities. Country club memberships often have specific transfer requirements that need coordination with the club office during estate planning.
Snowbirds and seasonal residents. Many Jupiter residents maintain primary residency in another state. Florida-situs trusts and proper residency documentation capture meaningful tax and asset protection benefits.
What makes Florida estate planning different from other states?
Three things set Florida apart, and they all affect how a plan gets drafted.
No state estate tax, no state income tax. Florida is one of the most tax-friendly states in the country for estate purposes. Estates only face federal estate tax, and only on amounts above the federal exemption. For Jupiter's substantial high-net-worth population, this is one of the primary reasons many residents chose to establish Florida domicile.
Unlimited homestead protection. Florida's constitutional homestead shields your primary residence from most creditors with no dollar cap, only an acreage limit (half an acre inside municipal boundaries, 160 acres outside). Other states cap homestead at a fixed dollar amount.
A mandatory 30% elective share for surviving spouses. Under Florida Statute 732.2065, a spouse cannot be fully disinherited. The elective share extends to an "expanded estate" that includes most non-probate transfers.
Will vs. revocable living trust: which one do you need?
| Feature | Will only | Revocable Living Trust |
|---|---|---|
| Goes through probate? | Yes, full court-supervised administration in PBC's 15th Judicial Circuit | No, assets in the trust skip probate entirely |
| Privacy | Public record at the PBC Clerk | Private, no public filing required |
| Out-of-state property | Each state requires its own probate (ancillary) | One trust covers all states |
| Cost to set up | Lower | Higher (drafting + funding) |
| Cost at death | Higher (probate fees scale with estate value) | Lower (private administration) |
| Speed of distribution | 6 to 12 months for uncontested formal administration | Weeks, not months |
| Best for | Estates under $500K, single-state assets, simple family | Estates over $500K, multi-state property, blended families, business interests, federal estate tax exposure |
For deeper trust drafting and funding work, see our West Palm Beach trust creation page. For our general comparison: why Florida residents are choosing living trusts over wills.
Relocating to Jupiter or updating an old plan?
Free initial consultation. We review your existing documents, identify Florida-specific gaps, and quote flat fees for any rework. Our West Palm Beach office is approximately 25 minutes south of Jupiter for in-person meetings. Call (561) 672-1161 or submit through the contact form.
Florida estate plan: timeline and cost
| Plan complexity | Timeline | Typical scope |
|---|---|---|
| Simple plan | 1 to 2 weeks | Will, POA, healthcare surrogate, living will, HIPAA. Single state, modest estate, no business interests. |
| Standard revocable trust plan | 2 to 3 weeks | Revocable Living Trust, pour-over will, full ancillary documents, initial funding instructions. |
| Complex multi-state plan | 4 to 8 weeks | Multi-state property, blended family considerations, business succession, asset protection structuring. |
| High-net-worth / tax-driven plan | 2 to 6 months | Federal estate tax planning, ILITs, QPRTs, GRATs, advanced trust structures, coordination with tax counsel. |
Routine estate planning work is handled on a flat-fee basis with cost certainty disclosed before engagement. Complex tax-driven matters may use alternative billing arrangements.
Jupiter's concentration of ultra-high-net-worth coastal residents creates federal estate tax exposure considerations that most generic Florida estate plans skip. While Florida has no state estate tax, the federal estate tax still applies above the federal exemption (currently in the multi-million-dollar range per person, but scheduled to drop significantly under current law unless extended). For estates in the federal-taxable range, the planning shifts from probate avoidance to active tax reduction.
The structures that actually move the needle for HNW Jupiter clients include: ILITs (irrevocable life insurance trusts) to hold large life insurance policies outside the taxable estate; QPRTs (qualified personal residence trusts) to transfer a primary residence at a discounted gift tax value; GRATs (grantor retained annuity trusts) to transfer appreciating assets with minimal gift tax cost; SLATs (spousal lifetime access trusts) to use the current federal exemption while maintaining indirect access through a spouse; and dynasty trusts to multi-generation transfer outside the estate tax system. None of these structures are appropriate for everyone, and the right combination depends on age, family structure, asset mix, and tolerance for irrevocable commitments. The planning window matters: gifts made years before death are far harder to challenge than late-stage gifts, and the current federal exemption may not last. We coordinate this with tax counsel for clients whose estates approach or exceed the federal exemption.
What happens if a Jupiter resident dies without an estate plan?
Intestacy. Florida Statute 732 governs how the estate gets distributed, and the order is fixed:
- Spouse and no descendants: entire estate to spouse
- Spouse and descendants, all common to both: entire estate to spouse
- Spouse and decedent's descendants from a prior relationship: 50% to spouse, 50% to descendants
- Descendants but no spouse: entire estate to descendants per stirpes
- No spouse or descendants: parents, then siblings, then more distant relatives
Unmarried partners and stepchildren who weren't legally adopted receive nothing under intestacy. Full breakdown in our guide to Florida intestacy laws.
Why work with Kelley, Grant & Tanis, P.A.
Brett Halperin leads the firm's estate planning, probate, trust administration, elder law, and asset protection practice. Brett earned his JD from the University of Florida Levin College of Law and his Bachelor's in Economics from the University of Florida, where he was a member of Florida Blue Key. He volunteers with the Mission United Veterans Pro-Bono Legal Project and the Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County. He's a member in good standing of the Florida Bar. Full attorney bios on our attorneys page.
The firm has two offices in South Florida, with the West Palm Beach office approximately 25 minutes south of Jupiter:
- West Palm Beach Office: 1645 Palm Beach Lakes Blvd, Suite #1200-3, West Palm Beach, FL 33401 (closest to Jupiter). In-person consultations available by appointment.
- Boca Raton Office: 370 Camino Gardens Blvd., Suite #301, Boca Raton, FL 33432.
Jupiter clients can choose between in-person meetings at our West Palm Beach office or remote consultations by phone and video. Final document signing can happen in-office or via remote online notarization (RON), whichever the client prefers.
Estate planning integrates with the firm's trust creation, probate, and asset protection practices.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where are Jupiter estate matters heard if they go to court?
Jupiter is in Palm Beach County, which is the 15th Judicial Circuit. Probate matters route through PBC courthouses. The PBC North County Branch at 3188 PGA Boulevard, Palm Beach Gardens, is the closest courthouse for many Jupiter matters; the main PBC courthouse is at 205 N. Dixie Highway, West Palm Beach.
Does Florida have an estate tax?
No. Florida has no state estate tax and no state inheritance tax. Estates only face federal estate tax, and only on amounts above the federal exemption (currently in the multi-million-dollar range per person). This is one of the primary reasons many high-net-worth residents establish Florida domicile.
Do I need a will or a trust in Jupiter?
Every Florida resident with assets or minor children should have at least a will. Whether you also need a revocable living trust depends on estate size, asset complexity, and whether you own property in multiple states. Jupiter's typical resident profile (coastal property owners, country club community residents, retired executives, multi-state property owners) frequently meets the threshold where a trust adds significant value.
What happens if I move to Florida and have an out-of-state estate plan?
Your will is probably still valid, but it may not capture Florida's homestead rules, elective share, or tax advantages. Your revocable trust still holds your assets but may need provisions updated. Your financial power of attorney may not be accepted by Florida banks. Your healthcare documents should be replaced with Florida-form versions. A new resident review typically takes one to two weeks.
What advanced trust structures should HNW Jupiter clients consider?
For estates approaching or exceeding the federal estate tax exemption, structures like ILITs (irrevocable life insurance trusts), QPRTs (qualified personal residence trusts), GRATs (grantor retained annuity trusts), SLATs (spousal lifetime access trusts), and dynasty trusts can substantially reduce federal estate tax exposure. The right combination depends on age, family structure, asset mix, and tolerance for irrevocable commitments. We coordinate these with tax counsel.
What is Florida's elective share for surviving spouses?
Florida Statute 732.2065 guarantees a surviving spouse 30% of the elective estate, an expanded definition that includes probate assets plus most non-probate transfers. A spouse cannot be fully disinherited in Florida.
How long does it take to set up a Jupiter estate plan?
For most clients, two to three weeks from initial consultation to fully signed documents. High-net-worth plans involving advanced trust structures or tax-driven planning typically take longer (two to six months).
Can a Jupiter estate plan be done in person at your WPB office?
Yes. Our West Palm Beach office at 1645 Palm Beach Lakes Blvd. is approximately 25 minutes south of Jupiter via I-95. In-person consultations and document signings are available by appointment. Most clients also have the option to handle some or all of the work remotely via phone, video, and remote online notarization (RON).
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Free 30-minute consultation with a Florida estate planning attorney. We serve Jupiter, Palm Beach Gardens, Tequesta, and northern Palm Beach County. In-person at our nearby WPB office or remote consultations available.
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