Florida Wills for Professionals & Physicians

A will is the foundation of nearly every estate plan, but for a physician or established professional it does far more than name who gets the furniture. It appoints the personal representative who will administer a potentially complex estate, names guardians for minor children, and can create testamentary trusts to manage assets for a surviving spouse or heirs who are not ready to receive a large inheritance outright. Our North Miami practice drafts wills that account for practice interests, partnership buy-sell provisions, and the liability realities that high-earning professionals face.

What Makes a Will Valid in Florida

Florida Statute Section 732.502 sets strict execution rules. The will must be in writing, signed by the testator at the end, and signed by two witnesses who sign in the presence of the testator and of each other. Florida does not recognize handwritten (holographic) wills that lack proper witnessing, even if valid where they were written, and it does not recognize oral wills. Because the formalities are unforgiving, a will drafted casually or downloaded online frequently fails when it matters most.

Self-Proving Wills Save Time Later

Florida allows a will to be made self-proving under Section 732.503 by adding a notarized acknowledgment signed by the testator and witnesses. A self-proving will lets the court admit the document to probate without locating witnesses years later. For busy professionals whose witnesses may move or retire, this small step prevents real delay during formal administration.

The Personal Representative

Your will names the personal representative who settles the estate. Florida imposes eligibility rules: a non-relative who lives out of state generally cannot serve, though a spouse, child, parent, sibling, or other close relative may serve regardless of residence. Choosing someone capable of handling business interests, valuations, and creditor claims matters when the estate includes a medical or professional practice.

What a Will Does Not Control

A will only governs assets that pass through probate. Retirement accounts, life insurance, payable-on-death accounts, jointly titled property, and assets held in a revocable trust pass by their own terms. Florida homestead also passes outside the will and is subject to constitutional devise restrictions when a spouse or minor child survives. We coordinate your will with these non-probate transfers so the whole plan moves in the same direction.

Updating and Revoking a Will

Marriage, divorce, a new child, a practice sale, or a move to Florida from another state are all reasons to revisit your will. Florida law revokes certain provisions in favor of a former spouse upon divorce, but relying on default rules is risky. A codicil or a fully restated will keeps your plan accurate.

Consult a Florida Attorney

This information is general and not a substitute for legal advice. The right structure depends on your assets, family, and practice. Speak with a licensed Florida estate planning attorney before drafting or signing a will. Contact our North Miami office to begin.