Trusts Forward Thinking for Every Season of Life

Boca Raton Trusts Lawyers

Focused Trust Planning, Backed by 2,400+ Cases & Two Decades of Experience

For many individuals and families, a trust is one of the most powerful and flexible estate planning tools available. Not every Florida resident needs one, but many benefit from the control, efficiency, and protection trusts can provide. Whether one is right for you depends on your assets, family structure, and long-term goals.

At LEEP LAW GROUP, we help clients throughout South Florida determine whether a trust fits their situation and, if so, design customized structures built around their lives, not a template. Our trust attorneys have worked with individuals and families at every stage of life, from straightforward revocable living trusts to complex multi-generational planning.

Our legal team brings 24+ years of combined experience delivering effective estate plans, including trust-based plans for high-net-worth individuals, to Floridians across diverse backgrounds. Founding partners Tara Wood and Christine Venezia have both been selected to Super Lawyers, and Christine holds a 10.0 Top Attorney rating from Avvo.

Book a complimentary virtual consultation with a Boca Raton trust attorney by phone at (561) 760-9685 or contact us online.

Trust Funding: Completing What the Document Starts

Drafting a trust agreement is only the first step. A trust that has been signed but not funded offers no probate-avoidance benefit for the assets left outside it because those assets haven’t been retitled into the trust’s name. Funding closes that gap.

Retitling typically covers several asset categories. Real estate is transferred through a new deed. Bank and brokerage accounts are updated to reflect the trust as owner. Business interests may require an assignment or an amendment to the operating agreement. Each category has its own mechanics and timeline.

Florida homestead property deserves special attention. A deed transferring homestead into a trust must be drafted carefully to preserve the constitutional protections Florida provides. Getting this step wrong can put those protections at risk.

Retirement accounts such as IRAs and 401(k)s are generally not retitled into a trust during the account holder’s lifetime because of the tax consequences involved. Instead, the trust may be named as beneficiary, keeping the account’s tax treatment intact while directing proceeds according to the trust’s terms.

Reviewing an existing trust for funding gaps is one of the more common needs we see. Many clients had a trust drafted years ago but never completed the asset transfer process. A trust attorney can identify which assets remain outside the trust and coordinate the retitling work needed to make the plan function as intended.

Choosing a Trustee Under Florida Law

The trustee holds legal title to trust assets and manages them according to the trust’s terms and the fiduciary duty rules set out in Chapter 736 of the Florida Statutes: the Florida Trust Code. Selecting the right trustee is one of the most consequential decisions in the planning process.

Family members serve as trustees in many revocable trusts, particularly when the grantor is the initial trustee. The arrangement works well for day-to-day management but can create difficulty if the trustee lacks investment experience or is asked to make impartial decisions among competing beneficiaries.

Professional trustees, including bank trust departments and independent trust companies, offer continuity, investment knowledge, and institutional impartiality, typically at a higher cost than a family-member arrangement.

Co-trustee arrangements pair a family member with a professional trustee, balancing personal knowledge of the family with institutional capacity. This structure suits situations where the personal relationship matters but professional oversight adds value.

Even a revocable trust in which the grantor serves as initial trustee requires clearly named successor trustees. Without them, a court may need to step in at incapacity or death. That is exactly the outcome a well-structured trust is designed to help avoid.

Types of Trusts We Create for Our Clients

In Florida, trusts are governed by Chapter 736 of the Florida Statutes (the Florida Trust Code). Because Florida is a popular destination for retirees and has robust asset protection laws, the state offers a wide variety of trust structures to meet different financial and family needs.

How We Design Your Trust Strategy

We start by reviewing your assets, beneficiary considerations, tax implications, and potential risk exposure. For high-net-worth clients, this may involve coordination with financial advisors or accountants. From there, we determine whether a trust is appropriate and, if so, which type best serves your goals, explaining the advantages, limitations, and ongoing responsibilities of each structure along the way.

After drafting the trust agreement, we guide you through funding it: properly transferring assets into the trust so it functions as intended. A well-drafted trust that hasn’t been funded won’t fully serve its intended purpose. As your life changes, we remain available to review and update your plan.

The Core Categories of Trusts

Almost every trust starts as one of these two foundational types:

Revocable living trust. The most common Florida estate planning tool. You can change or cancel it at any time while you have capacity. It’s primarily used to avoid probate and manage assets if you become incapacitated.
Irrevocable trust. Once created, it generally can’t be modified or terminated by the grantor. It’s used for asset protection, qualifying for government benefits such as Medicaid, and reducing estate taxes.

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Focused Practice That Protects Your Legacy

By dedicating our practice exclusively to estate planning, elder law, and probate, we deliver the depth of knowledge your family deserves.
Clarity You Can Rely On

We simplify complex legal processes into clear, straightforward steps so you always know your options and feel confident moving forward.
Trusted by Hundreds of Florida Families

Our reputation is built on real relationships, proven results, and the confidence families place in us during life’s most important moments.
Compassionate Guidance Through Life’s Transitions

From planning ahead to navigating loss, we walk beside you with empathy, patience, and clear guidance at every stage.
Personalized Strategies That Honor Your Wishes
We take the time to understand your goals, your family, and your future so every plan is thoughtfully tailored to reflect what matters most to you.
Free Consultations Available

We believe in helping families take the next step with confidence, which is why we offer free virtual consultations for select case types to discuss your options without obligation.

Frequently Asked Questions

LEt US Help You understand your options before taking the next step

A Boca Raton trust attorney helps you and your spouse create, review, and manage trusts that protect your assets, reduce probate delays, and keep your estate private. At LEEP LAW GROUP, we guide clients through trust administration in Palm Beach County, ensuring compliance with Florida Statute Chapter 736, which governs trusts. We explain how to fund and maintain your trust correctly so that it functions exactly as intended and gives your family lasting protection and peace of mind.
A will takes effect after death and directs how assets are distributed, while a trust can manage and protect property during your lifetime and after death. In Florida, trusts often help families avoid probate, minimize estate taxes, and maintain privacy since they are not filed with the court. Many Boca Raton individuals have both documents because together, they form a complete estate plan that simplifies management for the surviving spouse and heirs.
A trust allows you to plan for your family’s financial security by outlining how money, property, or investments should be used after your passing. It can protect your spouse from unnecessary legal delays, like probate, and provide continued support for children or grandchildren. Many families in Boca Raton use marital or family trusts to balance the needs of a surviving spouse with long-term inheritance goals. Our Boca Raton trust attorneys help you design a structure that fits your specific circumstances under Florida law.
Florida recognizes several types of trusts under Florida Statute Chapter 736, each serving different purposes. These include revocable living trusts for flexibility, irrevocable trusts for long-term protection, special needs trusts for loved ones with disabilities, and charitable trusts for families who wish to give back. Our Boca Raton trust lawyers explain which options best fit your goals, how to properly fund each trust, and what ongoing responsibilities you’ll have as the grantor or trustee.
Yes, many Boca Raton families benefit from having both a will and a trust. A will only directs how assets are distributed, while a trust manages those assets efficiently, often without court involvement. This allows your spouse faster access to funds and reduces the stress of probate. Our Boca Raton trust attorneys can review your current plan and recommend whether adding a trust could strengthen your estate and better protect your family’s future.
You should review your trust every few years, or immediately after life changes such as marriage, divorce, the death of a beneficiary, relocation, or a significant asset purchase. Florida’s estate and tax laws evolve, and outdated terms can cause issues for beneficiaries later. At LEEP LAW GROUP, our Boca Raton trust attorneys regularly review and update documents to reflect current Florida regulations, ensuring your plan remains clear, enforceable, and in line with your wishes as your family’s needs change.
If your trust is revocable, you can change or cancel it at any time while you’re alive. Irrevocable trusts, however, are generally permanent, though limited changes may be made with court approval under Florida Statute 736.04113. Our Boca Raton trust lawyers help clients evaluate which type of trust fits their goals and explain how to make updates legally and efficiently. Having professional guidance ensures your trust continues to serve its purpose without risking compliance issues.

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Specialized Florida Trusts We Create

Special needs trust. Allows a person with a disability to receive financial support without losing eligibility for government benefits like Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Medicaid.
Spendthrift trust. Includes specific “spendthrift provisions” that can help prevent a beneficiary from squandering their inheritance or creditors from seizing assets before distribution.
Medicaid asset protection trust. An irrevocable trust designed to help shield assets from the strict asset limits for Florida Medicaid Managed Long-Term Care. It must be established five or more years before applying to avoid the “look-back” penalty.
Qualified income trust. A required tool in Florida for Medicaid applicants whose monthly income exceeds the state’s income cap but isn’t enough to cover nursing home costs.
Land trust. Holds title to real estate for privacy purposes. The names of the actual owners don’t appear in public records.
Pet trust. Florida law allows you to create a trust to provide for your animals after you pass away. It remains valid until the last animal covered by the trust dies.
Charitable remainder trust. Provides income for a set period, with remaining assets going to a designated charity. It can offer tax advantages on capital gains.
Irrevocable life insurance trust. Owns your life insurance policy so the death benefit isn’t counted as part of your taxable estate.
Qualified terminable interest property trust. Often used in second marriages. It provides a surviving spouse with lifetime income while directing remaining assets to the grantor’s children from a prior marriage.
Generation-skipping trust. Transfers assets to your grandchildren, bypassing your children, to help avoid estate tax at each generational level.

Florida-Specific Protections

Community property trust. Available in Florida since 2021, this option allows married couples to treat assets as “community property,” potentially providing a double step-up in basis for tax purposes when one spouse dies.
Asset protection trust. Florida doesn’t have a Domestic Asset Protection Trust statute like some other states, but certain irrevocable trusts can be structured to offer protections against lawsuits and nursing home costs.

Why Consider a Trust?

A trust is a legal arrangement in which one party (the trustee) holds and manages assets for the benefit of another (the beneficiary). Unlike a will, many trusts take effect during your lifetime and continue operating after your death, often without going through probate.

Common Reasons Florida Families Use Trusts

Clients often consider trusts for reasons such as:

Avoiding or minimizing probate
Maintaining privacy (trusts are generally not part of the public record, unlike probate filings)
Providing structured distributions to beneficiaries
Protecting minor children or financially inexperienced heirs
Planning for incapacity
Managing high-net-worth or complex assets
Addressing blended family dynamics
Protecting assets from certain risks or creditors, in specific circumstances
Owning property in multiple states, allowing a single trust structure to cover all of them and help avoid ancillary probate in each

If You Relocated From Another State

South Florida draws a significant number of residents from northeastern states, and trusts drafted elsewhere don’t always travel well. Plans written under another state’s laws often need review and updating to account for Florida’s homestead rules, elective share provisions, and governing law requirements. Our trust lawyers regularly work with clients who arrive with existing plans that need a Florida-specific review before they can function as intended.

A trust isn’t merely about transferring property. It’s about preserving control and creating a clear management framework for the people and assets that matter most to you.

Build Your Estate Plan with a Boca Raton Trust Attorney

Trust planning requires precision, foresight, and a deep understanding of Florida law. With more than 2,400 cases handled across estate planning, elder law, and probate, LEEP LAW GROUP brings substantial experience to every client, including complex and high-net-worth matters.

Founding partners Tara Wood and Christine Venezia have both been selected to Super Lawyers. Christine also holds a 10.0 Top Attorney rating from Avvo. Our practice is focused exclusively on estate planning, elder law, and probate, which means every client works with trust attorneys whose entire practice is built around these areas, not generalists who handle them occasionally.

We listen carefully, explain complex concepts clearly, and design strategies tailored to your specific life and legacy. Our goal isn’t simply to draft documents. It’s to create durable legal structures that can help protect your family and give you lasting peace of mind.

Call (561) 760-9685 or reach us online to discuss your needs in a free consultation with a Boca Raton trust attorney today.

Client Experiences That Speak for Themselves

Real stories. Real peace of mind.

This will be my “go to” firm going forward
“This was a great experience”

- Rene J.
Highly recommend this practice for elder law
“Tara was so knowledgeable and patient explaining every detail”

- David W.
Definitely a 5-star team
“From start to finish, and they really took the time to make sure everything was handled correctly”

- Fernando B.
Highly responsive and helpful staff
“Got everything I needed to get my affairs in order”

- Snyder B.
Crissy Venezia is an excellent attorney
“she listens and strives to understand before answering questions”

- Timothy E.

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Steps to Set Up and Maintain Your Trust Successfully

1
Meet with a Boca Raton Trust Attorney

Professional guidance helps you choose the right type of trust for your goals and family structure.
2
Identify What You Want to Protect

List properties, accounts, and valuables that should pass through your trust.
3
Select a Reliable Trustee

Pick someone who can manage the trust with honesty and care for your beneficiaries.
4
Fund the Trust Properly

Transfer ownership of assets into the trust to make it legally effective.
5
Update Your Trust as Life Changes

Revisit your trust after major life events to keep it current and aligned with your estate plan.

Ready to Take the Next Step?

Start With a Consultation

When you’re ready to plan ahead or navigate a life transition, LEEP LAW GROUP is here with clear guidance and compassionate support.

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