In person, in Sarasota
Second Tuesday of every month, 10:00 am. Parking behind the building, a step-free entrance and a hearing loop in the room. The exact address comes with your confirmation.
Next: Tuesday, November 10
A free estate planning class in Sarasota.
Ninety minutes with a Florida attorney on wills, trusts and keeping your home in the family. Nothing to buy.
What you'll leave knowing.
Five questions, answered in plain English, with the Florida law behind every answer.
Do I need a will or a trust?
A will says who gets what and who's in charge. A revocable trust can keep assets out of probate, but only the ones you actually move into it. You'll see which one fits a life like yours, and when a plain will does the job for less.
Fla. Stat. ss. 732.502, 732.503
How does probate work in Florida?
It's the court process that pays the final bills and passes on what's left. Once the notice to creditors is published, most claims must come in within three months, and nearly every claim ends two years after death.
Fla. Stat. ss. 733.702, 733.710
What happens to my house?
Florida homestead has its own rules. If a child under 18 survives you, the house can't be left by will at all. If you're married, it can generally go only to your spouse, unless your spouse signed a waiver.
Fla. Const. art. X, s. 4(c); Fla. Stat. ss. 732.4015, 732.702
Who decides for me if I can't?
A durable power of attorney covers the money. A health care surrogate covers medical decisions. Florida requires two witnesses and a notary on the power of attorney, so how it's signed matters as much as what it says.
Fla. Stat. s. 709.2105
Will my family owe estate tax?
Most won't. The federal exemption is $15 million per person in 2026, and Florida has no estate or inheritance tax of its own.
26 U.S.C. s. 2010(c), as amended July 2025
Nothing for sale. Nothing to sign.
Thirty chairs, ninety minutes and every question welcome. Bring your spouse, or the grown kids who will deal with all of this one day. Nobody follows up unless you ask.
Margot runs every class herself.
She has practiced estate planning in Sarasota for seventeen years (demo figure). She started these classes so people could learn the basics before paying anyone a thing, and she stays after to answer the question you didn't want to ask in front of the room.
Margot Ashcombe. Licensed in Florida. Florida Bar No. 000000 (fictional).
Pick a date.
Same class, two ways to come. Free either way.
Online, live
Third Thursday of every month, 6:30 pm Eastern. Type a question and Margot answers it out loud. Everyone who signs up gets the replay the next morning.
Next: Thursday, November 19
Questions people ask first.
Is it really free?
Yes. The class is free, the worksheet is free, and so is a first consultation if you want one later. There's nothing to buy at the class and nothing to sign.
Will anyone call me afterward?
No. We send the details the day before and the replay the morning after. If you'd like a consultation, tick the box when you sign up or call us whenever you're ready.
Can my kids join from out of state?
Yes, and please ask them to. The online class is the same ninety minutes, live, and the sign-up form shows the time where you are.
What should I bring?
Nothing but your questions. Everyone gets a one-page worksheet for what you own and who you'd name. Filling it in is half the work.
I already have a will. Is this still for me?
Yes. If yours was signed before you moved to Florida, married again or had grandchildren, it may not say what you'd want today. The class shows you what to check. Bring it along if you like.
Do I need to own a home?
No. The class covers wills, trusts, powers of attorney and health care decisions for everyone. The homestead part matters most to homeowners.
What does a plan cost if I want one?
Every plan is a flat fee, quoted in writing before you sign. Will plans start at $950 for one person and trust plans at $2,900. The full list is below.
- Will plan, one person
- $950
- Will plan, a couple
- $1,450
- Trust plan, one person
- $2,900
- Trust plan, a couple
- $3,400
Each plan includes the will or trust, a durable power of attorney, a health care surrogate and a living will, the drafting and the signing meeting. Trust plans also include the deed that moves your Florida home into the trust and a letter telling each bank how to retitle your accounts. The county recording fee and any other filing costs are extra, and we give you those amounts in writing before you sign. Demo figures, honored through January 13, 2027.
The next class is Tuesday, November 10.
Free, ninety minutes, and nothing to sign. Questions first? Call (941) 555-0147.
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