Orlando Estate Planning Lawyer
The team at The Florida Estate Firm offers estate planning services for those throughout Orlando who wish to make arrangements for their assets.
From your last will and testament to the formation of trusts and the creation of guardianships, we can help you.

About Us
William C. Roof, Esq.
William Colby Roof is a practicing estate planning attorney and experienced, fourth-generation trial litigator practicing in the areas of probate, trust, and guardianship dispute litigation, as well as will, probate, trust, and guardianship administration.
Mr. Roof’s goal is to provide peace of mind for clients who seek estate planning services by anticipating the disputes and issues that may arise long before they actually do. We want to help you plan your retirement and legacy, as well as assist with the administration of a loved one’s estate, whether through probate or trust administration. Additionally, we can help protect a loved one’s interests by assisting you in securing a guardianship. Ultimately, if disputes arise in probate, trust, or guardianship matters, we will represent you to resolve these conflicts.
The Florida Estate Firm is dedicated to helping Orlando and other Central Florida residents with their estate planning needs, as well as the needs of those facing probate, trust, or guardianship dispute litigation or uncontested administration. We serve the greater Central Florida area, including: Orlando, Winter Park, Windermere, The Villages, Altamonte Springs, Clermont, Kissimmee, Lake Nona, and other neighboring areas.
Attorney Bio
our practice areas
Legal Services Tailored for You
From Estate Planning to Probate and Trust Administration, from Guardianship Petitions to the Litigation of Disputes that arise over inheritance, Wealth Transfers, and even Guardianships.
Estate Planning
With help from an Orlando health care surrogate lawyer, you can assign the right person to make medical decisions for you. This document goes beyond a living will since it doesn’t just pertain to end-of-life care and its associated interventions.
Blended families have unique complexities that require thoughtful estate planning to avoid disputes and protect all members. Our Orlando Blended Families estate planning lawyer creates customized wills, trusts and asset distribution strategies that clearly define inheritance rights for spouses, children, and stepchildren. With our guidance, you ensure your estate plan reflects your intentions, complies with Orlando law, and safeguards your family’s financial security and legacy.
Orlando offers the opportunity to help beneficiaries avoid probate and other legal issues via the use of lady bird deeds. An Orlando lady bird deed attorney can help you transfer property rights to a beneficiary while still maintaining full control over the property for your lifetime.
Effective wealth transfer planning ensures your assets move seamlessly to the next generation with minimal tax exposure. Our Orlando Wealth Transfer Planning lawyer develops trusts, wills, and gifting strategies to protect your estate from unnecessary risk, preserve assets, reduce estate taxes, and secure your family’s financial future. Our comprehensive approach ensures your family receives maximum benefit from your hard-earned wealth while maintaining financial security and honoring your legacy across generations.
Orlando Medicaid planning attorneys assess an individual’s eligibility by reviewing their financial information and providing application assistance to avoid rejections and delays. One vital service that an Orlando Medicaid planning attorney offers is the protection of assets and long-term care planning.
Special needs estate planning in Orlando protects disabled loved ones while preserving government benefits. Our attorneys create Orlando Special Needs Trusts, customized wills, and financial strategies to provide lifelong care and financial security. By planning for unique family circumstances, you ensure compliance with state laws, safeguard assets, and give peace of mind that your loved ones will be supported now and in the future.
A durable power of attorney gives an individual the legal authority to act on another’s behalf. Orlando DPOA attorneys can help you create the exact document you need, addressing your unique needs and wishes. An Orlando durable power of attorney can help you name a trusted agent and prevent future issues by addressing all potential challenges to the DPOA.
A Financial Power of Attorney allows a designated agent to manage banking, investments, and financial decisions in Orlando when you cannot act for yourself. Our Orlando estate planning attorneys create legally enforceable, tailored documents that protect your assets, maintain continuity, and meet Orlando estate planning requirements. With their guidance, you can ensure that your financial affairs are protected and well-managed, providing peace of mind for you and your loved ones.
If you are unsure how to develop a succession plan on your own, hiring a Orlando Business Succession Planning attorney will ensure a smooth and successful transition of your business to your chosen successor. Business succession planning safeguards your Orlando business and legacy. Our Business Succession Planning attorney helps create succession strategies, ownership transfers, and operational plans that reduce conflicts and ensure smooth leadership transitions. By addressing legal, financial, and estate considerations, we help preserve business value, protect family interests, and maintain continuity across generations.
Engaging the services of an experienced Estate Ta attorney in Orlando is crucial when dealing with potential estate taxes or inheritance taxes in the state. Orlando estate tax planning minimizes tax burdens while preserving wealth for your heirs. Our Estate Tax attorney analyzes assets, implements trusts, and craft strategies compliant with federal and Orlando estate tax laws. With careful planning, we help you reduce taxes, protect your estate’s value, and ensure your beneficiaries receive the maximum inheritance according to your wishes.
Gift tax planning in Orlando allows strategic transfer of assets while minimizing tax liabilities. Our Orlando Gift Tax attorney navigates federal and state regulations, creating gifting strategies that protect your estate, support family members, and align with long-term planning goals. With their experience, you can make informed decisions about your estate and gifts, ensuring asset protection, tax efficiency, and compliance, while maximizing benefits for you and your beneficiaries.
Wills
Orlando mirror will lawyers help to prepare wills between partners and spouses that have identical provisions. With a mirror will, it’s possible to ensure that assets and property pass down to the chosen beneficiaries — usually each other. These types of wills are important for couples with complex family arrangements who worry about protecting the other spouse.
A Joint Will is a single legal document executed by two individuals, typically spouses, outlining how assets will be distributed. Because Joint Wills can create legal limitations and probate complications under Orlando law, it is critical to work with an experienced Joint Will attorney. We evaluate whether a Joint Will aligns with your goals, explain potential risks, and ensure your estate plan provides flexibility, clarity, and protection for surviving family members.
Orlando will dispute lawyers assist in the process of bringing up concerns about a will if you suspect your loved one may have been under undue influence or was mentally incapacitated when they made their will. If someone in the family brings up concerns, it allows an Orlando attorney to contest a will and offers the chance to fight for the decedent’s wishes.
Orlando last will and testament lawyers help you set up this vital estate planning document that states your wishes for your property, assets, and dependents after your death. An attorney for last will and testament in Orlando will offer their recommendations and draft the document correctly to prevent disputes among beneficiaries.
Orlando living will lawyers help you prepare a living will, which is a document that enumerates your medical care wishes if you’re incapacitated. Living wills address questions surrounding organ donation, life care, and comfort measures.
Orlando pour over wills are documents that work together with trusts to protect your assets. If some of these have been overlooked and were not added to your trust, they can immediately be transferred over at the moment of your death. Although pour-over wills still go through probate, they guarantee that the assets end up with the right beneficiaries.
Trusts
Revocable living trusts are estate planning tools that allow you to avoid certain assets and property from going through probate when you die. A revocable living trust attorney can help you set aside the assets you want to include in the trust, ensuring that the transfers occur smoothly.
Irrevocable Trusts are powerful estate planning tools designed to protect assets, reduce estate taxes, and shield property from creditors. Engaging an Irrevocable Living Trust Attorney in Orlando is essential when considering the creation of an irrevocable trust. Our Orlando trust attorneys help clients evaluate whether an Irrevocable Trust is the right strategy for their financial and estate planning goals. We carefully draft trust documents that comply with Orlando law while maximizing asset protection, tax advantages, and long‑term wealth preservation for families and future generations.
A Spendthrift Trust protects beneficiaries from creditors and poor financial decisions by limiting direct access to trust assets. Our Orlando Spendthrift Trust designs Spendthrift Trusts that safeguard inheritances while still providing structured financial support for beneficiaries. These trusts are particularly useful when protecting family wealth, supporting younger beneficiaries, or preventing outside parties from claiming inherited assets.
Orlando trust dispute lawyers assist if there are disputes that arise over the management or terms of a trust. If there are trustee breaches, improper distribution of trust assets, or questions about trust documents, an Orlando trust dispute attorney can bring clarity to the situation. With an attorney, issues can be resolved in a timely manner.
Trust administration involves managing and distributing trust assets according to the trust’s terms after the grantor’s death or incapacity. Our Orlando trust administration attorneys assist trustees with legal compliance, asset management, beneficiary communication, and proper distribution of assets. With experienced guidance, trustees can fulfill their fiduciary responsibilities while minimizing risk, avoiding disputes, and ensuring the trust operates smoothly under Orlando law.
Charitable Trusts allow individuals to support meaningful causes while receiving valuable estate planning and tax benefits. Our Orlando Charitable Trusts help clients establish Charitable Trusts that align with their philanthropic goals while also providing financial advantages for their estate and beneficiaries. These trusts can reduce tax liabilities, preserve wealth, and create a lasting charitable legacy.
A Generation‑Skipping Trust allows assets to pass directly to grandchildren or future generations while minimizing certain estate and transfer taxes. Our Orlando trust attorneys design Generation‑Skipping Trusts that protect family wealth and support long‑term financial planning across multiple generations. Proper structuring ensures compliance with tax regulations while maximizing the value transferred to future heirs.
A Grantor Retained Annuity Trust (GRAT) is an advanced estate planning strategy used to transfer appreciating assets to beneficiaries while minimizing gift and estate taxes. Our Orlando Grantor Retained Annuity Trust attorney structures GRATs to help clients move significant wealth to heirs efficiently. With careful planning, a GRAT can provide substantial tax advantages while maintaining predictable income for the grantor during the trust term.
Irrevocable Funeral Trusts allow individuals to set aside funds specifically for funeral and burial expenses while protecting those funds from Medicaid asset limits. Our Orlando Irrevocable Funeral Trusts attorney establishes Irrevocable Funeral Trusts that ensure final expenses are covered without placing financial burdens on family members. This planning tool can also play an important role in long‑term care and Medicaid planning strategies.
An Irrevocable Life Insurance Trust (ILIT) helps keep life insurance proceeds outside of your taxable estate while providing financial protection for your beneficiaries. Our Orlando trust attorneys create ILITs that maximize estate tax advantages, protect insurance proceeds from creditors, and ensure funds are distributed according to your wishes. This strategy is commonly used in high‑value estate planning.
A Qualified Terminable Interest Property (QTIP) Trust allows individuals to provide income for a surviving spouse while preserving assets for other beneficiaries, such as children from a previous marriage. Our Orlando QTIP attorney structures QTIP Trusts to balance family interests, protect marital assets, and ensure long‑term distribution plans are honored according to your estate planning goals.
A Special Needs Trust protects assets for a beneficiary with disabilities while preserving eligibility for important government benefits such as Medicaid and Supplemental Security Income. Utilizing a Special Needs Trust Attorney is crucial when creating a special needs trust to secure the financial future of a loved one with disabilities. Our Orlando Special Needs Trust attorney creates carefully structured Special Needs Trusts that provide financial support for supplemental care, medical needs, and quality‑of‑life expenses without jeopardizing public assistance programs. The benefits of a Orlando special needs trust include safeguarding eligibility for public assistance, preserving assets for supplemental care, and offering peace of mind to both the beneficiary and their family, making the experience of a special needs trust attorney invaluable in this important process.
A Testamentary Trust is created through a Last Will and Testament and becomes active after the grantor’s death. These trusts are commonly used to manage inheritances for minor children, protect assets, or provide structured distributions to beneficiaries. Relying on the experience of a Testamentary Trust attorney is essential when establishing a testamentary trust to ensure that your assets are distributed according to your wishes after your passing. William C. Roof Law Group possesses the experience to draft precise trust documents that align with your specific goals, whether it involves providing for minor children, charitable giving, or asset protection. When deciding between a testamentary trust and a living trust, our Orlando Testamentary Trust attorney can provide valuable advice, helping you make informed decisions about which trust structure best suits your unique circumstances and objectives.
A Totten Trust, commonly structured as a “Payable on Death” (POD) bank account, allows you to name a beneficiary who will automatically receive the funds when you pass away. Our Orlando Totten Trust helps clients strategically use Totten Trusts as part of a broader estate plan to streamline asset transfers, reduce probate involvement for certain accounts, and ensure financial assets move quickly and directly to the people you intend to benefit.
Probate
Orlando probate administration attorneys help to distribute a person’s assets after their death in the way that they wanted and in accordance with Orlando law. They can assist you as you begin probate and can work to resolve disputes that may arise throughout the process.
Orlando probate dispute lawyers protect the heirs or beneficiaries of the decedent, helping to address probate conflicts that might arise from contested wills or trusts. They work to resolve asset management and distribution issues.
Not every estate requires full probate. Our Orlando probate alternatives attorneys evaluate options like Summary Administration, Disposition Without Administration, beneficiary designations, and trust transfers to avoid or shorten probate proceedings where permitted under Orlando law. We recommend the fastest, most cost-effective path to transfer assets—helping families use lawful alternatives to reduce court involvement, lower costs, and accelerate distributions to heirs whenever those options apply.
Orlando provides simplified procedures for smaller estates—most notably Summary Administration for estates with $75,000 or less in nonexempt assets, or when the decedent died more than two years ago. Utilizing a Small Estate Affidavit can be a practical strategy to bypass probate court proceedings for estates below this threshold. Our Orlando probate attorneys help determine eligibility, prepare petitions, and manage the streamlined process so small estates settle quickly and affordably. We also guide clients through alternatives when the simplified routes are not available.
An Affidavit of Heirship can sometimes help transfer property when heirs are all in agreement, but it is not a universal substitute for probate in Orlando . A formal Probate Petition or Summary Administration is often required to clear title, resolve creditor claims, and obtain court authority to distribute assets. Our Orlando estate planning attorneys evaluate each estate and advise whether an affidavit, a probate petition, or another path is the proper, lawful course for transferring property in Orlando .
Estate Planning
At The Florida Estate Firm, our Orlando estate planning lawyers provide assistance with the services that can help protect your assets and beneficiaries when you’re no longer able to do so yourself. By hiring experienced lawyers, you will have help with identifying your beneficiaries, preparing wills and other documents, and establishing guardianships.
Our Orlando estate planning law firm can prepare a customized plan that can help eliminate conflicts between family members while remaining compliant with Florida law. With a dedicated estate planning attorney Orlando team, it’s possible to protect your assets by taking strategic estate planning steps — all while smoothing the probate process.
No matter what your financial circumstances are and whether you have complex assets or not, our team provides the guidance you need.
More about Estate Planning
Wills
Orlando will lawyers focus on crafting the legal documents that will address all of your wishes once you die. A last will and testament gives you the opportunity to name your beneficiaries, distribute assets as you see fit, and set up guardianships to protect dependent loved ones.
Though simple wills are common, our Orlando wills lawyers have experience offering a variety of options, including mirror, living, pour-over, and holographic wills. Because we have been helping the people of Florida for decades, we can also handle disputes that may arise between family members.
If you are worried about your loved one’s mental state when they wrote the will or think that they were under duress, one of our Orlando attorney for wills can present a clear case to help you contest the will. If other family members have questions about the validity of the document and strive to deprive you of assets, we can fight for your rights.
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Let us help
When you’re part of a blended family, creating an estate plan that addresses everyone’s needs can be daunting. Between complex family dynamics, dividing assets between children from different relationships, and ensuring your new spouse is taken care of, it can be hard to know where to start. The team at The Florida Estate Firm has extensive experience with estate planning for blended families. Let us help you.
Trusts
Trusts are important estate planning documents that allow you to set assets aside for a variety of purposes. Trusts help you minimize the probate process after your death while also protecting your heirs and beneficiaries. To establish a legally binding trust, you need help from our Orlando trusts attorneys.
At The Florida Estate Firm, our lawyers for trusts in Orlando can help you find the right trust option for your goals. Whether you’re looking to form a revocable trust to keep certain assets from going through probate, are considering charitable trusts to support favorite causes while getting tax advantages, or would like to set up a special needs trust, our Orlando trusts lawyers can guide you.
With experienced and reliable representation, setting up a legally binding trust can be simpler. You can rest easy that your assets are taken care of.
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Probate
Probate is the process that occurs after the death of an individual who has left behind assets. At The Florida Estate Firm, our Orlando probate lawyers can help settle the estate by addressing everything from debts to life insurance proceeds.
If there are inheritance taxes to pay, our Orlando probate attorneys can streamline this process while also taking care of ordering appraisals on all real property and performing an inventory of all estate assets. Probate is a complex process and that often means issues might arise between family members. Having a team ready to handle disputes is vital.
Our Orlando probate law lawyers address any issues regarding the validity of documents like wills and trusts. If the person dies without leaving a will, hiring lawyers becomes imperative to ensure that your rights as a beneficiary or heir are respected.
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contact us
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