As I drive around the Palm Harbor community that I’ve lived in for over 20 years, I am saddened by how much people have lost during Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton. Natural disasters wreak havoc on us physically and emotionally, but amid everything else, you may have lost your estate planning documents. The Law Offices of Sherri M. Stinson is here to reassure you that you do not need to panic if you’ve lost your estate planning documents. It’s understandable to feel uncertain, anxious, overwhelmed and even vulnerable if your estate plan is now waterlogged or lost. While losing estate planning documents is serious, we want you to know that the situation can be remedied.
Steps to Take if You’ve Lost Your Estate Planning Documents
If you’ve lost your estate planning documents, follow these steps to regain control:
1. Make a List of Any Paperwork that was Damaged. These might include:
- Last Will & Testament
- Trust
- Designation of Health Care Surrogate
- Living Will
- Preneed Guardian Designations
2. Contact your Financial Institutions. They can help you find your account information. This is also a good time to check beneficiary designations.
3. Check with your Local Florida Government Offices. The property appraiser’s office maintains copies of deeds and other publicly filed documents.
4. Look for Digital Backups of your Estate Plan. Even if you lose the paper copies, your estate planning attorney in Palm Harbor may keep digital backups. You may have even created some yourself if you use things like DropBox or Google Drive. A digital backup can help you access the substance of your documents so that your attorney knows what you had previously. Although most attorneys keep copies of the estate plans they prepare for you, some don’t and you may even find yourself working with a new attorney.
5. Check with your Insurance Company. See if your homeowner’s policy or renter’s policy provides any coverage for lost documents.
6. Contact Your Estate Planning Attorney in Palm Harbor. Your estate lawyer needs to know what happened so they can help you with steps that are custom-tailored to your needs. Read more in our article, Estate Planning Disaster Preparedness: How Estate Planning in Florida Resembles Hurricane Preparation
7. Decide if you want changes. Estate plans are not static. Often people die, become sick or you may not want to include them anymore. This is a good time to re-examine your existing plan.
BONUS TIPS: Protect Your Estate Planning Documents from Future Hurricanes and Natural Disasters
8. Consider Future Disasters. It’s not often ideal to recreate your estate plan. Since Florida is prone to hurricanes and flooding, you should consider how you may want to protect your documents in the future. At a minimum, consider waterproof document bags or document safes that can keep your documents safe if you need to evacuate or even if you’re stuck in your home and hit by sudden flooding.
9. Check out Florida State Resources. If you’re dealing with more immediate needs such as losing your housing, check out Hope Florida, the state of Florida’s Emergency Response Arm that pulls resources from the private sector, non-profit organizations and government resources to help you get back on your feet. Whether it’s food, household goods, or home repairs, they may be able to help.
10. Stay Calm and Patient. It takes time to recover from natural disasters. It’s like the saying “you eat the elephant one bite at a time.” Call The Law Offices of Sherri M. Stinson if there is any way we can help you!
By following these steps and taking proactive measures to protect your estate planning documents, you can minimize the disruption caused by a hurricane or other natural disasters and ensure that your wishes are carried out.
Why You Shouldn’t Wait Until the Next Storm to Complete Your Estate Plan
When it comes to estate planning, waiting until the last minute can lead to problems, especially for those with significant wealth. As highlighted in the YouTube video, “You’re Never Too Young, Never Too Old, But You Might Be Too Late…” even the wealthiest individuals can leave their loved ones tangled in expensive legal battles if they don’t update their estate plans or fail to have one at all. Wealth can complicate matters when there’s no clear plan in place, and court proceedings can drain substantial portions of the assets you’ve worked hard to build.
Don’t leave your financial legacy vulnerable to unnecessary legal disputes or government intervention. Protect your assets and ensure your loved ones receive the full benefits of your estate by planning ahead with a Palm Harbor estate planning attorney.
Now is the time to secure your future before the next storm hits—whether it’s a hurricane or an unexpected life event. Let us help you create a tailored estate plan that keeps your wealth intact and your family out of court.
Don’t navigate your recovery alone! The Law Offices of Sherri M. Stinson in Palm Harbor is here to help. Download our complementary Estate Planning Checklist to get started. You can also call us at (727) 291-9320 to schedule an appointment.
