Sarasota Estate Planning Attorney

Estate plans built for Sarasota families, snowbirds, and Florida property owners.

Sarasota estate planning comes with unique challenges, from waterfront homestead rules and blended families to out-of-state property and probate concerns. We create estate plans designed around how Sarasota families actually live, own, and protect their assets.

Request a free consultation
FindLaw attorney directory badge
American Institute of Personal Injury Attorneys 10 Best 2016 client satisfaction award
Lawyers.com attorney directory badge
Martindale.com attorney directory badge
Million Dollar Advocates Forum award badge

Estate Planning Beyond Basic Wills and Documents

Sarasota planning has its own pressures. Many residents are retired or close to retirement, property values are high, and plenty of families still have ties to New York, Ohio, Michigan, or another state where they lived before moving to Florida.

That matters when the documents are drafted. A Siesta Key or Lido Key home can raise Florida homestead issues. A second marriage can bring spousal rights questions. A snowbird estate plan needs enough residency support to reduce the chance of a fight later.

Hurricane Milton’s October 2024 landfall, the first major hurricane to strike Sarasota since 1851, added insurance proceeds, rebuild authority, and homestead-after-damage questions to every coastal Sarasota estate plan.

Florida also changed the rules. CS/HB 923 took effect January 1, 2025, requiring the Sarasota Clerk to record orders admitting wills and beneficiary orders into the land records.

Our role is to build plans that hold against those specifics. Allie R.B. Castellano leads our estate planning and probate practice and works directly with Sarasota families.

Proudly Serving Sarasota and Surrounding Communities

We represent individuals and families throughout Sarasota, including Downtown Sarasota, Siesta Key, Lido Key, Bird Key, Southside Village, Lakewood Ranch, Osprey, and Venice. Many of our clients are longtime Florida residents, while others divide time between Sarasota and another state.

Sarasota County probate filings move through the 12th Judicial Circuit at the Judge Lynn N. Silvertooth Judicial Center on Ringling Boulevard. Karen E. Rushing’s Clerk’s Office at the Historic Courthouse handles recording. We file here regularly and understand how formal administration, summary administration, recording issues, and the newer circuit checklist move in practice.

Sarasota families often face planning issues that a standard estate plan does not address. Florida homestead rules, second homes, blended families, domicile questions, charitable giving, and post-storm property concerns can all affect how an estate plan should be structured.

We are rooted here. Buckman, Buckman & Castellano, P.A. has served Sarasota for decades. Allie focuses her practice on Florida estate planning and probate, and she has tried these cases at the Florida Appellate Court.

Ready to put a Sarasota estate plan in place? Schedule a free, confidential consultation with Allie Castellano.

Request a free consultation

Why Sarasota Families Need Estate Planning Tailored to This City

Sarasota’s combination of waterfront wealth, an older population, blended families, and constant in-migration creates planning needs the rest of Florida simply does not share. Six issues keep coming up with the clients we serve here.

  • Protecting Siesta Key and Lido Key homes from full formal probate filings.
  • Locking Florida domicile for snowbirds from New York, Ohio, and Michigan winters.
  • Blended-family wills drafted to survive a Florida elective-share claim properly.
  • Charitable planning tied to major donors at Ringling, Asolo, and the Sarasota Orchestra.
  • Hurricane Milton insurance proceeds were directed cleanly through a revocable trust.
  • Multi-property estates: homestead plus Lido condo plus an out-of-state second home.

These issues can be handled, but they should not be forced into a generic Florida template. A Siesta Key condo does not raise the same questions as a downtown loft. A charitable gift connected to Sarasota’s arts community may call for a different trust strategy.

Sarasota estate planning services

Documents Every Sarasota Estate Plan Should Include

  • Last Will and Testament
  • Revocable Living Trust
  • Durable Power of Attorney
  • Designation of Health Care Surrogate
  • Living Will (advance directive)
  • HIPAA Authorization for Medical Records
  • Declaration of Domicile under Florida Statute §222.17

These documents serve different purposes, but together they form the foundation of most Florida estate plans. They address how assets pass after death, who can act during incapacity, access to medical information, and the authority needed to manage financial or healthcare decisions.

Certain documents become especially important for Sarasota residents. A Declaration of Domicile can help support Florida residency for snowbirds and part-time residents. A Health Care Surrogate is equally important, particularly for older adults whose closest family members may live out of state.

Sarasota estate planning services

How to Start Your Estate Plan with Our Sarasota Firm Today

Start with a confidential consultation, either in person or virtually. We’ll review your current documents, property ownership, beneficiary designations, and family considerations to understand what your plan actually needs.

After the consultation, Allie prepares the core estate planning documents and walks through them in clear, practical terms before anything is signed. Most plans include a will, a trust, a durable power of attorney, a healthcare surrogate, and a living will.

Once the documents are finalized, signing is completed in accordance with Florida law. We also help coordinate the details that make the plan effective, including trust funding, beneficiary updates, deed transfers, and Lady Bird deeds when appropriate.

Sarasota estate planning services

How We Build Your Sarasota Estate Plan

We look at family dynamics, property ownership, existing obligations, and areas where confusion or conflict could arise later if the plan is not carefully structured.

From there, the planning is built around the assets themselves. A waterfront homestead, out-of-state property, investment real estate, retirement accounts, or a blended-family situation may all require different planning considerations under Florida law.

We also coordinate the practical side of implementation when needed, including deed preparation, homestead-related considerations, beneficiary updates, and trust funding. If outside professionals are involved, we work alongside financial advisors, accountants, and other advisors to keep the plan aligned.

Estate plans are not static documents. Families change, assets change, and laws change. When updates are needed later, we help clients revise the plan, so it continues to reflect their circumstances.

Sarasota estate planning services

Recent Sarasota Matters We’ve Handled

  • Case results

    $1.6 Million

    Will Contest

  • Case results

    $1.175 Million

    Fiduciary Breach

  • Case results

    $300,000

    Trustee Fraud

  • Case results

    $260,000

    Trust Recovery

Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Each case turns on its own facts

Estate Planning in Sarasota County, By the Numbers

The 12th Judicial Circuit, covering Sarasota, Manatee, and DeSoto Counties, handles probate, guardianship, and trust matters every year. Sarasota County carries a large share of that work. Many estates require formal administration, while smaller estates may qualify for summary administration if they meet Florida’s limits.

Sarasota’s population and property values drive much of that planning need. Nearly 29 percent of city residents are 65 or older. Median home values exceed $415,000, and barrier-island property often brings added homestead, insurance, and multi-state planning concerns.

Since Hurricane Milton, more families have also had to deal with estate assets tied to insurance claims, rebuild rights, damaged property, trust administration, and probate timing.

Sources: Sarasota County Clerk of the Circuit Court; U.S. Census ACS 2024; 12th Judicial Circuit Probate Division.

Statistics 2022

Residents Age 65+

29%

Median Home Value

$415,000+

Counties in Circuit

3

What Our Sarasota Clients Say

My highest recommendation and gratitude to the firm of Buckman, Buckman & Castellano, P.A. Their generous reliability and core knowledge is truly valuable. Complex legal issues are strategically and efficiently handled. Communication was always prompt, and always my needs were a priority. Competency in cost-benefit analysis resulted in my receiving appropriate compensation. During the procedure, I experienced the highest ethical standards. This firm is truly superior in all regards.

The whole firm fought like hell for me and my family in Court. I highly recommend them.

Our experience with Buckman, Buckman & Castellano, P.A. is very positive. They handled all the unexpected annoyances – the E-mails, letters and phone calls that resulted from a relatively minor accident. We are satisfied with our result.

“Drake, Amiee and Nancy were very instrumental in helping me get through a very difficult time in my life. They were very warm and responsive to all my needs at any time. I would highly recommend this team of professionals in any legal matters.

I would highly recommend Drake Buckman to represent myself and any of my loved ones. From the initial contact, Drake always had my best interest, health and welfare as a priority. His friendly, personable manner gave me comfort and confidence from the start of my legal pursuit. Drake Buckman was thorough the entire duration of my case achieving success on my behalf

I found Amiee Buckman to be very attentive, thorough, professional, and very prompt in responding to my needs. I was impressed with not only her professionalism and expertise, but also with her sincerity and honesty. I would highly recommend Amiee Buckman and the firm of Buckman, Buckman & Castellano, P.A. to anyone that needed services in the area of law.

Buckman, Buckman & Castellano, P.A. has provided outstanding legal representation for us in the area of Estate Planning and Elder Care. Helped us through a difficult situation with a loved one that resulted in a successful outcome.

I am a client of the Buckman, Buckman & Castellano, P.A. law firm which I use for all my corporate and personal matters. Amiee has a personal hands on approach with attention to details and emphasis on communication. It is with great confidence I recommend her and the entire staff at this firm.

Drake is a conscientious person and a knowledgeable attorney. He’s a great counselor to have working for you. His costs are reasonable; and he will tell you the truth whether that’s what you want to hear or not. He’s experienced in writing Wills and setting up trusts and estates. I highly recommend him.

Mr. Buckman is a highly-skilled Professional who expedited my case efficiently and effectively. He was ethical, knowledgeable, patient and thorough from start to finish. I could not have asked for anything more!

Protect your Sarasota property, family, and future
with an estate plan built for Florida life.

Get Free Consultation

  • Wills & Codicils

  • Revocable & Irrevocable Trusts

  • Powers of Attorney & Directives

  • Probate & Trust Administration

Sarasota estate planning services

Meet Allie R.B. Castellano

Allie R.B. Castellano focuses her practice on Florida estate planning, probate, and estate-related disputes. She works with Sarasota families on wills, trusts, probate administration, fiduciary matters, inheritance disputes, and long-term planning issues tied to Florida property and family dynamics.

Her practice focuses on building estate plans that work in real life, not just on paper. That includes planning for Sarasota homestead property, blended families, snowbird residency, probate avoidance, and the practical issues that often surface after a death or incapacity.

In addition to planning, Allie represents clients in probate and trust disputes, including matters handled before Florida appellate courts.

Allie R.B. Castellano, Sarasota estate planning attorney, outside a Sarasota courthouse building

Allie R.B. Castellano

Partner

The plans that hold up are the ones drafted around the family’s real life, not around a template.

Read more

Our Practice Areas

Revocable living trust icon

Revocable Living Trust

Durable power of attorney icon

Durable Power of Attorney

Power of attorney icon

Power of Attorney

Business law icon

Business Lawyer

Simple will icon

Simple Will

Property deeds and transfers icon

Property Deeds and Transfers

Succession planning icon

Succession Planning

Estate planning icon

Estate Planning

Probate icon

Probate

Beneficiary rights icon

Beneficiary Rights

Sarasota Estate Planning FAQs

Ready to Protect Your Family’s Future?

Request a free consultation
How do I keep my Siesta Key condo out of Sarasota probate?

A revocable living trust is the most common solution. The condo is titled to the trust during your lifetime, and at your death, it passes to your beneficiaries without the need to file a probate case in the 12th Circuit. In some situations, especially with non-homestead condos or investment property, a Lady Bird deed may also work.

Can a second spouse inherit my Sarasota homestead over my children?

Florida homestead rules can restrict how a primary residence passes after death, particularly when a surviving spouse or minor child is involved. In blended-family situations, the way the home is titled and planned matters just as much as the will itself.

Where are probate cases filed in Sarasota County?

Probate matters are generally filed through the Sarasota County court system on Ringling Boulevard in downtown Sarasota. Original wills are typically filed with the Clerk after death as part of the probate process.

How does Sarasota treat a Lady Bird deed on a non-homestead condo?

Yes. A Lady Bird deed can allow non-homestead property, including many Sarasota condos or investment properties, to pass outside probate while the owner keeps full control during life. Because non-homestead property is treated differently under Florida law than a protected homestead residence, it can offer more flexibility in certain estate plans.

I’m an Ohio snowbird. When does Florida treat me as a resident?

Florida looks at domicile, meaning where you intend your permanent home to be. Driver’s licenses, voter registration, tax records, declarations of domicile, and overall ties to Florida can all become important when residency is questioned later.