Your Estate Planning Expert in Santa Clara

Estate planning ensures your wishes are honored, your loved ones are cared for, and your assets are distributed according to your desires. Whether you need a simple will, a trust, or a comprehensive plan, our experienced team is here to guide you through the process. Start planning today to give your family peace of mind for tomorrow.

WHO ARE WE

The fleur-de-lis represents Legacy’s values as well as my own. This symbol has acted as a guiding light for my firm in everyday decision making and building a “legacy” for our valued clients. Honesty and Respect create the tap root of Trust upon which lasting Relationships are built. It is only through these relationships that a Legacy can be built through Passion and Performance.

Our mission is to be Your trusted family advisers, providing steadfast counsel through life’s most significant transitions so that your goals are realized: providing care and security for your family, children and loved ones and leaving your legacy, your most valuable assets – who you are and what’s important to you.

Passion | Performance | Relationships | Honesty | Trust & Respect

Services We Offered

Wills & Trusts

Ensure your assets are distributed according to your wishes with a Last Will or Revocable Living Trust. Wills provide clear instructions for asset distribution and guardianship, while trusts avoid probate and protect your privacy. We help create tailored solutions to fit your estate planning needs.

Probate Law

Managing the probate process can be complicated. We guide you through estate administration, ensuring assets are distributed and debts are paid according to the will or state law. Our services also assist when there’s no will, protecting your rights during intestate succession.

Powers of Attorney

Designate trusted individuals to manage your finances and healthcare with a Durable Power of Attorney and Medical Power of Attorney. These essential documents provide peace of mind, ensuring your affairs are in good hands if you become incapacitated.

Advance Directives

(Living Will)

Protect your healthcare choices with a Living Will and Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) order, outlining your treatment preferences if you’re unable to communicate. These documents ensure your wishes are respected during critical medical decisions.

Guardianship

Whether for minor children or incapacitated adults, we assist in appointing legal guardians to ensure your loved ones are cared for. Our guidance helps you navigate the guardianship process, whether temporary or permanent, with confidence.

Estate & Gift Tax Planning

Minimize estate and gift taxes with careful planning. We help you structure your estate to take full advantage of tax exemptions, and use tools like Generation-Skipping Trusts to preserve your wealth for future generations while reducing tax liabilities.

Special Needs Trusts

Ensure that a loved one with special needs is financially cared for without jeopardizing their government benefits. A Special Needs Trust protects their eligibility for Medicaid and SSI, while providing ongoing support for their future.

Charitable Giving & Philanthropy

Maximize the impact of your charitable giving while enjoying tax benefits. We can help set up Charitable Trusts or Donor-Advised Funds, allowing you to support causes you care about while securing valuable tax deductions.

Asset Protection Planning

Protect your assets from creditors, lawsuits, and other risks with strategic Asset Protection Trusts and Homestead Exemptions. Our services help ensure your wealth is shielded, providing long-term security for you and your family.

Elder Law

Plan for the future with Medicaid Planning and Long-Term Care Insurance. We help you qualify for Medicaid benefits while protecting your assets, and advise on insurance options to cover the costs of long-term care, ensuring you are prepared for the future.

Deeds

Ensure the smooth transfer of property with expertly drafted Real Estate Deeds. Whether it's a Quitclaim Deed, Warranty Deed, or Transfer-on-Death Deed, we help protect your interests and ensure your property is passed on according to your wishes, with minimal complications.

Trust Administration

If you're a trustee, we guide you through the complex responsibilities of managing and distributing trust assets. We help ensure compliance with the trust terms, protect the interests of beneficiaries, and handle any challenges that arise during administration.

Founding Attorney

Alina Gonzalez-Dockery, Esquire

Hi, I’m Alina. I was born and raised in Lakeland, Florida, the youngest of 3 children. My parents, Cuban refugees, instilled in me at an early age the importance of community, education and pride in the opportunities afforded to us in this country. My family are my greatest supporters and gifts to my life.

My Family is the reason why I am dedicated to being a trusted advisor to my clients and leader in my community. To provide guidance and advice in promoting families’ stability and comfort is an honor and privilege of my work.

As an experienced attorney of 25+ years, I guide my clients through the emotional, financial, and legal decisions involved in planning for the future by creating an estate plan that fulfills their goals and will actually work in the event of incapacity and death.

I believe in personalized service for each and every client in providing security for themselves and their families, preserve their wealth for the future, avoid the process of probate, put a plan in place to ease the pain of family members at death. This mission is the driving motivation for the establishment and growth of my firm, Life Law Planning, providing representation virtually throughout Florida.

Working with clients new to estate planning and clients who have previously completed their planning by educating them on what would happen to their body, their assets, and their family in the event of incapacity and at death under the current plan they have (which is either the plan they previously completed or the plan the California Probate Court has for them).

For clients suffering the loss of a loved one, we perform estate administration services, whether that is representing the Executor in probate proceedings or the Trustee in Trust Administration.

TESTIMONIALS

What others are saying

"Working with Life Law Planning was an absolute game-changer for my family. From the very first meeting, Alina made sure we understood every detail of our estate plan. She took the time to listen to our unique needs and walked us through every step of the process, making sure we were comfortable with each decision. The entire process was efficient, and the fact that they continue to support us with regular reviews gives us peace of mind. I highly recommend Life Law Planning to anyone looking for not just legal expertise, but also genuine care for your family's future."

— Sarah M.

"I had been putting off creating an estate plan for years, but after working with Alina, I’m so glad I took the step. The team was professional and so easy to work with. Alina explained everything clearly, and we never felt rushed. The process was well-organized, and I now feel confident that my family will be taken care of no matter what happens. The ongoing legacy meetings are an especially valuable touch to make sure our plan stays up to date."

— James T.

"Estate planning is something I thought I could never handle, but Life Law Planning made it so easy. Alina’s thoughtful approach made sure every question I had was answered, and I never felt overwhelmed. The whole process took less than two months, and I now have peace of mind knowing that my will, trust, and everything else is in order. I’m also glad to know that they’ll continue to check in every few years to make sure everything stays current."

— Laura P.

Plan for the Future Today!

Whether you need a will, trust, power of attorney, or guidance on charitable giving, we’re here to help you create a comprehensive estate plan that protects your wishes and your loved ones. Contact us now for a consultation and take control of your legacy with confidence. Let’s build your future together!

CALL US NOW!+1 (239) 579-4770

Get In Touch

Fort Myers Office

WHO ARE WE