Take Charge of Life’s Transitions

Estate & Medicaid Planning | Wills | Trusts | Probate | Elder Law | Business Consulting

Call Us Today

Take Charge of Life’s Transitions

Estate & Medicaid Planning | Wills | Trusts | Probate | Elder Law | Business Consulting

CALL US TODAY

Customized Estate Plans as Unique as You and Your Family

The Tessier Law Firm’s mission is to empower our clients to take charge of their most challenging life transitions. We provide empathetic legal counseling services primarily focused in the areas of Wills and Trusts, Probate and Administration of Estates, Elder Law, and Long-Term Care Planning.


Our home office is located in Winter Haven, and appointments are available in Lakeland. Home and facility appointments may be arranged upon request.  We proudly serve all of Polk County in Central Florida, including: Lakeland, Winter Haven, Auburndale, Bartow, Haines City, Davenport,  Lake Alfred, Lake Hamilton, Lake Wales, Frostproof, Mulberry, Polk City, and Davenport, as well as surrounding areas scuh as Four Corners, Champions Gate, Sebring, and Plant City. 


Our satisfied clients include individuals and families with children, business owners, and residents of such  55+ communities as Lake Ashton, Traditions, Tower Lakes, Cypress Gardens, Cypress Lakes, Indian Lakes Estates, Del Webb, Sola Vita, Grasslands, The Colonnades, Lake Henry Estates, Schalamar Creek and The Hamptons.


Wherever you are in these communities, The Tessier Law Firm is here to guide you with clarity, empathy, and expertise.

Senior Signing Documents — Winter Haven, FL — The Tessier Law Firm

Holistic Estate Planning That Works

Our process starts with education. We offer regular free in-person and online seminars  so you can become familiar with the basics of  existing options. We then invite you to schedule a thorough legacy wealth planning consultation -  up to 90 minutes - so that your own personal family and financial situation can be discussed in detail. We have a clear step-by-step system to walk you through your decisions thoughtfully.


When you meet with Attorney Denise Tessier, we want you to feel comfortable discussing all important issues concerning both you and your family. We want you to  understand all of your options to protect yourself, your family and your assets under our  unique Florida laws, to make your own informed decisions about how best to "Take Charge of Life's Transitions!"

Family on beach— Winter Haven, FL — The Tessier Law Firm

Holistic Estate Planning

Estate planning is NOT just about how your property or money should be handled after your death - is so much more ! Proper estate planning should also benefit you and your family during your lifetime, if you or loved ones are ill or incapacitated. We help you clearly outline your wishes regarding health, finances, and your legacy during times when you can't speak for yourself.


Our comprehensive client consultation, detailed documents, and instructions for your loved ones all come into play if you are ill or incapacitated, as well as when you die. We also ensure that minor children, surviving spouses, those with special needs,  and others with particular health or financial needs have their interests well addressed if you cannot be there for them.

*ASK ABOUT OUR KID'S PROTECTION PLAN*


What Will Your Legacy Be?

A legacy is what you will hand down to future generations. It may be money or property left to family, or donations to charity. But more importantly, it can be your teachings and wisdom, your core values, and a lifetime of accrued experiences. You will live on in the hearts of your friends and family through cherished memories of shared experiences. That’s true family wealth.

The Tessier Law Firm can help you with true Family Wealth planning, dealing with ALL of the aspects of our lives that will impact our legacy even more than just our finances. It’s what we try to do at our firm - we strive to make a difference. In our case, it’s one family at a time. This comprehensive view of your wealth is what we are all about.

What Will Your Legacy Be?

A legacy is what you will hand down to future generations. It may be money or property left to family, or donations to charity. But more importantly, it can be your teachings and wisdom, your core values, and a lifetime of accrued experiences. You will live on in the hearts of your friends and family through cherished memories of shared experiences. That’s true family wealth.

The Tessier Law Firm can help you with your legacy wealth planning, dealing with ALL of the aspects of our lives that will impact our loved ones when we are gone, even more than just our finances. It’s what we try to do at our firm - we strive to make a difference.

                   In our case, it’s one family at a time- yours.

Family on beach — Winter Haven, FL — The Tessier Law Firm

What’s the Difference Between a Will and a Trust? 

Many people have heard the terms “will” and “trust,” but it is often not clear what the differences are between the two. Both are useful estate planning documents that help you distribute your assets in a way that YOU control, rather than the state. However, they have different advantages and disadvantages, and can serve different purposes. They also can work together to create a comprehensive estate plan. A major distinction between a will and a trust is that a will takes effect only after you die, but a trust is in force as soon as you create it, and can bring benefits while you are still alive.

A Will

A will is a foundational document that directs who will inherit your property only upon your death. It assigns a legal representative to carry out your wishes. You can override default state inheritance schemes and give your property to whomever you choose. A will in Florida must be filed with the court and needs to go through a probate proceeding (with some limited exceptions).

A Trust

A trust is a legal arrangement through which one person (or an institution, such as a bank or law firm), called a “trustee,” holds legal title to property for another person, called a “beneficiary.” A trust usually has two types of beneficiaries — one set that receives income from the trust during their lives and another set that receives whatever is left over after the first set of beneficiaries dies. Having a trust enables you to avoid an expensive and time-consuming probate process, helps keep your personal information private, and streamlines the handling of your affairs both while you are alive and potentially incapacitated or disabled, and then when you pass away.

Family on beach — Winter Haven, FL — The Tessier Law Firm

What’s the Difference Between a Will and a Trust? 

Many people have heard the terms “will” and “trust,” but are not clear on what the differences are between the two. Both are useful estate planning documents that help you distribute your assets in a way that YOU control, rather than the state. However, they have different advantages and disadvantages, and can serve different purposes. They also can work together to create a comprehensive estate plan. A major distinction between a will and a trust is that a will takes effect only after you die, but a trust is in force as soon as you create it, and can bring benefits while you are still alive.  A trust is one of the most common ways of avoiding a potentially time consuming and expensive probate process in Florida, and can protect inheritance going to your spouse and family in signficant ways.


CONTACT US TODAY to register for our

NEXT LIVE SEMINAR or ON-DEMAND WEBINAR :

Florida Wills and Trusts 101 - What You Need to Know !

A Will

Often called a Last Will and Testament, a Will is a legal document where you state how you want your property distributed after your death, name who should manage your estate, and, if needed, appoint guardians for minor children. With some exceptions, a Will generally must go through probate in Florida, so that a court can validate the Will, give authority documents to the Personal Representative or executor of your estate, and transfer legal title to assets, after the payment of creditor claims against the estate.

A Trust

A trust is WILL ALTERNATIVE and a legal arrangement through which one person (or an institution, such as a bank or law firm), called a “trustee,” holds legal title to property for another person, called a “beneficiary.” A trust usually has two types of beneficiaries — one set that receives income from the trust during their lives and another set that receives whatever is left over after the first set of beneficiaries dies. Having a trust enables you also to distribute property BUT you can use a trust to avoid probate, which can be an expensive and time-consuming process. A trust helps keep your personal information private, can protects assets for your heirs, and streamlines the handling of your affairs both while you are alive and potentially incapacitated or disabled, and then when you pass away.

How We Can Help

Elder Law — Winter Haven, FL — The Tessier Law Firm

Elder Law
Estate Planning — Winter Haven, FL — The Tessier Law Firm

Estate Planning
Family-Owned Businesses — Winter Haven, FL — The Tessier Law Firm

Family-Owned Businesses
Incapacity Planning — Winter Haven, FL — The Tessier Law Firm

Incapacity Planning
IRA & Retirement Planning — Winter Haven, FL — The Tessier Law Firm
Legacy Planning — Winter Haven, FL — The Tessier Law Firm
LGBTQ Estate Planning — Winter Haven, FL — The Tessier Law Firm
Pet Planning — Winter Haven, FL — The Tessier Law Firm
Special Needs Planning — Winter Haven, FL — The Tessier Law Firm
Trust Administration & Probate — Winter Haven, FL — The Tessier Law Firm

See What Our Clients are Saying About Us

For more information, or to schedule a consultation, call us at 863-220-7927.