Estate tax planning · Coral Gables & Miami-Dade
Estate Tax Planning That Preserves More for Your Family
For larger estates, federal estate tax can take up to 40 percent of what passes above the exemption. We design plans that use every available exemption and strategy to reduce the tax and pass on more of what you have built.
✓ Board Certified Wills, Trusts & Estates attorney on our team✓ Coordinated with your CPA & advisors✓ Clear, personal guidance
Talk with our planning team
Tell us a little about your goals and we will reach out to schedule your consultation.
Understanding the federal estate tax
Florida has no state estate tax or inheritance tax, but the federal estate tax applies to estates above the federal exemption amount, which is about $15 million per person in 2026. Married couples can effectively combine their exemptions through careful planning and portability.
Estate tax planning is about more than the exemption amount. It includes how assets are owned, how they grow, what is given away during life and how the plan holds up if tax laws change. We build plans that stay flexible.
Using both spouses' exemptions
Portability elections
Lifetime and annual exclusion gifts
Irrevocable trusts that remove future growth
Charitable planning
Valuation planning for business and real estate interests
Estate tax planning strategies
The right strategy depends on the size and type of your assets and your goals. These are common tools we use.
Marital Planning
Plans that use the marital deduction and both spouses’ exemptions so a couple does not waste either one.
Lifetime Gifts
Annual exclusion gifts and larger planned gifts that move future growth out of your taxable estate.
Irrevocable Trusts
Trusts that can hold life insurance or growth assets outside your estate for your family.
Business Interests
Succession and transfer planning for closely held businesses and family entities.
Real Estate
Planning for Florida homestead, investment property and real estate held in other states or abroad.
Charitable Giving
Charitable trusts and gifts that support causes you care about and can reduce estate tax.
Discover
We review your family, your assets and your goals.
Evaluate
We estimate your potential estate tax exposure under current law.
Strategy
You receive a plan designed to reduce tax and preserve wealth.
Tax laws change. Your plan should keep up.
The federal exemption has changed many times and will likely change again. A well-designed plan is flexible enough to work under different rules, and regular reviews make sure it still does what you intend.
Frequently asked questions
Straight answers to the questions we hear most. For advice about your situation, schedule a consultation.
Does Florida have an estate tax?
No. Florida does not have a state estate tax or inheritance tax. Only the federal estate tax can apply.
How much can I pass without estate tax?
The federal exemption is about $15 million per person in 2026. Transfers to a U.S. citizen spouse and to charity are generally deductible without limit.
What is portability?
Portability lets a surviving spouse use the deceased spouse’s unused exemption. It requires a timely filed federal estate tax return after the first death.
Do I need estate tax planning if my estate is below the exemption?
Possibly. Growth, life insurance and future changes in the law can push an estate above the exemption. We can help you assess the risk.
