The one thing we can all count on in life, other than death and taxes, is change. Whether it’s a new baby in the family or someone getting sick, change is constant. We have to make decisions in the best interest of our families and adjust to all the curveballs thrown our way, but what about when we’re not here anymore? Who will be looking out for our families after we’ve passed on?
Just the idea leaves us with big, heavy questions to ask ourselves. What will happen to my assets? Will my wishes be properly carried out? Who will take care of my children if I pass away before they’re adults? Death and disability are never topics anyone wants to discuss, but avoiding planning for them can cost you and your family big time.
In attorney Paul J. Monsanto’s line of work, he’s seen the turmoil created after someone dies without a properly prepared estate plan. “There’s nothing more disheartening than when I see a family who should be grieving, instead having to deal with the legal headache that comes when someone dies without a Will or a Trust because it’s completely avoidable,” Paul says.
The Law Office of Paul James Monsanto, P.A., located in the Cypress Glen Professional Park (north of S.R. 56) in Wesley Chapel handles exactly those types of issues. The office specializes in Wills, Trusts, Probate and Family Planning.
“A comprehensive estate plan is the single most important thing you can do to ensure your family and your hard-earned money are protected in case you die or become incapacitated,” Paul says. “And it’s not as complex as some people think.”
He adds that, “I believe simplicity is crucial to estate planning. I get a lot of calls from clients who think they need a complicated estate plan to avoid probate because of something a friend told them or an article they read online, but for a lot of people, especially older folks, that’s not the case.”
In fact, the number-one reason that motivates Paul’s clients to call him is because they want to avoid probate. “Probate is a court-supervised process of transferring assets from the deceased to their beneficiaries,” he says. “It also is an opportunity for creditors to make claims against the estate.”
For those whose family member passed away without an estate plan, probate can be a long, arduous process. “I’ll never forget one particular client,” Paul says. “It was a young man in his 40s who came to me because he was very sick with cancer. He didn’t have children but wanted to leave his assets to his mother and brother. My heart broke when I found out he had passed away two months later. He was weak and sick, but still made the effort to create an estate plan. That saved his family months of added stress.”
Paul’s law firm is quickly rising to the top of the pack with 47 five-star Google reviews since he opened his office three years ago. But, while his firm is young, Paul has plenty of experience. He has been practicing law for more than 13 years and is licensed to practice in both Florida and New York. Paul graduated with a Finance degree from the University of Florida in Gainesville. He attended law school at Duke University in Durham, NC. From there, he moved to New York City and became a litigating attorney for major banks and insurance companies. After his time in the big city, Paul came home to Tampa, where he was raised, so he could put down roots. There, he met his wife Laura Diaz, a morning radio personality at WMTX-FM Mix 100.7, and now has two wonderful stepchildren, Norah and Nash. They live in the New Tampa neighborhood of Tampa Palms.
His career and personal life have taught Paul that no two family situations are the same. “I’ve seen families with no children and I’ve seen one family with ten children,” he says. “I’ve helped unmarried domestic partners, same-sex couples, people who are on their first marriage, second marriage, third marriage, blended families…you name it!”
He says that the personal aspect of estate planning is what drew him to the practice area and why he plans to continue to practice estate law for years to come.
“After practicing commercial litigation for big banks and corporations, it’s so refreshing to help everyday people,” Paul says. “Speaking to my clients and hearing about their lives and their families is my favorite part of the job.”
His client-focused approach is just one of the ways Paul’s law office stands out from the dozens of others popping up around New Tampa and Wesley Chapel. He strives to keep his fees fair and reasonable. In most cases, he charges a flat fee, so the client knows ahead of time what their legal costs will be. He makes himself accessible to his clients, personally answering his phone, replying to emails and handling consultations and document signings. He encourages potential clients to read his on-line reviews to see what his past clients have said about their experience with his office. Positive word of mouth has indeed helped grow his practice. “It’s such an honor when a client refers me to a friend, neighbor or family member,” Paul says.
Wills and Trusts are what most people think of first when it comes to estate planning, but Paul says there are many more aspects to it that he can help with, such as long-term-care planning, special needs planning and asset protection. He also handles probate cases.
“I like to think of myself as an old-school type of lawyer from a time before everything became impersonal. I’m here to help my clients in any way I can, and if it’s something I don’t do, I can probably help them find someone who does.”
To schedule a consultation with attorney Paul J. Monsanto, call (813) 997- 5290, visit pjmattorneys.com. The Law Office of Paul J. Monsanto, P.A., is located at 2404 Creel Lane, Suite 101, Wesley Chapel.
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