Ann Miles
Estate Planning, Probate & Trust Administration Attorney
Helping Florida Families Protect Their Legacy Through Thoughtful Estate Planning and Experienced Probate Guidance
Planning for the future is one of the most important investments you can make for your family. Whether you are preparing your first estate plan, updating existing documents after a major life event, or administering the estate of a loved one, having experienced legal counsel can provide confidence and peace of mind.
Ann Miles is an Estate Planning, Probate & Trust Administration Attorney at St. Johns Law Group who helps individuals, families, retirees, business owners, and fiduciaries throughout Northeast Florida create personalized estate plans and navigate Florida probate with clarity and compassion.
Her practice focuses on estate planning, wills, trusts, probate administration, trust administration, and fiduciary guidance, while drawing upon years of experience in business transactions and contract law to provide practical, detail-oriented legal solutions.
Her organized, responsive, and client-focused approach, means Ann takes time to understand each client’s goals before developing legal strategies designed to protect loved ones, preserve assets, and simplify future administration.
How Ann Helps Clients
Ann regularly assists clients with:
- First-time estate planning
- Wills and trusts
- Estate plan reviews and updates
- Planning for retirement
- Planning after marriage or divorce
- Blended family planning
- Planning for young children
- Incapacity planning
- Probate administration
- Summary Administration
- Formal Administration
- Trust administration
- Serving as Personal Representative
- Serving as Successor Trustee
- Probate involving Florida real estate
- Estate planning for business owners
Every client’s circumstances are different, and Ann believes every estate plan should reflect those unique circumstances rather than relying on generic forms.
Comprehensive Florida Estate Planning
A carefully prepared estate plan can help ensure that your wishes are honored while reducing uncertainty for your loved ones.
Ann prepares customized estate plans that may include:
Wills
- Last Will and Testament
- Pour-Over Wills
- Guardianship Designations
Trusts
- Revocable Living Trusts
- Irrevocable Trusts
- Special Needs Trusts
- Minor’s Trusts
- Trust Amendments
- Trust Restatements
Incapacity Planning
- Durable Powers of Attorney
- Designation of Health Care Surrogate
- Living Wills
- HIPAA Authorizations
Real Estate Planning
- Lady Bird Deeds
- Enhanced Life Estate Deeds
- Homestead Planning
- Real Estate Transfer Planning
Estate Plan Maintenance
Ann encourages clients to review their estate plans after significant life events, including:
- Marriage
- Divorce
- Birth or adoption
- Retirement
- Purchase or sale of real estate
- Death of a family member
- Changes in financial circumstances
- Relocation to Florida
Probate & Estate Administration
Losing a loved one is difficult. Administering an estate should not make the process even more stressful.
Ann assists Personal Representatives, beneficiaries, and families throughout Florida probate, helping them understand their responsibilities while working to administer estates efficiently and in accordance with Florida law.
She assists with:
- Formal Administration
- Summary Administration
- Probate With a Will
- Probate Without a Will
- Appointment of Personal Representatives
- Probate Court Filings
- Estate Inventory
- Notice to Creditors
- Distribution of Estate Assets
- Closing the Estate
- Probate Real Estate
- Probate Document Preparation
Ann understands that many clients have never been involved in probate before and works to explain each step in clear, understandable language.
Trust Administration
Serving as a trustee involves significant legal responsibilities.
Ann advises trustees and beneficiaries regarding:
- Successor Trustee Responsibilities
- Trust Administration
- Trust Funding Questions
- Distribution of Trust Assets
- Trustee Duties
- Trust Interpretation
- Beneficiary Communications
- Trust Recordkeeping
Her practical guidance helps trustees understand their fiduciary obligations while helping beneficiaries receive accurate information regarding trust administration.
Estate Planning Through Every Stage of Life
Estate planning evolves as your life changes.
Young Adults
- Powers of Attorney
- Health Care Documents
- Basic Will
Newly Married Couples
- Wills
- Beneficiary Reviews
- Guardianship Planning
Parents of Young Children
- Guardians
- Children’s Trusts
- Family Protection Planning
Business Owners
- Succession Planning
- Business Ownership Coordination
- Estate Plan Integration
Retirees
- Trust Planning
- Wealth Transfer
- Incapacity Planning
Grandparents
- Legacy Planning
- Charitable Giving
- Multi-Generational Planning
Business Contracts & Transactional Experience
In addition to her estate planning and probate practice, Ann has extensive experience preparing, reviewing, and negotiating contracts.
Her experience includes:
- Commercial Contracts
- Vendor Agreements
- Purchase Agreements
- Service Agreements
- Commercial Leasing
- Business Transactions
- Contract Negotiation
- Risk Assessment
This transactional background provides valuable perspective when estate planning intersects with business ownership or contractual obligations.
Representative Matters
Ann has assisted clients with matters including:
- Preparing comprehensive estate plans for Florida families.
- Guiding Personal Representatives through probate administration.
- Assisting successor trustees with trust administration.
- Updating estate plans following marriage, retirement, and relocation.
- Coordinating estate plans involving Florida real estate.
- Advising families regarding probate procedures and fiduciary responsibilities.
Representative matters are intended to illustrate the types of legal services provided and do not guarantee similar outcomes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need both a will and a trust?
Not necessarily. The right plan depends on your goals, assets, family circumstances, and how you would like your estate administered.
How often should I update my estate plan?
Review your estate plan every three to five years or after significant life events such as marriage, divorce, births, deaths, retirement, or major changes in assets.
What happens if I die without a will in Florida?
Florida’s intestacy laws determine who inherits your property, which may not reflect your wishes.
Can I avoid probate?
Some assets may pass outside probate through trusts, beneficiary designations, joint ownership, or other planning strategies. Whether probate can be minimized depends on your circumstances.
What is a Lady Bird Deed?
A Lady Bird (Enhanced Life Estate) Deed may allow Florida real property to transfer outside probate while preserving certain ownership rights during your lifetime.
What is the difference between a trustee and a Personal Representative?
A Personal Representative administers a probate estate, while a trustee administers property held in a trust.
How long does probate usually take?
Every estate is different. The length of probate depends on factors such as estate complexity, creditor claims, real estate, disputes, and court procedures.
What should I bring to my estate planning consultation?
Bring information about your assets, existing estate planning documents, beneficiary designations, family members, and any questions or goals you would like to discuss.
Resources
Learn more through these St. Johns Law Group resources:
- Florida Probate Planning Suite
- Florida Probate FAQs
- Personal Representative Duties & Responsibilities
- Fiduciary Litigation
- Selling Real Estate During Probate
- Estate Planning Resource Center
- Wills & Trusts
- Trust Administration
- Lady Bird Deeds
- Personal Representative Duties
Education
- Juris Doctor — Florida State University College of Law
- Bachelor of Arts — University of Florida
- Member, The Florida Bar
Community
Outside the office, Ann enjoys spending time with her family and is proud to support her husband, a retired United States Navy SEAL. She believes thoughtful planning today helps families face tomorrow with greater confidence and security.
Schedule a Consultation with Ann Miles
Whether you are creating your first estate plan, updating a trust, administering the estate of a loved one, or serving as a Personal Representative or trustee, Ann Miles provides practical legal guidance tailored to your family’s needs and long-term goals.
Contact St. Johns Law Group today to schedule a consultation with Ann Miles, Estate Planning, Probate & Trust Administration Attorney.
(904) 495‑0400
amiles@sjlawgroup.com