Alina Gonzalez-Dockery

Hi, I'm Alina. I grew up in Lakeland, Florida, as the youngest of three children in a family of Cuban refugees. From a young age, my parents taught me the value of community, education, and the opportunities available in this country. My family has always been my greatest support and the most precious part of my life.

Their support is why I am committed to being a reliable advisor to my clients and a leader in my community. It's an honor and privilege to offer guidance and advice that enhances the stability and comfort of families.

With over 25 years of experience as an attorney, I help my clients navigate the emotional, financial, and legal decisions necessary for future planning. I create estate plans that not only meet their goals but also function effectively in cases of incapacity and death.

I believe in offering personalized service to each client, helping them secure their future, preserve their wealth, avoid probate, and ease the burden on their families when they pass away. This belief is what motivated me to establish and grow my firm, Life Law Planning, which offers virtual representation throughout Florida.

I work with clients who are new to estate planning as well as those who have existing plans. I educate them about what would happen to their body, assets, and family if they become incapacitated or pass away, based on their current plan or the default plan set by the California Probate Court.

For clients dealing with the loss of a loved one, we provide estate administration services, representing Executors in probate proceedings or Trustees in Trust Administration.

I am proud to virtually serve Florida in various areas including Trusts & Estates, Estate Planning, Wills & Trusts, Incapacity Planning, Special Needs Planning, Probate, Estate Administration, Trust Administration, and Guardianship.

• Credit Cards Accepted

Florida

The Florida Bar

ID Number: 94099

Since 1996

Executive Director

Lee County Legal Aid Society

2014 - 2017

Executive Director

Heart of Florida Legal Aid Society, Inc.

2008 - 2014

Partner

Harris and Gonzalez

1999 - 2008

St. Thomas University School of Law

J.D. (1996) | Law

1993 - 1996

Honors: Phi Delta Phi, Legal Fraternity Dean's List

University of Florida

B.A. (1992) | Criminal Justice

1988 - 1992

Activities: Sigma Kappa Sorority

2021 Florida Latina Lideres Award

Latin Times Media

2021

Southwest Florida Hispanic Chamber of Commerce

Vice Chair

2021 - Current

Family Law Section Florida Bar Association

2000 - Current

Florida State Bar  # 94099

Member

1996 - Current

Licensed Real Estate Sales Agent

Florida Department of Professional & Business Regelaton

2004

Q. Does the personal rep. have to give the widow 30% if the rep. is the beneficiary?

December 3, 2024

A: Florida’s elective share law provides a safety net for a surviving spouse who has been cut out of the deceased spouse’s will or left a very small portion of the estate.The elective share is a percentage of the deceased’s estate that the surviving spouse may claim, regardless of the terms of the will. With limited exceptions, the surviving spouse can override the terms of the will to collect the elective share. In Florida, the elective share is 30% of the estate, but the calculation isn’t quite as straightforward as it might sound. That’s because some property that isn’t actually part of the estate is considered for purposes of calculating the elective share.

The surviving spouse may file an election on or before the earlier of:

Six months from the date he or she was served with a notice of administration, or

Two years from the deceased’s date of death

A surviving spouse may, with good cause, request an extension of the time to make the election. A request for extension must be filed within the timeline set forth above, with one exception. Certain proceedings may trigger a later deadline for requesting an extension. However, the two-years-from-death mark is a hard cut-off. ... Read More