If someone needs a will, estate or probate action executed and filed, but can’t, or just doesn’t want to go to a lawyer’s office, attorney Cynthia Nichols has a solution.
It’s “Wills on Wheels.”
After graduating from Stetson College of Law in 1980, she was a law clerk for state Supreme Court Chief Justice Alan Sundberg and then an assistant state attorney in the 4th Judicial Circuit.
Nichols established her solo juvenile dependency, guardianship and probate law practice in 1982. She was inspired by the challenges faced by a client to establish the mobile lawyer service about a year ago.
“She was 68 years old and had to take the bus to come see me. When she got to my office, she was all out of breath because she had to walk six blocks from the bus stop,” said Nichols, who drove the woman home after their meeting.
“The idea for Wills on Wheels just popped into my head,” she said.
She has an office on East Adams Street, but mostly works away from it to serve clients with age, disability or transportation issues.
Nichols assists her clients with last will and testament, living will, health care surrogate and power of attorney documents. She also practices in areas such as estate, probate and guardianship matters.
“You could call it ‘life law,’ ” Nichols said.
Fees for in-home legal consultation and services range from $50 for designation of a health care surrogate or a living will to $250 for a last will and testament. Fees for guardianship and probate matters depend on the complexity of the case, she said.
“If you’ve got a lot of money, you can go to any attorney you wish. If you don’t have any money, you can go to legal aid. If you’re in the middle, you come to me,” Nichols said.
A related document she files for many of her clients is an enhanced life estate deed.
Also known as a “Florida Lady Bird deed,” it allows real property to be automatically transferred to a new owner when the current owner dies, without the requirement to go through probate.
The owner maintains ongoing control of the property and can modify or even revoke the deed.
The beneficiaries have no rights to the property as long as the original owner is alive.
“More people should have this,” Nichols said.
When she’s not meeting clients and drawing up their documents, Nichols builds her practice by speaking to community groups and participating in events like the Active Boomers and Senior Expo March 24 at the University of North Florida.
“I enjoy getting out and meeting the people. I’m a lawyer who makes house calls and I love it,” she said.