Hurricane Season Estate Plan Checklist (FL 2025)

A Florida hurricane estate planning checklist is essential for protecting your family’s legal and financial affairs during storm season. With September marking the peak of hurricane activity in Florida, it’s not just about stocking supplies and boarding windows—your estate plan also needs to be storm-ready.

Why This Checklist Matters in 2025

The Atlantic hurricane season runs June through November, with September often bringing the most powerful storms. For Florida residents, preparing your estate plan now ensures that important decisions, healthcare choices, and financial matters continue smoothly even if a storm forces evacuation or damages your home.

Having a Florida hurricane estate planning checklist in place gives your family peace of mind, avoids delays, and ensures continuity when it matters most.

Key Elements of Your Florida Hurricane Estate Planning Checklist

1. Gather & Protect Original Documents

Collect Wills, Trusts, Powers of Attorney, Health Care Directives, property titles, and insurance policies. Store them in a waterproof, fireproof safe or sealed container.

2. Create Secure Digital Backups

Scan all essential documents and store them in encrypted cloud storage or on a password-protected flash drive that you can carry with you if you evacuate.

3. Assemble a Grab-and-Go Binder

Include:

• Emergency contact information (attorney, executor, financial advisors)

• A summary sheet of where originals are stored

• Copies of vital records like insurance cards and IDs

4. Ensure Remote Access for Trusted Agents

Your chosen agents under Powers of Attorney or trustees should have access to necessary documents in case you cannot act due to travel, evacuation, or communication disruptions.

5. Confirm Healthcare Surrogates & Directives

Make sure your healthcare surrogate and advance directive documents are up to date. Hospitals need clear instructions to follow, and hurricanes can create situations where quick decisions are required.

6. Review & Update Beneficiaries

Check designations on life insurance, retirement accounts, and bank accounts. Ensure they align with your current wishes.

7. Guardianship Documents for Children

If you have minor children, guardianship or temporary custody documents should be in place. This prevents delays in care if you are unavailable.

8. Test Your Communication Plan

Ensure your executor, trustee, or healthcare surrogate knows their role, where documents are stored, and how to access digital backups.

Florida-Specific Considerations

Florida faces more hurricane impacts than any other U.S. state, and the majority occur between August and October. A Florida hurricane estate planning checklist ensures that your documents and designations are usable even during disruptions. Florida law also recognizes electronic and remote notarization, which can be helpful when preparing last-minute updates if a storm is approaching.

How to Put Your Checklist into Action

1. Consult a Florida Attorney – Verify documents are current and legally valid.

2. Set Aside a Weekend – Organize, scan, and store everything.

3. Share Copies – Provide access to agents, trustees, and healthcare surrogates.

4. Review Annually – Make updates each year before hurricane season begins.

Final Thoughts

Hurricanes are unpredictable, but your legal preparedness doesn’t have to be. A Florida hurricane estate planning checklist allows you to safeguard your documents, empower your loved ones, and maintain control even if a storm disrupts your daily life.

Call to Action

At Absolute Law Group, we help Florida families prepare a customized Florida hurricane estate planning checklist. From document storage solutions to healthcare directives, we’ll make sure you’re ready before the next storm hits. Contact us today for a consultation and secure your peace of mind.