I’m Jerry Taylor, an estate planning and asset protection attorney with over 30 years of experience serving Gulf Shores families, retirees, and property owners. Whether you live year-round near the Fort Morgan peninsula, own a beach condo, or run a rental or tourism business, you deserve an attorney who understands Alabama law and coastal property. Call me at 251-517-7507 for a confidential consultation. Most initial calls are free.
Licensed in Alabama, Florida, and Mississippi, I work with Gulf Shores clients entirely by phone and video. From building an estate plan to protecting your assets to handling a complex inheritance, I give you straightforward advice tailored to your situation.
Why Gulf Shores Residents Need Estate Planning
Gulf Shores blends a growing year-round community with a heavy seasonal and investment market. That mix creates specific planning needs:
Retirees and year-round residents. Gulf Shores draws retirees who need more than a will — healthcare directives, long-term-care and incapacity planning, and a plan that keeps their affairs private. These are the documents that protect you while you’re living, not just after.
Beach property and vacation rentals. Whether it’s a family beach home or a rental condo generating income, coastal real estate is usually your largest asset. Titled wrong, it goes through probate; held in a revocable living trust, it passes to your family privately and without court delay.
Rental-property investors. If you own one or more rental units, you’re running a business. Asset protection keeps rental liability away from your personal wealth, and a succession plan keeps the income going to your heirs.
Multi-state and snowbird owners. Many Gulf Shores owners live elsewhere part of the year. Property in a state where you don’t reside can trigger a second probate in Alabama. A funded trust avoids it, and my tri-state license lets me coordinate across Alabama, Florida, and Mississippi.
Alabama’s tax advantage. No state income tax, no state estate tax — a real benefit worth preserving in your plan if Gulf Shores is your primary residence.
My Practice Areas
Estate Planning. Wills, revocable living trusts, powers of attorney, and healthcare directives — thorough, tailored documents, never templates.
Asset Protection. Entity structuring, strategic trusts, and homestead and insurance planning for rental owners, business owners, and anyone with meaningful assets.
Elder Law. Long-term care planning, Medicaid eligibility, and incapacity planning — especially relevant for the Gulf Shores retiree community.
Complex Personal Injury. Wrongful death, catastrophic injury, and serious medical malpractice.
Baldwin County Probate — What Gulf Shores Residents Should Know
When a Gulf Shores resident dies without a trust, the estate goes through the Baldwin County Probate Court in Bay Minette — a public, months-long process that can freeze beach property and rental income while it runs. A revocable living trust avoids probate entirely, keeps your finances private, and preserves Alabama’s tax advantages. Alabama follows the Uniform Probate Code (Title 43, Chapter 8), and I know both the law and the local Baldwin County procedures. See my overview of estate planning across Baldwin County for more.
Common Questions From Gulf Shores Clients
I’m retired. What do I actually need? At minimum, healthcare directives and powers of attorney so someone you trust can act for you if you’re incapacitated — plus a will or, better for most homeowners, a revocable living trust to avoid probate. I’ll tell you honestly what fits.
I own a rental condo. How do I protect it? Through proper structuring that separates rental liability from your personal assets, paired with a plan that passes the property and its income to your heirs without probate.
How much does it cost? It depends on complexity. I give honest estimates up front, no surprises — and it’s almost always far less than what probate costs your family.
Why Choose Jerry Taylor Law
I live and work on the Alabama Gulf Coast — an experienced local attorney, not a big-firm file number. 30+ years in practice (since 1985), licensed in three states, remote-first so it works around your schedule.
Call 251-517-7507 or email jerry@jerrytaylorlaw.com to schedule your confidential consultation. Most initial consultations are free.
This page provides general information about estate planning in Alabama and is not legal advice. Your specific situation may require different analysis. Contact an attorney for advice about your situation.