A probate proceeding in Florida is a Court supervised distribution system designed to protect beneficiaries and creditors and to ensure that (1) the appropriate beneficiaries are discovered/noticed to the proceeding…
With the popularity of “avoiding probate” seminars, books and do-it-yourself guides that flooded the State of Florida over the past decades it is little wonder that our state has seen…
WAIVER OF SPOUSAL RIGHTS UNDER FLORIDA PROBATE LAW Florida probate law contains numerous protections for a surviving spouse. These interests include what is referred to as an Elective Share (a…
FLORIDA LAW: WHO TAKES CARE OF MY CHILDREN IF I DIE? Not surprisingly a common concern among our Clients is the care and wellbeing of their minor children in the…
A common question presented to our office during Estate planning consultations is how to avoid probate in Florida. Complicated and high value estates may benefit from the creation of a Trust and the management of assets into a trust to avoid the costs and expenses of a probate administration.
Often the only asset or major asset subject to probate will be a home. A very simple and cost-effective method to avoid the costs associated with a Florida probate proceeding related to a property is accomplished through the implementation of an Enhanced Life Estate Deed or “Lady Bird” Deed. The deed is executed by the current owner of the property and provides that the owner will retain the ability to use the property and continue to have unrestricted ownership and upon the death of the owner it will pass automatically to the designated person called the remainder. (more…)
Often because of an inheritance or a change in circumstances, two unmarried people end up jointly owning real estate. This can create all sorts of problems for issues like rental income, responsibility for expenses (mortgage, taxes, property insurance etc…). If you own a property in Florida with someone and you are not getting the fair value of rental income, paying too much for expenses or simply need to liquidate the property a Partition Action may be appropriate for you.
Florida Statutes 64.011-64.091 codify the right of Partition, which is a division of property among co-owners. It is an equitable action aimed at restoring the interest of parties to property to arrive at a fair and equitable result. (more…)
Florida law allows for the recovery of civil damages on behalf of minor children. Florida law allows for natural guardians, parents, to settle a claim or cause of action for…
One issue that arises frequently in a Probate Administration is the devise, bequest or inheritance to a minor (under 18 years old). A minor cannot have an ownership interest in…
In a Florida Probate proceeding one of the principal guiding aspects of the law is to give meaning and intent to the desires or wishes of the decedent. Therefore the case law interpreting will provisions in Florida is construed to favor the intent of the decedent where possible. One challenge that occurs is when a testator (person writing will) fails to update their estate planning documents to account for a divorce. Florida Stat. 732.507 of the Florida Probate code provides some guidance:
732.507 Effect of subsequent marriage, birth, adoption, or dissolution of marriage.—
(1) Neither subsequent marriage, birth, nor adoption of descendants shall revoke the prior will of any person, but the pretermitted child or spouse shall inherit as set forth in ss. 732.301 and 732.302, regardless of the prior will.
(2) Any provision of a will executed by a married person that affects the spouse of that person shall become void upon the divorce of that person or upon the dissolution or annulment of the marriage. After the dissolution, divorce, or annulment, the will shall be administered and construed as if the former spouse had died at the time of the dissolution, divorce, or annulment of the marriage, unless the will or the dissolution or divorce judgment expressly provides otherwise.
The failure to update your estate plan after divorce will thus automatically create a scenario where the named spouse is artificially treated as though he or she has predeceased the decedent. This may or may not completely alter the intended distribution scheme in the Last Will and Testament so understanding how your documents will be construed or simply drafting a codicil to clearly specify your intent is crucial and can save your family the expense of unnecessary probate litigation. (more…)
Florida probate administration has statutory rules governing what should happen if there are simply not enough assets to pay all the distributions identified in an estate. These statutory rules are known as the rules of abatement. These statutory rules will control unless the Last Will and Testament admitted to probate Court in Florida has a specific set of rules for which property should be satisfied or liquidated to pay an expense of administration.
STEP 1 – IDENTIFY THE CLASS OF GIFTS IN YOUR LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT
Florida law recognizes different categories of gifts. They are as follows
a) Specific gift: As the name implies, this is a specific asset of the decedent devised to a beneficiary. These gifts can only be satisfied by giving the person the specific item of property. If the item does not exist at the time of the death of the decedent, that gift or devise fails, meaning that the provision is not enforceable and the beneficiary is not entitled to an item of equivalent value.
Example: To my daughter Angelina, I give my engraved hunting rifle
b) Demonstrative Gift: A bit of a hybrid of the previous two, a demonstrative gift is a gift payable out of a particular source, but if not available then out of the general assets of the estate.
Example: I give 200 shares of Z Corp to my daughter Angelina if she survives me. This is to be paid from my Z Corp shares which I have at death if it exists, otherwise my Personal Representative shall make provision for payment of the equivalent value of 200 shares of Z Corp from other assets in my estate then existing at my death.
c) General Gift: General gifts are payable from the general assets of the property and may be satisfied from a range of assets in the estate. Importantly, unlike a specific gift, if this item does not fail if it does not exist at the time of death.
Example: To my daughter Angelina, I give a 2016 Nissan Rogue, if I do not own such a vehicle at my death I direct my Personal Representative to purchase one and provide it to her.
d) Residuary Gifts: The term residue, or “rest, residue and remainder” of an estate is the catch all for the remaining assets after all specific assets have been distributed.
Example: “I give the rest, residue and remainder of my estate wherever situated whether it be personal or real property to my wife.” (more…)
