Florida Estate Planning Lawyer Blog

Often after someone dies in Florida, their families look to save money and open handle the probate without the use of a lawyer. In some states this is permitted, but in most cases Florida does not permit an individual to represent themselves in a Probate Proceeding. This is why probate forms are not available for Florida.

One reason individuals are not allowed to do their own probate deals with the complexity of the issues surrounding the Florida Constitutions protections of the homestead. If one does not take the right steps they could loose or jeopardize their homestead protection.

Florida Probate Rule 5.030 requries an attorney licenced in the state of Florida to be involved with probate proceedings, unless the personal representative remains the sole interested person.

If you feel that a Florida homestead of assets of a Florida resident may be at risk because of an inadvertent error or mistake, Contact a Florida Probate Lawyer to discuss your situation.

Sometimes it is necessary to admit a will in Florida when the original is not available because it was admitted in another state. The most common occurrence of this involves a Florida ancillary administrations. This is when the decedent lived in another state and there was an initial probate in that state, but the decedent owned real property in Florida.

In some cases, we find that the original probate was incorrect and the original administration should have been filed in Florida to protect the homestead from claims of creditors. In the case where a person who dies is a resident of Florida and their original will is admitted to probate in another state or country because of inadvertence, error, or omission. And the will is admitted in that other state prior to the Florida Probate case being filed, the certified copy of the will can be admitted to the Florida Probate case if the original could have been admitted. When this happens an authenticated copy of the will, foreign proof of the will, the foreign order or probate, and any letters issued shall be filed instead of the original will and shall be evidence of its execution and admission to foreign probate.

If you feel that a Florida homestead of assets of a Florida resident may be at risk because of an inadvertent error or mistake, Contact a Florida Probate Lawyer to discuss your situation.

In Jacksonville and around Florida an attorney is required under Florida Probate Rule 5.030 unless the personal representative remains the sole interested person. The attorney must be licensed to practice law in Florida. If you need a Jacksonville Probate lawyer or a Florida probate Attorney Contact us to see if we can help you.

Short Answer: A Summary Administration probate usually takes just over 3 months but can take 6 or more depending on the circumstances.

Long Answer: It depends on the facts and circumstances of each situation. In some areas of Florida the Judges require or allow for differing procedures this causes some probate administrations to take longer than others.

In Florida, the personal representative may need to sell real estate prior to settling the estate. As you can imagine the market conditions can determine how long it will take to sell property. I have been involved in some Jacksonville Probate Litigation where the creditors dispute every claim and as a result lawsuits are filed to resolve those claims. This procedure or settling a disputed claim in a Florida probate can extend the time to compete the probate.

Other Jacksonville cases have involved a disputed prenuptial agreement or Florida WIll. Again when there is extended litigation the process will take longer to resolve., or to resolve a disputed claim filed by a creditor, or a lawsuit filed to challenge the validity of the will.

Even the simplest of estates must be open for at least the three-month creditor claim period. If there are no assets that are subject to claims of creditors in some counties the Judges like to give notice to creditors and an opportunity to dispute homestead status to preserve the creditor's due process rights. With these issues in mind, it is reasonable to expect that a simple estate will take at least three months and typically five or six months to properly handle.

If the estate does not have to file a federal estate tax return, the final accounting and other documents necessary to close the estate are first due within 12 months after the Court issues Letters of Administration to the personal representative. This period can be extended if necessary and is often extended in cases involving Florida personal Injury Claims.

If the estate is required to file a federal estate tax return, the return is initially due nine months after the date of the decedent’s death, however, the time for filing the return can be extended for another six months. Remember that the Personal Representative is personally responsible for the estate taxes if they are unpaid. If a federal estate tax return is required, the final accounting and other documents to close the probate administration are due within 12 months from the date the estate tax return, as extended, is due. This date can also be extended if necessary.

If you need help from a Florida probate lawyer or are looking to file a claim a Florida Probate case and would like a Jacksonville Probate Attorney to review your claim or the probate administration Contact us

In Florida what happens to a person's assets if they die without a will? Under Florida probate law, if a person dies without leaving a will the decedent's estate is dealt with under Florida's Intestate statutes. Even if a Florida resident dies intestate, the decedent’s assets will be transferred to their family members. Only when there are no family members will the assets escheat to the state or be transferred to the state. Generally Florida's intestate statutes go to great lengths to find a relative to leave a decedent's assets to.

In Florida the decision to create Florida Will that appoints a personal representative to administer your probate assets is a wise decision. It is important to consider who can be a personal representative. With Florida probate law, the personal representative can be an individual, bank or a trust company. For an individual to act as a representative they must be legal residents of the state of Florida or a relative or spouse of a sibling, parent, or child. A person who is not a legal resident and is not closely related to the decedent cannot act as an executor or a personal representative of the decedent's estate. In addition a trust company that is incorporated under Florida laws or which is a bank or lending agency and is licensed to extend fiduciary lending in the state of Florida can also act as a personal representative of a Florida probate.

In Florida what happens to persons assets if they die without a will? Under Florida probate law, if a person dies without leaving a will the decedent's estate is dealt with under Florida's Intestate statutes. Even if a Florida resident dies in intestate, the decedent’s assets will be transferred to their family members. Only if there are no family members will the assets escheat to the state or be transferred to the state. Generally Florida's intestate statutes go to great lengths to find a relative to leave a decedent's assets to.

When a decedent’s assets go into probate in Florida the Florida Probate Case will be in the county court where the decedent maintained his or her domicile.

Pursuant to Florida probate law a judge will normally decide and rule on the validity of a will. The judge will also rule on who the heirs are should there be a question or dispute as to the validity of a decedent’s heirs.

If the decedent appointed a personal representative to administer the Florida will, the judge will determine if the representative is qualified administer the estate. If there are no objections and the judge determines that the representative qualified, the judge will issue letters of administration. These letters of administration allow the executor or personal representative to administer the will. Any issues or conflicts that arise during the representative’s administration will be ruled on by the circuit court judge.

In Florida, if you were married when a will was created by your spouse, a subsequent divorce will treat you as predeceasing your spouse in most cases. Even if you were living with your ex spouse, engaged, or had a new wedding date planned, a will executed before the divorce would not be valid in regards to anything devised from a person to his or her ex-spouse.

It is possible to talk with the family and if they agree, the beneficiaries can work together with the ex-spouse to provide assets after the death. The ex-spouse has no legal right to receive assets but it can be negotiated in a friendly arrangement.

If you are an ex-spouse who was friendly with their ex, contact a Florida Estate Planning Lawyer to discuss your options.

if you have been divorced or reacquainted with someone from a prior marriage, it is important to update your Jacksonville Estate Planning Documents to reflect your current intentions.

In re Estate of Carpenter, 253 So. 2d 697 (Fla. 1971), the Florida Supreme Court stated to raise the presumption of undue influence, a plaintiff must show a confidential relationship between the donor and the donee and active procurement of the gift. Because courts have found that a confidential relationship exists in most relationships, the real issue comes down to active procurement of the gift. Recently Patrick Lannon wrote a summary of case law on the topic for the Florida Bar journal. Carpenter gives a list of seven factors of active procurement of a will, the:

1) presence of the beneficiary at the execution of the will;
2) presence of the beneficiary on those occasions when the testator expressed a desire to make a will;
3) recommendation by the beneficiary of an attorney to draw the will;
4) knowledge of the contents of the will by the beneficiary prior to execution;
5) giving of instructions on preparation of the will by the beneficiary to the attorney drawing the will;
6) securing of witnesses to the will by the beneficiary; and
7) safekeeping of the will by the beneficiary subsequent to execution.

In contrast with inter vivos transfers courts use a balancing test when evaluating the six recurring factors:

1) the donee’s level of involvement in the donor’s affairs;
2) the donee’s level of involvement in the actual gift in question;
3) the relationship of the donee to the donor as compared to the natural objects of the donor’s bounty;
4) the secrecy or openness of the transaction;
5) the effect of the transfer on the donor’s pre-existing estate plan; and
6) the physical health and mental acuity of the donor at the time of the gift.

Generally it is much harder to undue a gift that takes place with a Florida Will than during the decedents life. These factors should be considered with making or planning to make transfers. With an understanding of how these issues are raised, it is possible to structure transfers so to avoid many of the factors of Undue Influence.

If you would like help in structuring transfers of property to help avoid the appearance of an improper transfer of property, Contact a Florida Will Attorney or a Florida Estate Planning Lawyer to review your case.

If you believe you have been harmed by the improper transfer of property, Contact a Florida Probate Litigation Attorney or a Florida Trust Litigation Lawyer to review your case.

How do you find a Florida probate Attorney?
It is important to look for an attorney within the state where the decedent was domiciled at the time of their death.

The type of lawyer that should be used will depend on what the case will involve.
If there is expected litigation, you should choose a Florida probate litigation attorney.

Depending on the type and amount of assets and creditors, it may be necessary to find a local attorney so that in court issues can be handled economically. Many probate courts will allow out of town attorneys to appear by telephone, but this should be checked prior to selecting an attorney who is far from the court. In other instances, the attorney can have a local lawyer help in hearings that require presence in the court.

Other types of probate cases are often dealt with by mail or in ex parte hearings and can be done by an attorney anywhere in the state.

To discuss what type of attorney you should look for please Contact a Florida Probate Lawyer.

Florida Estate Settlement is the process of gathering the assets of an estate and distributing them to the creditors and beneficiaries of the estate. In Florida this process is called a probate and generally requires the use of a Florida Probate Lawyer.

Most probate lawyers charge a percentage of the estate assets to handle the legal work involved. As Florida Estate Settlements get larger a percentage arrangement can become very expensive.

There is a wide range of fees charged for Florida Probate Administration and the Settlement of an estate. It is important to understand the nature and amount of assets and creditors to give a fair estimate of what a reasonable fee for a Florida probate should be.

Before you talk with a Florida Probate Attorney, you should gather as much information as possible. This will help them understand what steps will be necessary to administer the estate in question.

Florida probate cases often involve situations where the decedent has step-siblings or half blood siblings.

Under Florida's intestate statutes a step brother or sister would not receive any share of the decedent's estate, but a half blood (one related by one parent) would receive 1/2 as much as a child that was related by both parents of the decedent.

In the case were there are only half blood siblings, each of them receives a full share.

An example might be where your mother and father had 2 children together. Your mother and father each had a child from another relationship. If you died, your sibling from both parents would receive 1 share of your estate and your other two siblings (1 from your father and one from your mother) would receive 1/2 share each. This would mean that your full brother would receive 1/2 of your estate and each half-blood sibling would receive 1/4.

This is assuming that you had no descendants and your parents had predeceased you. If you have half blood and step siblings and would like to know what your rights to inheritance are Contact a Jacksonville Florida Estate Planning Lawyer

Greedy Trustees can be a problem in Florida Probate Litigation and Florida Trust Litigation. Often the Trustee must be removed to resolve the issues. Adrian Thomas a Florida lawyer who specializes in Florida Trust and Probate Litigation sent me an article where he discusses individual and corporate trustees. Often banks and financial institutions make their money by managing Florida Revocable Trusts and Florida Irrevocable Trusts. In recent interviews by news organizations, some employees talked about abuse of powers and improper investments that placed profits ahead of the best interest of the beneficiaries of the Florida Trusts.

Some of the abuses included:

Charging inflated fees;
Making distributions difficult for the beneficiaries;
Not considering compelling circumstances for distributions of allocation of principal and income; and
Naming themselves beneficiaries or trustees in the wills of elderly Florida Citizens.

The new Florida Trust code is modeled after the Uniform Trust code and now provides legal remedies for the beneficiaries who are being victimized by greedy trustees.

The new Florida Trust Code includes remedies which allow the court to inquire into the appropriateness of a trustee and evaluate a change in circumstances for a judicial modification of the trust. In addition, Section 736.0706(2)(d) allows a trustee to be removed when there is a change in circumstances and the removal would best serve the interest of the beneficiaries.

Many of these problems can be addressed in the drafting of the Florida Living Trust by creating language and terms that beneficiaries can remove or modify the terms when it is in the best interest of the beneficiaries. In addition, judicial modification is a process where the court can modify a trust for similar circumstances. In Aelillo v. Hyland one beneficiary was favored over another beneficiary. The Florida Court removed the trustee because of conflict of interest.

If you feel that your are not being treated fairly by the trustee of a Florida Trust which you are the beneficary of Contact a Florida Estate Planning Lawyer who deals in Florida Probate Litigation or Florida Trust Litigation

There is a new site which is putting together a list of Estate Planning and Probate professionals including lawyers for each state. You can find them at www.Estate-Attorneys.net.

If a person's usual place of dwelling was in Florida then the original probate should be opened in Florida. We see cases where someone is in the process of or has just moved to Florida and the issue of where to open a probate becomes more complex. In those instances where it may be difficult to determine the exact residence of the decedent there are several factors that should be evaluated to determine the residence.

1) Ownership of a home(s), and the percentage of time spent in each state.
2) Had the decedent applied for and are they currently receiving homestead exemptions in either state?
3) Where is the decedent employed?
4) Does the decedent own business interests?
5) If a homestead cannot be determined, where else does decedent own property?
6) Where are their federal tax returns filed?
7) State of Vehicle registration, Drivers license.
8) Location of Will, Ownership of cemetery lot.
9) Affidavit of domicile as found in Florida Statutes 222.17.
10) Religious, social, and union affiliations.
11) Charitable contributions.
12) Children's school attendance or activities.
13) Official termination of residence in one state by notice to taxing officer, cancellation of voter registration, change of DL, vehicle registration, and insurance.
14) Specific provisions in the will reciting the domicile.

If you have recently moved to Florida, it is important to update your Florida Will and when this is done you may also want to execute documents to make sure your domicile is Florida in terms of administration of you estate. For questions on how to accomplish this, Contact a Florida Estate Planning Lawyer

In Florida a devise in favor of a beneficiary who predeceases the testator will fail unless there is clear intent or in certain relationships.

Under Florida Statute 732.603 a devise to a grandparent or a descendant of a grandparent of the testator does not lapse but would be distributed per stirpes UNLESS the testator gift is conditioned on the person surviving the testator or the testator provides for a substituted or alternative beneficiary.

A similar result is achieved when the decedent dies intestate (without a will). We often see complicated property distributions when a parent dies and one or more of their children predeceased the parent. In these cases, it is not uncommon to see the Florida homestead or other real property owned by representatives of multiple generations.

To find out more about your Contact a Jacksonville Florida Probate Attorney.

In Florida, the surviving spouse is not liable for claims against the decedent. Under the common law a husband was responsible for the deceased wife's expenses for necessities, last illness, and funeral expenses.

At common law, a married woman's legal identity merged with that of her husband, a condition known as coverture. She was unable to own property, enter into contracts, or receive credit. A married woman was therefore dependent upon her husband for maintenance and support, and he was under a corresponding legal duty to provide his wife with food, clothing, shelter, and medical services.

In 1995 the Florida Supreme court abrogated the common-law doctrine of necessaries in the case Connor v. Southwest Florida Regional medical Center, Inc., 668 So.2d 175 (FLA. 1995).

Now neither a husband nor a wife is liable for the other's expenses for necessities in Florida.