The Effects of Using a Deed to Transfer Real Estate Property Ownership to Avoid Probate

greenhouse.pngYou can transfer ownership of your real estate property through probate, or by signing an instrument known as a deed.1 Using a deed to transfer ownership of your real estate allows you to bypass probate, but there are some risks associated with this alternative. This blog discusses the advantages and disadvantages of using a deed to transfer ownership of your real estate property.
Advantages of Using a Deed to Transfer Ownership

  1. A transfer by deed can allow you to reserve the right to use the real estate property transferred for the remainder of your lifetime: There are different types of deeds that can be used to transfer property and each one of them serve a different purpose. Some deeds, like the life estate deed, allow you to transfer ownership of your real estate property while reserving you the right to use the property for the remainder of your lifetime.
  2. A transfer by deed can simplify the transfer of your real estate property: A deed transfers ownership of your real estate property automatically and bypasses probate. Therefore, a transfer by deed avoids you the delays and expenses of Florida probate.
  3. A transfer by deed can bypass both your creditors and your beneficiaries’ creditors: Property transferred through probate is subject to the claims of your creditors and the creditors of your beneficiaries unless the property transferred qualifies as your homestead.

Disadvantages of Using a Deed to Transfer Ownership

  1. A transfer by deed can place your home in jeopardy to other’s creditors: The Florida Supreme Court noted in Snyder v. Davis that there are three kinds of homestead that have the following purpose: preserve the family home for its owner and his or her heirs. One kind of homestead protects the home from forced sale by creditors. Sometimes families attempt to transfer their home by adding kids on to the house deed to avoid probate. These families face a problem when one or more of the owners mentioned in the deed do not live in the home. The problem is that the ownership percentage of the person not living in the home is subject to the claims of his or her creditors. The problem is aggravated when no ownership percentage is specified in the deed since Florida assumes that there are equal percentages of ownership to each person named on the deed. If a creditor takes an ownership in the home, then he can force the sale of the whole property. Therefore, adding someone to your house deed to transfer ownership of the property avoiding probate might leave you with nothing to transfer. The same scenario applies to those who try to transfer ownership of their house with a Florida life estate deed.
  2. A transfer by deed brings adverse tax consequences: There may be gift taxes or penalties associate with the failure to report the gift if the value is over the yearly gift tax limits.
  3. A transfer by deed can cause you to lose stepped up basis: This can cause a much greater income tax upon the sale of the property in the future.
  4. A transfer by deed might cause you to pay gift tax: If you do not receive payment for the transfer, then the IRS views the transaction as a gift and requires you to pay a gift tax. However, there are some exclusions to this tax.
  5. A transfer by deed can create a disqualifying transfer of assets for Medicaid purposes: This can be for as long as 5 years.

If you are trying to avoid probate in Florida and would like to also have protection for your homestead from creditors, not have adverse tax consequences, not lose stepped up basis, and/or not create a disqualifying transfer of assets for Medicaid purposes, you should contact a Florida Estate Planning Lawyer to discuss how to protect your homestead and the options available that deal with your circumstances and goals. To contact a Florida Estate Planning lawyer call the Law Office of David M. Goldman PLLC at (904) 685 – 1200.

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