Many family members are appointed as a successor trustee of a Florida Trust. Is it worth it? Should you decline to serve? Or, if you are already serving as trustee, should you resign? We have previously provided numerous FREE FLORIDA TRUST videos and other written commentary. We have even provide professional webinars on defending trustees, which were approved by the Florida Bar. Now, let’s discuss why you may want to resign as Florida trustee. 5 Reasons To Resign as Florida Trustee Why? Why in the world would someone want to take on the job of being a trustee? It’s work! A Florida trustee has to communicate with her beneficiaries. And I’m not talking about responding to emails only. You have to provide relevant information in a timely manner. And a Florida trustee has to provide annual accountings. To read more about Florida Trust Law for free, click on THIS LINK. To read about signing a trustee declination, CLICK THIS LINK. Time. Secondly, do you have the time to devote to investing trust assets, understanding the trust document? And, of course completing the annual accountings? A bad trustee ignores her beneficiaries. A good trustee follows Florida Trust Law and responds adequately within the proper time frame. Understanding how you do this is important. Being upfront with yourself is also important. “I can’t tell you how many clients were hell-bent on being trustee” says trust litigator John Pankauski. “And then the fighting starts and they want out.” To read Pankauski’s book on […]

What is a pour over will in Florida? You may have heard about wills and trusts and revocable trusts. What in the world is a pour over will? Here is everything you need to know about pour over wills (almost !) Read on for free legal links and videos. There is also a word of caution for heirs and family members if you are involved with a revocable trust, too. Get perspective from top notch will litigator, John Pankauski. Pankauski leads an elite group of trial lawyers and appellate attorneys. He used to write wills and now he only litigates them. Florida Pour Over Wills “A pour over will is a will that leaves almost everything to one’s revocable trust” says Pankauski. He should know. Pankauski graduated from the prestigious Graduate Program at the University of Miami School of Law. In 1993, he received his LL.M. or Masters of Law. Pankauski was actually writing pour over wills since the early 90’s. Most wills have a basic, limited amount of information. Who do you want running your estate? (that’s called a Personal Representative in Florida) Who gets your “stuff”? (that usually means tangible personal property like household effects, and jewelry and furniture). To read, for free, the Florida Probate Rules, click HERE. Pour Over Wills & Revocable Trusts Then, most pour over wills leave everything to the person’s revocable trust. The revocable trust then distributes the estate. Or, sometimes the property stays in trust and is distributed over a number of […]

Many heirs and family members know the term “undue influence.” Especially if they did not get an inheritance ! We have written about undue influence before. (To watch a free undue influence video, from top-notch estate litigator John Pankauski, click HERE). But not as many people know about “insane delusion.” How do you set aside a will based on an insane delusion? Well, there is one statute and two cases that you can read, for free. These will help you understand this concept to void a Florida will. Voiding a Florida Will A will that is improperly signed is void. A Florida will may be void if the will was caused by undue influence or an insane delusion. The person who presents the invalid will has the initial burden to prove that it was done properly. Florida estate lawyers call this the “burden” to prove “due execution.” To start, read the Probate Code in Florida. Then, focus on Chapter 732 to learn about the Florida laws about wills. If a will is on file with the Florida Probate Court, is it valid? If you honestly believe that it was not valid, then you need to attack the will by filing a petition to revoke probate. Why? Insane Delusion Voids Will If a will was the product of bad acts or improper procedures, it’s not valid. Read 732.5165 of the Florida Probate Laws. That’s the law that says a will is not valid if it was caused by undue influence or […]

Florida trust beneficiaries always seem to want to REMOVE a Florida trustee. But, do you know how to suspend a Florida trustee? And, what’s the difference? Well, we have provided prior commentary about removing a Florida trustee. Now, we will discuss suspending a Florida trustee. We’ll also provide some insight from one of Florida’s top trust litigation attorneys, John Pankauski. Pankauski leads an elite group of trust and estate litigator lawyers and appellate attorneys. Heck, Pankauski literally wrote the book on family trustees. Start at the Beginning: Understanding Florida Trust Law Did you know Florida Trust Law gives great discretion to a judge? Yes. Florida Statutes §736.0201(2) permits Florida Courts to intervene in the administration of a trust. Fla. Statutes 736.0706 shows you how to remove a trustee. Trust Courts Have Great Power This authority granted to our judiciary is very broad.  It is only limited by a Court’s sound discretion.  In fact, a Court may “appoint or remove a trustee” or “determine any other matters involving trustees and beneficiaries.”   Florida Statutes §736.0201(4)(b),(g).  Want to read more?Here is a Florida trust appeal opinion that you can read for free. For a Miami-Dade appeals court case about removing a trustee, read the McCormick v. Cox case. The 3rd District Court of Appeal wrote a thorough opinion in 2013. “We often use the McCormick case” says trust litigator John Pankauski “when we are suing a bad trustee.” The McCormick case dealt with trustee removal, breaches of fiduciary duty and “unilateral” payment of […]

Listen up Florida trust beneficiaries. What is the most common question that a Florida trust litigation lawyer gets? Well, it is most probably about how to remove a Florida trustee. So, if you are a trust beneficiary, here is a guide to removing your Florida trustee. And it’s straight from the mouth of one of Florida’s most experienced trust trial attorneys, as well. Read on. Trustee Removal in Florida — the steps “If you want to remove a Florida trustee” starts trust litigator John Pankauski “You need to realize that it will be a trial.” What Pankauski means is that evidence is required in a court of law. And Pankauski should know. He is the Managing Member of an elite trust litigation law firm that also handles Florida trust appeals. He suggests you read as much as you can about Florida Trust Law. If you’d like to see a FREE VIDEO of removing a trustee based upon FITNESS, then click THIS LINK. To see a FREE FLORIDA TRUST VIDEO on trustees stealing from Florida Trusts, CLICK HERE. The 1 Law You Need to Know Florida law has a specific statute on how to remove a Florida trustee. The Florida trustee removal law is 736.0706. You can read about the circumstances which should exist to remove your trustee. And, Pankauski reminds us, “Get ready for a trial.” After all, removing a trustee requires evidence. So, Pankauski tells us, get your witnesses lined up and assemble all the documentary evidence you need […]

A March 5, 2021 decision from the 2nd District Court of Appeal sheds light on Florida temporary injunctions. We have provided solid Florida legal commentary about injunctions before. Why now? Read on ! 4 Requirements How do you win a temporary injunction? There are generally four requirements that you must show or prove. Here they are: (1) a likelihood of irreparable harm; (2) unavailability of an adequate legal remedy; (3) a substantial likelihood of succeeding on the merits; and (4) considerations of the public interest. “We have filed and also defended motions for temporary injunctions” says Trust + Estate Litigation Lawyer John Pankauski. “We are very familiar with Rule 1.610 and the caselaw. We know what is required to win.” Florida Temporary Injunctions for Estates and Trusts Be sure to read Florida Rule of Civil Procedure 1.610. Following that rule is key to obtaining an injunction. Many estate beneficiaries and family members want probate assets frozen! Many believe, whether correctly, or incorrectly, that estate money may be mis-spent, taken or squandered. What about Florida trusts? Under the Florida Trust Code, trust beneficiaries know that a judge can freeze a Florida trust. A “freeze” is a Florida temporary injunction. Want to read more about what a Florida Trust Judge can do? Consider reading 736.0201 and also 736.1001 of the Florida Trust Code. Or read this new opinion about Florida temporary injunctions. What You Need to Know! Why do so many estate and trust beneficiaries want to know about Florida temporary injunctions? […]

So, what if two spouses co-own real estate as “husband and wife” or “as spouses”? Does that create a presumption of a Florida tenancy by the entireties with a right of survivorship? And what about personal property like gold or Rolexes or other valuable assets? If two spouses in Florida take title to personal property, is there a presumption of a right of survivorship such as tenants by the entireties? Consider reading two, maybe three, Florida cases to learn all you need to know (almost !) about tenancy by the entireties. We have previously provided legal commentary on Florida joint bank accounts, now read about real estate in Florida and husbands, wives and spouses. Valuable Survivorship Rights for Florida Wives, Husbands So, there is a lot to know about tenancies in common and joint tenancies. A co-tenant owns a percentage or part of the whole. This is typically based upon their contribution of the purchase price. Sometimes, it’s by agreement of the co-tenants. If a co-tenant dies, his or her share “goes” to their estate. BUT, a joint tenancy creates a survivorship feature, automatically by operation of law. In Florida, the status of a wife or husband, a spouse, is special. You get special rights ! And I’m not necessarily talking about homestead rights, or elective share. If two spouses take real estate in Florida as “husband and wife”, it creates a special ownership. There is a legal presumption that the Florida deed creates a tenancy by entireties. This is […]

Are those text messages that everyone sends and receives “discoverable” in your Florida litigation? In 2021, text message admissibility is important ! Maybe…………..maybe not! Whether those text messages in Florida lawsuits can be admitted into evidence is an entirely different question! Afterall, once your trial lawyer gets over the “relevance” hurdle, she has to lay a foundation and get those out-of-court statements in over an anticipated/expected “hearsay!” objection from your opposing counsel. A recent case from Florida’s 4th District Court of Appeal discusses text messages in Florida lawsuits, as well as Florida evidence and the authentication and admissibility of data and documents. Florida Evidence & Text Messages Has your Florida probate lawyer asked you about e-discovery? Maybe she told you to preserve all evidence and to retain all laptops, iPhones, cell phones, iPads, tablets, computers, text messages and emails. Oh, yes, she probably also told you to suspend any “self deleting” mechanisms on your electronic devices. Oh, yes, and I’m sure he instructed you not to delete any communications and documents, either. After all, you don’t want to lose any of that data which you are going to be COMPELLED to produce in your Florida lawsuit. Very good ! Great start! Now, let’s say that the other side to your Florida litigation has text messages to use against you. One question which I know your lawyer has asked you is about text message admissibility: Are your text messages admissible in your Florida lawsuit? A recent, September, 2020, Florida appellate opinion […]

Two recent opinions from Florida appellate courts tell you everything you need to know about Fraud on the Court in Florida (almost !). Although we have provided free commentary + legal videos on this issue before, these two new opinions are helpful & instructive. What is Fraud on the Court? Fraud on the court “occurs where it can be demonstrated, clearly and convincingly, that a party has sentiently set in motion some unconscionable scheme calculated to interfere with the judicial system’s ability impartially to adjudicate a matter by improperly influencing the trier of act or unfairly hampering the presentation of the opposing party’s claim or defense.” That quote is from the Florida Appeals Court in Palm Beach, also known as the Fourth District Court of Appeal. That case was Amato v. Intindola, 854 So. 2d 812, 814 (Fla. 4th DCA 2003) (quoting Cox v. Burke, 706 So. 2d 43, 46 (Fla. 5th DCA 1998)). Want to read more about Fraud on the Court from the 4th DCA? Check out this January 6, 2021 opinion in the case of Gleman vs. MWH Americas, Inc. The Gleman opinion also discusses what a sham pleading is under Florida Rule of Civil Procedure 1.150. What Can A Florida Court Do ? A Florida Court has the discretion to dismiss a party’s pleadings based upon fraudulent conduct. Cherubino v. Fenstersheib and Fox, P.A., 925 So. 2d 1066, 1068 (Fla. 4th DCA, 2006). “A trial court possesses the discretion to dismiss a complaint [or strike a […]

In Florida, guardianship business is booming — for good or for ill. Every week, perhaps every day, family members are asking a Florida Probate Court to declare an adult “incapacitated” or “incompetent“, remove or limit their rights and powers to act alone, and appoint a Guardian. Many times, a guardianship means that you limit access to one’s money !! We have written about “contested” Florida guardianships before, where family members duel over controlling a parent or their purse. Now, Netflix has a popular and new 2021 comedy, crime thriller called “I Care a Lot.” Will this popular streaming movie shed light on financial exploitation and financial abuse? Although it’s fiction, I Care a Lot is getting a lot of attention from people involved in Florida guardianships. I Care a Lot + Guardianships Florida guardianship law is found in Florida Statutes Chapter 744. This explains the entire Florida guardianship process. How do you start a guardianship? (file a petition). What if there is a Power of Attorney (consider lesser restrictive alternatives to a guardianship). “There’s actually two cases you need to start a Florida guardianship” says guardianship litigator John Pankauski. “You file a mental health case which suggests that a Florida resident is not competent and needs some protection and assistance” says Pankauski. “Then, who is going to provide that protection and assistance? You need a guardianship matter.” Pankauski should know. He leads a boutique law firm in Palm Beach which restricts its practice to so-called “probate litigation” which typically means […]