Is a will from Mexico valid in West Palm Beach? Understanding foreign wills (in foreign languages!) and reciprocity in West Palm Beach probate court.

Is your will from Mexico or Cuba valid in West Palm Beach? Will the  West Palm Beach probate court admit a will that is written in Spanish? Before you try submitting your parent’s Spanish will in West Palm Beach you may want to learn the rules of reciprocity in the probate court. 

Reciprocity

• Do you know what reciprocity is?
• The West Palm Beach probate court has specific rules for a will to be valid when it is executed in West Palm Beach.
• That does not mean that all non-conforming wills that were valid when executed elsewhere, are not going to be admitted.
• Do you know what the Court is going to look at?
• For the most part a West Palm Beach probate court wants to admit your will to probate, the goal is never to have you die intestate. 
• That being said some things are just going to be a no go.
• Like what?
• For example you may have something called a holographic will. 
• These are wills that are executed but not witnessed, often times a handwritten will is holographic.
• A few states are willing to admit holographic wills but Florida is not one of them.
• This is one of the few times your foreign will is going to be denied admission.
• Furthermore it is not being denied because it was executed in another jurisdiction, it is because the Florida Legislature has expressly banned these wills from admission in the probate court.

What about Wills in Foreign Languages?

• Did you know that it may not be a problem to get a will in another language admitted to probate?
• West Palm Beach probate litigators know that Southern Florida is an international community with people from all over.
• That means the occasional Spanish will or Portuguese will is going to come around.
• Do you know what to do?
• Experienced Palm Beach probate litigators know that the West Palm Beach probate court is going to allow a will in another language if it is translated. 
• Who needs to do the translation?
• A Palm Beach probate firm to assist you in creating a translated version of your Last Will and Testament can retain a professional translator.
• Did you know that you could have your Spanish will admitted into probate in West Palm Beach?
• Talk to an experienced Palm Beach probate litigator today to learn how!