Search Results: heirs

How do you execute a will in Florida? Put another way, what is required for a valid Florida will? To read about who may create a valid will in Florida, CLICK HERE. For more Florida probate perspective about signing a will in Florida, read below. How to Sign a Will in Florida A will should be signed only by intent & consent. That means that the persons signing the will should know it’s a will and wants to sign it. A will that is signed by undue influence is void. In fact, if the person signing the will does not know what she is doing, the will is also void. The will cannot be the product of fraud or any over-persuasion or force. That’s an important part of the will execution process. It must be free of anyone forcing or lying to the person signing the will. We also previously provided commentary about a will not being valid based on an insane delusion. A will that is not valid may be addressed in the Florida Probate Court by a Petition to Revoke Probate. To see a FREE VIDEO ON WILL CONTESTS in Florida, click the highlighted area. To read about what a POUR OVER WILL in Florida is, CLICK HERE. If a current will is not valid, what happens? “There may be prior wills that are valid, or the entire estate may go to heirs under the intestacy laws of Florida” says Pankauski . Executing a Florida Will: requirements and […]

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 […]

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 […]

What does TOD mean to heirs, family members and Florida probate beneficiaries? Transfer on death accounts are a way that Florida residents pass millions & millions of dollars, automatically, without probate. Sometimes ! We have previously written about this pay on death will-substitute and posted a number of Free TOD and Pay on Death Videos . Hopefully those help you understand beneficiary rights and inheritance rights for such Florida accounts. In short, TOD means “transfer on death” and generally gives the other name on the bank account 100% ownership when the other (or first) owner dies. Something so easy has never created more lawsuits about Florida bank accounts, both in federal and state court. If you think you are entitled to a bank account, consider reading three things that will tell you (almost !) all you want to know about these accounts. Everything You Want to Know About TOD Bank Accounts in Florida To learn all about such accounts in Florida, consider reading three things. First read the Florida TOD Law which tells you about pay on death accounts and bank accounts when there are two or more names. You may also hear the term “totten trust” or “POD” or pay-on-death. That’s Florida Statutes 655.78- 655.825. Second, there are two good appellate opinions from Florida’s appeals courts which will tell you a lot. Consider reading Keul v. Hodges Blvd Presbyterian Church, a 2015 Florida appeals court case from Florida’s First District Court of Appeal. Finally, consider reading the case of […]

Prenup trials are not always during life. That’s right, many times heirs and the personal representative of a Florida probate will have a prenup trial about the validity or terms of a prenuptial agreement. A December 18, 2020 opinion on prenup trials from Florida’s 5th DCA dealing with summary judgment reminds Florida probate lawyers about interpreting a prenup. Interpreting Florida Prenups How Do You Interpret Florida Prenups? The case of Baldwin v. Harris reminds probate lawyers in Florida how to interpret prenuptial agreements. Is a Florida prenup valid? Well, a prenuptial agreement in Florida is interpreted like a contract — because it is a contract. If a contract or prenuptial agreement is clear and unambiguous, it must be read without any testimony or other evidence — often referred to by Florida probate litigators as “parole” or “extrinsic” evidence. In that case, the Florida probate judge simply reads the prenup and tells you what it says. Getting What You Are Owed. Prenups can create obligations which can only be satisfied in a Florida probate. How? Well, some prenups provide for a distribution or inheritance to the other spouse upon death. Remember: Florida prenups may be effective upon divorce or death. If you are owed something when your spouse passed away, you may have to go to probate if the Personal Representative of the Estate, or the Trustee of the decedent’s Revocable Trust, won’t pay. Do you know how to navigate those legal waters to try to avoid a prenup trial in […]

Every year, widows, widowers and surviving spouses inherit billions from Florida probates. Florida Surviving Spouse rights are very valuable for Florida estates. But most don’t want to leave money on the table. And you should know exactly how much you are entitled to. After all, the three most valuable rights a spouse has to a Florida estate are straightforward. First, Florida Homestead. Second, intestate share. Third Elective Share. Has your wife or husband recently passed away in Florida? Are you a surviving spouse? To read more FREE FLORIDA PROBATE COMMENTARY about rights of a surviving spouse, CLICK HERE. If you are the surviving spouse in an inheritance dispute in Florida, you may want to read Florida Statute 732.401 and a March 15, 2019 Second DCA opinion, Samad v. Pla. Don’t Sit on Your Inheritance Rights Florida law does not help those who sit on their rights. Florida Estate Law helps those who speak up and who EXERCISE their rights. Silence is often not a friend to surviving spouses’ inheritance rights. Florida probate lawyers know that surviving spouses in Florida have many inheritance rights. However, it is important to act on those rights, and act quickly. John Pankauski, managing law partner at Pankauski Lazarus, always reminds prospective and current clients that the law doesn’t reward those who sit on their rights! In Florida probate proceedings, there are many deadlines that must be met. For example, surviving spouses must make certain elections within a certain time frame. In addition, objections or filings […]

Are you thinking about contesting a Florida will? Whether you can file Florida Will Contests may depend on whether or not you were in a prior will. If you were cut out by a later will, understand how to object to the will. For more on “legal standing” or the ability to object, read on. Need a contingency fee probate litigator? Contesting a Florida Will If you are looking to contest a will in Miami or Fort Lauderdale, you should consider consulting with a Florida probate litigator. Florida probate lawyers, like the lawyers at Pankauski Lazarus, can evaluate your matter to determine whether or not there are facts that may lead to a successful will contest. Both Florida estate planning attorneys and trust litigators know that there are many reasons a will may be contested. One of the main reasons a Florida will could be challenged is if the testator, the person who signed the will, did not have “testamentary capacity” to sign a will in Florida. According to Florida law, what is “testamentary capacity”? Testamentary Capacity, Competency and Florida Will Contests If a will was signed with the signer did not have “capacity”, the will is void. Put another way, if the will-signer was not competent, then the will needs to be objected to, to overturn it. Failure to object timely means an otherwise invalid will may be admitted to probate. There are four main components to show testamentary capacity (sometimes called “sufficient mental capacity”) in Florida: understanding that he or she is creating […]

Florida has some very valuable property rights at death. One of the most common, litigated and valuable are the homestead rights to a Florida residence. Especially if you are a widow or surviving spouse. You Inherit More Thank You Think Florida Homestead – 6 months to get half the sale money for a widow Every Florida probate lawyer from Miami to Palm Beach knows that the homestead rights of a spouse can be very, very valuable. But, did you know that one of the most valuable probate rights that a widow has must be exercised within six months of death? That’s right. In Florida, a surviving spouse has a right to make an ELECTION to get half of the homestead sale proceeds.  Yup: sell the house, and take half. Therefore, if your wife or husband dies with a $5 million condo on the ocean in Sunny Isles or Aventura, you can ask for $2.5 million. BUT, you only have 6 months to make a proper election under Florida Probate Code Section Florida Statute 732.401. Surviving Spouse = special rights to inheritance Surviving Spouse Homestead Rights in Florida Florida Statute 732.401 explains that a surviving spouse in Florida takes a life estate in the homestead property UNLESS the surviving spouse elects to, instead, take an undivided one-half interest in the homestead as tenants in common. This Florida rule is very important to be familiar with if you are the surviving spouse, and there is a homestead property in Miami or West Palm […]

On August 12, 2020, The New York Times reported that renowned media mogul Sumner Redstone had passed away. He was best known for his ownership roles at both Viacom and CBS, which today are merged as ViacomCBS. Who will fight over Redstone’s wealth in probate court? What does his estate consist of? Who will inherit? Lawsuits Regarding Mental Capacity and Inheritance During his lifetime, Redstone was frequently involved in litigation. Litigation regarding his massive estate had already began prior to his death. For example, Sumner was involved in a long legal battle with a former girlfriend, Menuela Herzer. Here, Herzer challenged his mental capacity. She had originally been a beneficiary in his will and, according to a recent article in the The New York Times, she stood to inherit as much as $50 million, plus his Beverly Hills house, before she was removed from his will. In Florida, according to Florida Statute 732.501, a testator must be “of a sound mind” when executing or amending a will or trust. Therefore, at the time of an estate plan change, a person must have, in general, understood the “nature and extent of property to be disposed of and testator’s relation to those who would naturally claim a substantial benefit from will, as well as general understanding of practical effect of will as executed.” In re Wilmott’s Estate, 66 So. 2d 465(Fla. 1953), 40 A.L.R. 2d 1399. How do you challenge a Florida estate plan change if someone is not competent? Proving that someone lacked the mental capacity to change their Florida […]