Probate

March 27, 2012

Indiana to repeal death tax as of Jan 1, 2021

Indians’s Gov. Mitch Daniels signed to repeal the inheritance tax for deaths after Dec. 31, 2021. The relief is retroactive to January 1 and increases amounts exempt from the tax for 2012 deaths.

Currently 22 states and the District of Columbia impose an estate / inheritance tax in 2012. See Forbes article on Another State Death Tax Kicks the Bucket, Will More Fall? for more information on this topic.

If you live in a state that has an estate tax or inheritance tax you may want to consider the additional taxes that your estate or beneficiaries might be subject to in your planning.

March 5, 2012

Attempt to Avoid Probate Earns Medicaid Applicant Penalty Period

by David M. Goldman

Often in an attempt to avoid a relatively small probate fee, individuals can create huge penalty periods and taxable issues for themselves. Take for instance, a woman in New York who, two years before applying for Medicaid, transferred money from her account to an account with a co-owner. Transferring individually owned funds to an account with joint tenants is a common way to avoid a Florida Probate.

While her estate planning attorney seems to have given the advice, he was not aware of the problems that estate planning techniques to avoid probate can have on Medicaid eligibility.

Not only can transfers like this have problems for the individual making the transfer, but they can also create problems for the beneficiary or the new co-owner who will now have additional assets in their name, that may disqualify them from government benefits like Medicaid.

January 31, 2012

When if Formal Notice Used in a Florida Probate

by David M. Goldman

There are certain times when a Probate case can use Formal Notice to reduce the time required and other times when it is required. Formal notice is defined by the Florida Probate Code to be notice which is sent by via certified mail to each interested person. Sometimes notice can be by publication when the whereabouts of a particular interested person or entity cannot be determined. This notice by publlication requires a much longer time period to the party to object than the 20 days when an interested party is serverd by formal notice. Some examples of when Formal Notice can or will be used include:

Petition for Administration Petition to Determine Beneficiaries Petition to Revoke The Probate of A Will Petition to Probate Lost Will Petition to Construe Will Petition to Remove A Personal Representative Petition to Surcharge Personal Representative Petition to Cancel a Devise

January 30, 2012

Is Non Probate separate Property That Increases in Value During a Marriage Part of the Elective Share Calculation?

by David M. Goldman

The 2nd District Court of Appeals for Florida held in McDonald v Johnson that the increase in a company stock value that happened during the marriage can be used to determine the value of an elective share calculation. The lower court ruled that the surviving spouse had no right to discovery of a company’s financial information because the company stock was not subject to probate. The 2nd DCA found that Section 742.2155(6)(c) excluded non-martial assets as defined in Section 61.075. Because the increase in value of an asset that happens during a marriage is a martial asset, they concluded that the spouse was entitled to do discovery that was necessary to determine if it would be to her benefit to claim an elective share.

Section 732.2155(6) provides as follows:

Sections 732.201-732.2155 do not affect any interest in property held, as of the decedent’s death, in a trust, whether revocable or irrevocable, if:

(a) The property was an asset of the trust at all times between October 1, 1999, and the date of the decedent’s death;

January 4, 2012

Tortious Interference with an Expected Inheritance in Florida

by David M. Goldman

Often before the death, a spouse or someone else in control of assets attempts to rearrange the assets so that it will benefit them and in doing so it can interfere with the desires of the decedent.

In these situations, the prospective beneficiaries who have been damaged have the right to bring a cause of action against the person who manipulated the decedent’s assets.

Some examples of this type of activity include cashing out insurance policies, paying bills our of one account but not another, removing funds from one account and transferring them to another in which they are the beneficiary. Selling or disposing of assets that would go to one beneficiary and converting them to cash what is distributed in another manner.

December 22, 2011

How do I file a Claim Against a Florida Trust?

by David M. Goldman

In Florida, a creditor may open a probate to reach assets of a decedent which were kept in a trust. The trustee of a decedent’s trust is responsible to file a notice of trust with the probate court. If you are unsuccessful in having the trust pay the debts directly, you can open a probate on behalf of the estate, file your claims and are entitled to be reimbursed for the legal expenses related to the opening of the probate. See Florida Statute 736.05053. Remember that failure to file a claim within 2 years of the decedents death can waive your rights to file a claim in the probate court.

If you are owned money by a decedent and can not figure out how to file a claim, contact a Florida Estate Planning Lawyer to discuss your options.

December 9, 2011

Will Contests: Are Foreign WIlls Valid in Florida?

by David M. Goldman

In Florida a Will must be in writing, signed by the signed by the testator and authenticated by two witnesses. Florida does not recognize holographic wills that are valid in another state if they do not meet the above requirements. Other than holographic wills, Florida will recognize a will that was validly created in another country.

Therefore a foreign will other than a holographic will is valid in Florida and holographic wills created in anther state or country which are signed by the testator and authenticated by two witnesses are also valid in Florida.

There are three ways in which a will can be contested in Florida.

December 2, 2011

What are the duties and responsibilities of the Personal Representative in Florida?

by David M. Goldman

Once the personal representative (PR or executor) is appointed by a Florida court, takes the oath of office, and posts bond (if required), then he or she is authorized to administer the decedent’s estate. A Florida personal representative has a fiduciary responsibility to the creditors, the IRS, and the beneficiaries for proper administration of the estate. The personal representative must not comingle the estate’s funds with his or her own funds, and needs to be fully accountable for all of the decedent’s property during the administration of the estate. The personal representative may sell some or all of the assets of the estate to raise cash to pay the debts and expenses of the estate, if necessary or appropriate.

The personal representative is obligated to:

a) Identify, gather, value, and safeguard the assets.

b) Publish the “notice to creditors” in a local newspaper, giving creditors an opportunity to file claims relating to the estate.

December 1, 2011

What are the Different Types of Probate in Jacksonville Florida?

by David M. Goldman

There are 4 types of probate in Florida

1) Disposition without Administration.

This type of probate can only be used when the assets are less than the funeral bills and last medical expenses. This is available only if estate assets consist solely of property classified as exempt from the claims of the decedent’s creditors by applicable law and non-exempt personal property, the value of which does not exceed the total of:

November 30, 2011

Probate and WIll Issues

by David M. Goldman

What is a Florida will?

Thumbnail image for Last Will and Testament 1.jpg A will is a written instrument, signed by the decedent and at least two witnesses in each others presence, that fulfills the requirements of Florida law. A will names the beneficiaries for the testator’s probate assets. The testator can also designate guardians for minor children and a personal representative to administer the estate. If a will was validly executed in another state, Florida courts will recognize the document as a will except in the case of a holographic will. Holographic wills are wills written entirely in the testators own handwriting and in most states witness signatures are not required. However, Florida law requires that holographic wills be witnessed and signed in the same manner as any other Florida will.

What if there is not a Florida will?