Florida Probate Litigation Lawyer Blog

In Florida, the intent of a settlor (the person who creates a trust) proves extremely important with respect to the handling of the trust’s assets. Florida Probate Code section 736.1101 states that “[t]he intent of the settlor as expressed in the terms of the trust controls the legal effect of the dispositions made in the trust.” Thus, according to Florida law, it is the intent “as expressed in the terms of the trust” that is the benchmark to follow. This can become an issue should any disputes arise regarding the rights of trust beneficiaries after the settlor has passed. Because the distribution of trust assets will follow the express terms of the trust itself, it is very important that the settlor clearly convey his or her intentions to the attorney who drafts the instrument. After all, once the settlor passes away, he or she can no longer amend the terms of the trust to more readily convey his or her intentions.

While the terms of a trust typically prevail over any requirement stated in the Florida Probate Code, there are a few exceptions whereby Florida law controls the construction of a trust. For instance, Florida Probate Code section 736.0105 requires that all trustees act “in good faith and in accordance with the terms and purposes of the trust and the interests of the beneficiaries.” Thus, any power that purports to allow a trustee to act in any manner, regardless of whether it is in good faith or not, will be disregarded. Moreover, section 736.0105 also states that a trust cannot have a purpose that is unlawful or contrary to public policy. The requirement for a trust to be in accordance with public policy supports section 736.1104 of the Code, which states that a beneficiary who intentionally kills the settlor of the trust is not entitled to any trust interest if said beneficiary is convicted of murder under a court of law.

The Florida Probate Code will also govern a trust’s provisions in lieu of the settlor’s intent in the event of the settlor’s divorce. Section 736.1104 of the Code states that, unless the trust provides otherwise, any provision of a revocable trust that affects the settlor’s spouse becomes void should the spouses divorce. Clearly, this section of the Code demonstrates another way in which Florida law will step in and modify the terms of the Trust. As a matter of public policy, these situations are reasonable and likely have the effect of carrying out the settlor’s intent once he or she has passed.

If you, or someone you know, live in the West Palm, Fort Lauderdale, or Miami-Dade area and wish to create a trust in order to provide for the distribution of your estate, the team at Chepenik & Trushin will help you with any such estate planning needs. Please feel free to contact us for an initial first consultation.

The appointed personal representative of a Florida resident’s estate, i.e. the individual placed in charge of distributing the assets of the estate, must abide by certain fiduciary duties that he or she owes to the beneficiaries (the individuals named to receive assets) of the estate. Suppose you are named a beneficiary of your recently deceased grandfather’s estate whose domiciliary was in Miami Beach. Under Florida law, the personal representative must abide by certain duties to ensure that you receive the assets that the estate leaves in your name. Florida Probate Code section 733.602 states that a personal representative has a duty “to settle and distribute the estate of the decedent in accordance with the terms of the decedent’s will…as expeditiously and efficiently as is consistent with the best interests of the estate.”

A personal representative necessarily enjoys broad powers to administer an estate of a decedent. Pursuant to Florida Probate Code section 733.608, the personal representative holds all of the “real and personal property of the decedent, except the protected homestead” and “the rents, income, issues, and profits” from any such property. The personal representative then uses these assets to pay specific devises (set amounts of gifts or money), the family allowance, any elective share, estate taxes, and other expenses incurred during the administration of the estate. Additionally, the personal representative distributes any assets to named beneficiaries of the will in accordance with the will’s terms.

Thus, a personal representative must take actions necessary, but in accordance with the law, to effectively administer a decedent’s estate. However, if you are a beneficiary of an estate and feel that the personal representative is not acting in the estate’s best interests, you may have some recourse. Under Florida Probate Code section 733.504, a personal representative may be removed for various reasons. The reasons provided for under the Code include, but are not limited to, the following: (1) a court determination that the personal representative is incapacitated, (2) physical or mental incapacity that renders the person unable to carry out his or her duties, (3) wasting or maladministration of the estate, (4) conviction of a felony, and (5) having conflicting or adverse interests against the estate that will interfere with its administration. Therefore, it is important for you, as an entitled beneficiary, to make sure that the personal representative is not in breach of any of his or her duties owed to you or any other beneficiary under the will.

If you or someone you know lives in the West Palm, Fort Lauderdale, or the Miami-Dade area and is a beneficiary of an estate who believes that the personal representative is not properly handling the administration of the estate, the probate litigation team at Chepenik Trushin will help you obtain the proper legal relief. Please feel free to contact us for an initial first consultation.

What happens when you marry someone after they have already made a will and sometime after the marriage your spouse dies without revising that will or making a new will? For example, Joe, a successful businessman from North Miami, creates a will leaving all of his property to his two sons. Several weeks later, Joe meets Sally, a doctor from Palm Beach, and they get married. Unfortunately, on their honeymoon Joe gets into an accident and dies without revising his will to include Sally. It may seem that because Sally is not provided for in the will before marriage that she will not be able to inherit from Joe’s estate.

However, Florida Statute 732.301 addresses this very scenario and provides that the surviving spouse will receive a share in the estate of their deceased spouse equal to what they would have received had their spouse died without a will (intestate). The spouse will then receive a share of the estate

When this occurs, the spouse is considered pretermitted.

Pretermitted means that the spouse was unintentionally disinherited because their deceased spouse did not provide for them by revising their already existing will or by making a new will. The theory behind pretermitted spousal rights is that the deceased spouse intended to provide for the surviving spouse but did not know their surviving spouse at the time they created their will or knew their surviving spouse, but was not contemplating marriage to the surviving spouse at the time they made their will.

However, there are exceptions which will not allow a spouse to claim they are pretermitted. First, a prenuptial or postnuptial agreement, providing for, or waiving the spouse’s rights to inherit. Second, when the surviving spouse is “provided for” in the will. “Provided for” means mentioned in the will while the testator (creator of the will) was contemplating marriage to the surviving spouse. Lastly, if the will discloses an intention not to make a provision for the surviving spouse. These three exceptions would preclude a surviving spouse from claiming they are pretermitted.

If you or someone you know lives in the Broward, Miami-Dade, or Palm Beach area, and believe that you have rights to estate property and require an experienced attorney to help you determine your rights, please call us. Our experienced probate litigation team at Chepenik Trushin LLP will help you receive your proper share of an estate.