Florida Probate Litigation Lawyer Blog

Alternative Dispute Resolution in Probate

June 26, 2013 | by Bart Chepenik

When someone passes away and there is probate property, there is always the possibility of a lawsuit. When beneficiaries do not agree on the distribution of the decedent’s property, litigation ensues. Probate disputes are inherently unique: they are wrapped in a shroud of emotion; the issues are complex; the parties are stubborn; and lawyers’ creativity is often put to the test. Given the nature of probate disputes, another means of dispute resolution often proves to be a more efficient method of resolving probate cases. This is where Alternative Dispute Resolution comes in. Alternative Dispute Resolution is a means of resolving a claim outside of the court, usually through arbitration or mediation. It is a beneficial option to pursue before entering into litigation.

The benefits of litigation are that it gives a clear definition of the issues. The court and the parties know exactly what they are asking for and the grounds on which they seek relief. The rules of civil procedure give the parties the right to full discovery of the necessary facts of the case. Litigation also excludes irrelevant or frivolous issues. The decisions of the court are also final and binding. However, litigation can be time consuming, expensive, and onerous for everyone involved. It can also take years for a case to be completely resolved.
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Estate Planning and Homestead in Florida

June 20, 2013 | by Bart Chepenik

All states have their own constitutions and state laws. Because of this, states may have different provisions for how people are allowed to pass on their property at death. It is important to be aware of the laws of the state where you live, and also any states where you own property. Many non-Floridians purchase property in Florida and later retire and move to that property. However, those people may have done their estate plans in other states and not updated them after moving. This can create problems if the estate plan is not in compliance with Florida laws.
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With Low Interest Rates for June, Now is the Time to Think About Establishing a Charitable Lead Trust

June 13, 2013 | by Bart Chepenik

The IRS released a 1.2% interest rate under IRC § 7520 for June, which determines the present value of an annuity, an interest for life or term of years, or a remainder or reversionary interest. Rev. Rul. 2013-12 tbl. 5. With interests rates at an all-time low, charitable donors are able to bequest their assets to their beneficiaries without having to worry about federal estate or generation transfer taxes by using a charitable lead trust.

Charitable lead trusts should be used to enhance charitable giving, reduce current gift taxes and estate taxes owed at death, and to transfer assets to a younger generation as part of an overall estate plan. Charitable lead trusts pay an income interest to a charity for a specified period of time with the remainder reverting to a non-charitable beneficiary. Donors who already make annual charitable gifts will find a charitable lead trust an efficient way to transfer substantial assets to family members while maintaining the donor’s regular charitable gifts.
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Michael Jackson’s estate sued by former star defense witness Wade Robson nearly four years after Jackson’s Death: How the suit would be handled under Florida law, Part 2

June 7, 2013 | by Bart Chepenik

In addition to Florida’s strict two-year rule discussed last week in Part 1 of this blog post, there may also be shorter time periods to bring a claim depending on the type of creditor and the nature of the claim. Whereas Section 733.710 is a jurisdictional statute of nonclaim, Section 733.702 is a statute of limitation that may bar claims not instituted in a timely manner. Section 733.702 has been described as “‘an absolute bar’ to untimely filed claims,” with only very limited grounds upon which to seek an extension to the time limitation, the two primary grounds for extension being fraud or estoppel. Morgenthau v. Estate of Andzel, 26 So.3d 628, 631 (Fla. 1st DCA 2009). In Mr. Robson’s case, the fact that he was almost certainly not an ascertainable creditor (especially given his repeated denials, under oath, that Jackson molested him) means that no personal service of creditor notice would be required, and notice by publication would be sufficient. For claims “against the decedent’s estate that arose before the death of the decedent,” potential claimants that are not ascertainable are given a three month window in which to bring the claim. § 733.702(1), Fla. Stat. In addition to Jackson’s estate publishing a notice of administration on December 22, 2009, there is a fairly high probability that Mr. Robson knew about Mr. Jackson’s demise and the administration of his estate; that is, of course, unless Mr. Robson was on an extended vacation in Amish Pennsylvania, or perhaps on a walkabout in the Australian Outback. Because time periods to bring a claim vary depending on a multitude of factors, you should contact a probate attorney as soon as possible upon learning of EITHER the death of an individual against whom you believe that you have a claim or the probate of that individual’s estate. While every individual’s best course of action will vary and he or she should have individualized legal advice, as a general rule of thumb, it is not advisable to sit by idly for nearly four years before bringing a claim, especially when you repeatedly denied during the life of the decedent the exact underlying facts upon which your claim is premised.
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Michael Jackson’s estate sued by former star defense witness Wade Robson nearly four years after Jackson’s Death: How the suit would be handled under Florida law, Part 1

June 3, 2013 | by Bart Chepenik

June 25, 2013 will mark the four-year anniversary of the untimely demise of the man affectionately referred to by the masses as the King of Pop: Michael Joseph Jackson. Despite suffering from an infirmity that has ended the professional pursuits of actors, entertainers, and businessmen alike (Death!), Forbes Magazine reported in 2012 that Michael Jackson earned more money in the three years following his death than any other living artist. In fact, during those three years, Michael Jackson’s estate generated nearly half a billion dollars. Although unclear whether the result of Jackson’s vastly expanding fortune or his use of high priced attorneys during his life to defend him on multiple legal fronts, more than 55 creditor’s claims were filed in the months following the following Michael Jackson’s Last Will being admitted to probate on August 3, 2009 when Special Letters of Administration were issued and the notice of death was published. With claims ranging from the thousands of dollars to over one billion dollars, the 24 months following his death saw a flurry of creditors asserting claims against Jackson’s estate. While new claims have been nearly nonexistent over the past year and a half, May of 2013 saw an explosive new claim levied by a familiar face from Michael’s past: Wade Robson, star defense witness in Michael Jackson’s 2005 criminal trial. Robson, who had for years maintained that Jackson never sexually molested him, claimed that he had uncovered repressed memories of molestation by Jackson and asked a California probate court to allow him to file a late creditor’s claim against the Estate of Michael Jackson, based on new allegations sexual abuse alleged to have occurred over 20 years ago.
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Who Owns Items Bought with Money from a Joint Checking Account?

May 22, 2013 | by Bart Chepenik

“Who owns what and how?” Those are always the first questions asked when evaluating estate assets. Personal property is generally not titled because it is usually clear who the owner of the item is. Chances are no one will be confused about the ownership of your shoes or watch. Real property and accounts, on the other hand, can easily be titled in the name of more than one person. One common way to do this is by creating a joint tenancy in the title to the property. A joint tenancy grants equal ownership of the property and gives the right of survivorship to the other tenants. The right of survivorship simply means that when one tenant dies, their share of the property is transferred to the surviving tenants. This transfer is automatic and divides the deceased tenant’s share in equal parts to the survivor(s).
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The Rights of the Alleged Incapacitated Person

May 15, 2013 | by Bart Chepenik

The path to a guardianship begins with a petition to determine incapacity. Next, there is an examination of the alleged incapacitated person by a three-person examining committee. Finally, there is a hearing on the matter where there must be clear and convincing evidence that the alleged incapacitated person is in fact incapacitated and that their rights should be removed.

The process of obtaining a court appointed guardianship is not easy. Courts view the removal of a person’s rights as a final option and do not grant guardianships without conducting a thorough review and exhausting all other options. The court places an extremely high value on protecting the alleged incapacitated person and their rights. A person alleged to be incapacitated is entitled to procedural due process in determining incapacity. According to Florida Statute, an alleged incapacitated person has the right to:

(1) Remain silent and refuse to testify at the hearing. The person may not be held in contempt of court or otherwise penalized for refusing to testify. Refusal to testify may not be used as evidence of incapacity; (2) Testify; (3) Present evidence; (4) Call witnesses; (5) Confront and cross-examine all witnesses; and (6) Have the hearing open or closed as she or he may choose. Fla. Stat. § 744.1095.
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Removing a Non-Tenant from Estate-Owned Property

May 8, 2013 | by Bart Chepenik

What happens when someone is illegally living in estate owned property and will not leave? Easy. Evict them. Right? Yes, if the person is a tenant of the property and the estate is the landlord. Eviction actions arise out of disputes between landlords and tenants and can be filed in both county and circuit courts. However, what happens in situations where the person occupying the estate-owned property is not a tenant of the estate? In these cases, ejectment is the proper cause of action. So, where and how does a person bring an ejectment claim to recover estate-owned property? In such situations, circuit court is the proper venue. This can include probate courts, whose general duty is to settle estates. While there is nothing expressly disqualifying a probate court, as a circuit court, from hearing an ejectment claim, if the a probate court cannot adequately administer justice, the claim must be heard in a circuit court of general jurisdiction.
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Examining Committee – Rights in Guardianship Cases

May 1, 2013 | by Bart Chepenik

When the mental faculties of a person come into question, the court can be petitioned to implement a guardianship. Courts, generally, view this as a last resort when there is no viable alternative. Guardianships can be limited in their scope or plenary. Part of the guardianship processes is an examination of the alleged incapacitated person by a three-person examining committee. Questions often arise about the rights and duties of the examining committee in the examination of an alleged incapacitated person. Under the Florida guardianship statutes, before depriving an individual of all of his or her civil and legal rights, “the individual must be incapable of exercising his rights at all, whether wisely or otherwise.” Losh v. McKinley, 86 So. 3d 1150, 1153 (Fla. 3d DCA 2012)(quoting McJunkin v. McJunkin, 896 So.2d 962, 963 (Fla. 2d DCA 2005)). Florida Statute Section 744.331(3) outlines the rights and duties of the examining committee in determining incapacity. There are rights related to the examination and report conducted and issued by the examining committee as well as the hearing on the matter.
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The Procedure for Appointing a Legal Guardian

April 24, 2013 | by Bart Chepenik

When a ward is incapable of taking care of his or her own interests, a court usually appoints a “guardian” to take care of that individual. A guardian may be appointed when a person experiences mental incapacity or a disability. A court may also appoint a guardian for a minor child in the event that the child’s natural guardian(s) are unable to serve as legal guardians of the child. But, what is the process that the court goes through when choosing a guardian? Who is qualified to be a guardian? Florida statutes and case law provide answers to many of the questions that come up when a court needs to select a guardian.

The basic qualifications for any guardian are (1) that he or she is 18 years or older and (2) that he or she is a resident of Florida. Fla. Stat. § 744.309. However, the resident requirement does have some flexibility built in and several exceptions do apply. See Fla. Stat. § 744.309(2).
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