Last Will and Testament

Hypothetical #1: When Aunt Minerva died, she had no husband or children, but did have a valid Will, which was probated.  Her living descendants were her niece, Angela, her nephews, Barry and Charles.  They were over the age of 18 years old at the time of Aunt Minerva’s death.  When Aunt Minerva died, Angela had two children, Donald and Evelyn.  If Aunt Minerva’s Will stated that all of her estate was to be distributed to her then living descendants, per stirpes, then her niece, Angela, and her nephews, Barry and Charles each would receive a 1/3 share of her estate.  Angela’s children, Donald and Evelyn, would not receive anything from the estate.  Pursuant to Florida Statute 731.201(9), a lineal descendant or descendants mean “a person in any generational level down the applicable individual’s descending line.”  Adopted children come within the definition of lineal descendants.  The term “descendant” is synonymous with the terms “lineal descendant” and “issue”, but excludes collateral heirs.  Florida Statute 731.201. (more…)

A LESSON IN TRUST…

We often come across cases in which a Will or a Trust leaves assets equally to all of the Decedent’s children. However, at the time of death, most of the Decedent’s assets are held in joint accounts with only one of the children named as a joint owner, thereby entitling only one child to the entire account as the remaining joint owner and avoiding the equal distribution that the parent planned through his or her Will and/or Trust.

Unfortunately, the account title tends to control, despite the understanding that the child receiving the account as joint owner had been placed on the account for convenience purposes only to help mom or dad pay bills, as needed; not to receive all of the assets upon their death. Parents believe their children would never cut out their siblings but this is sadly not always the case. (more…)

A recent case from the 5^th District answers the question of when, and under what circumstances, can step children take an inheritance and disinherit lineal descendants.  See Timmons v Timmons  35 Fla.L.Weekly D1264 (Fla. 5^th DCA Case No. 08-4103). 

When Frank died in 1999, he was married to Myrtle and had two adopted children from a previous marriage.  Myrtle had four children, none of which was ever adopted by Frank.  Frank created two trusts, a family trust and a marital trust.   Myrtle was the sole income beneficiary of the trusts during her lifetime, and upon her death, the marital trust was to pour over into the family trust.  The marital trust provided that upon Myrtle’s death, the trust’s remaining principal would pour over into the family trust and be distributed in accordance with the terms of the family trust.  The family trust provided that upon Myrtle’s death, the trust assets were to be divided “into as many equal shares as there are children of mine then living and deceased children of mine leaving issue then surviving.”  (more…)