Third District Applies General Agency Principals to Issue of Who is Real Party in Interest

A quick glance at any court docket these days will reveal that many foreclosure actions are being prosecuted by someone other than the real party in interest. While it is generally acceptable for an authorized agent to bring a lawsuit on behalf of a principal in a civil action, how and to what extent is this rule recognized in the probate arena?

Generally, in actions by or against a probate estate, the personal representative of the estate is a necessary and indispensable party. There is a lot of decisional case law in Florida holding that in cases involving claims made by or against an estate, the estate and its survivors are the real parties in interest, and the personal representative is merely a nominal party. (more…)

About Face by Third District Court of Appeals Advances Creditors Claims to Constitutionally-Protected Homestead Property:  General Direction to Pay Estate Taxes Trumps Constitutional Homestead Protections.

In a surprising reversal, the Third District Court of Appeals on Tuesday, September 3, 2008, reheard and reversed its own opinion issued almost 19 months ago in Cutler v. Cutler, In Re:  The Estate of Edith Alice Cutler, 2008 WL 4057751, 33 Fla.L.Weekly D2103a (3rd DCA, No. 3D07-3070, Sept. 3, 2008).

The opinion is significant for probate administration and litigation attorneys, and estate planning professionals for at least two reasons: (1) The Third District Court of Appeals joins the Fifth District in expanding the types of interest in land that may qualify for homestead protection; (2) a general direction in the administrative language at the end of a Will may now trump constitutional homestead protections. (more…)