| 15 | 15 | | An act relating to wills and estates; amending s. 2 |
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| 16 | 16 | | 28.223, F.S.; expanding the types of probate documents 3 |
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| 17 | 17 | | that must be recorded; revising a provision for 4 |
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| 18 | 18 | | incorporating a certain direction by reference; 5 |
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| 19 | 19 | | amending s. 732.217, F.S.; revising the types of 6 |
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| 20 | 20 | | property subject to the provisions of a certain act; 7 |
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| 21 | 21 | | amending s. 732.218, F.S.; revising the types of 8 |
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| 22 | 22 | | property for which there is a rebuttable presumption 9 |
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| 23 | 23 | | under a specified act; amending s. 732.219, F.S.; 10 |
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| 24 | 24 | | specifying that certain property is either included or 11 |
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| 25 | 25 | | excluded from the probate estate at the time of death; 12 |
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| 26 | 26 | | defining the term "probate estate"; authorizing 13 |
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| 27 | 27 | | specified parties to waive certain property rights; 14 |
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| 28 | 28 | | specifying how such rights may be waived; requiring 15 |
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| 29 | 29 | | such waiver include specified language; repealing s. 16 |
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| 30 | 30 | | 732.221, F.S., relating to perfection of title of 17 |
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| 31 | 31 | | personal representative or beneficiary; creating s. 18 |
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| 32 | 32 | | 732.2211, F.S.; providing that demands and disput es 19 |
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| 33 | 33 | | arising under a certain act must be determined using a 20 |
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| 34 | 34 | | specified action; requiring such action be governed by 21 |
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| 35 | 35 | | specified rules; requiring such action be filed within 22 |
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| 36 | 36 | | a certain period of time; providing construction; 23 |
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| 37 | 37 | | providing that certain parties have no duty to 24 |
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| 38 | 38 | | discover if property is subject to a specified act; 25 |
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| 46 | 46 | | Page 2 of 12 |
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| 47 | 47 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
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| 48 | 48 | | |
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| 49 | 49 | | |
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| 50 | 50 | | |
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| 51 | 51 | | providing exceptions; providing that certain rights 26 |
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| 52 | 52 | | are forfeit if specified actions are not taken; 27 |
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| 53 | 53 | | prohibiting certain parties from being held liable in 28 |
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| 54 | 54 | | specified circumstances; providing constr uction; 29 |
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| 55 | 55 | | repealing s. 732.223, F.S., relating to perfection of 30 |
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| 56 | 56 | | title of surviving spouses; creating s. 732.2231, 31 |
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| 57 | 57 | | F.S.; providing definitions; providing that certain 32 |
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| 58 | 58 | | parties are not liable for specified actions taken 33 |
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| 59 | 59 | | regarding property subject to a certain a ct; amending 34 |
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| 60 | 60 | | s. 732.225, F.S.; expanding the types of property for 35 |
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| 61 | 61 | | which there is a certain conclusive presumption; 36 |
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| 62 | 62 | | amending s. 732.702, F.S.; expanding the types of 37 |
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| 63 | 63 | | rights which may be waived by a surviving spouse; 38 |
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| 64 | 64 | | expanding the types of rights considered to be "all 39 |
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| 65 | 65 | | rights" within a waiver; amending s. 733.212, F.S.; 40 |
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| 66 | 66 | | requiring a notice of administration state that 41 |
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| 67 | 67 | | specified parties have no duty to discover if property 42 |
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| 68 | 68 | | is subject to a certain act; providing an exception; 43 |
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| 69 | 69 | | amending s. 733.2121, F.S.; requirin g a notice to 44 |
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| 70 | 70 | | creditors state that specified parties have no duty to 45 |
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| 71 | 71 | | discover if property is subject to a certain act; 46 |
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| 72 | 72 | | providing an exception; amending s. 733.607, F.S.; 47 |
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| 73 | 73 | | specifying that specified parties have no rights to, 48 |
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| 74 | 74 | | and may not take possession of, c ertain property; 49 |
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| 75 | 75 | | providing an exception; providing effective dates. 50 |
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| 83 | 83 | | Page 3 of 12 |
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| 84 | 84 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
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| 85 | 85 | | |
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| 86 | 86 | | |
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| 87 | 87 | | |
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| 88 | 88 | | 51 |
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| 89 | 89 | | Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 52 |
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| 90 | 90 | | 53 |
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| 91 | 91 | | Section 1. Effective January 1, 2025, subsection (1) of 54 |
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| 92 | 92 | | section 28.223, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 55 |
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| 93 | 93 | | 28.223 Probate records; recordation. — 56 |
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| 94 | 94 | | (1) The clerk of the circuit shall record all wills and 57 |
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| 95 | 95 | | codicils admitted to probate, orders admitting the will to 58 |
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| 96 | 96 | | probate, orders determining beneficiaries, orders revoking the 59 |
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| 97 | 97 | | probate of any wills and codicils, letters of administration, 60 |
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| 98 | 98 | | orders affecting or describing real property, final orders, 61 |
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| 99 | 99 | | orders of final discharge, and orders of guardianship filed in 62 |
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| 100 | 100 | | the clerk's office. No other petitions, pleadings, papers, or 63 |
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| 101 | 101 | | other orders relating to probate matters shall be recor ded 64 |
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| 102 | 102 | | except on the written direction of the court. The direction may 65 |
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| 103 | 103 | | be in the order by incorporation in the order of the words "To 66 |
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| 104 | 104 | | be recorded," or words to that effect. Failure to record an 67 |
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| 105 | 105 | | order or a judgment shall not affect its validity. 68 |
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| 106 | 106 | | Section 2. Section 732.217, Florida Statutes, is amended 69 |
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| 107 | 107 | | to read: 70 |
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| 108 | 108 | | 732.217 Application. —Sections 732.216-732.228 apply to the 71 |
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| 109 | 109 | | disposition at death of the following property acquired by a 72 |
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| 110 | 110 | | married person: 73 |
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| 111 | 111 | | (1) Personal property , except personal property held as 74 |
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| 112 | 112 | | tenants by the entirety, wherever located, which: 75 |
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| 120 | 120 | | Page 4 of 12 |
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| 121 | 121 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
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| 122 | 122 | | |
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| 123 | 123 | | |
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| 124 | 124 | | |
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| 125 | 125 | | (a) Was acquired as, or became and remained, community 76 |
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| 126 | 126 | | property under the laws of another jurisdiction; 77 |
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| 127 | 127 | | (b) Was acquired with the rents, issues, or income of, or 78 |
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| 128 | 128 | | the proceeds from, or in exchange for, commu nity property; or 79 |
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| 129 | 129 | | (c) Is traceable to that community property. 80 |
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| 130 | 130 | | (2) Real property, except real property held as tenants by 81 |
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| 131 | 131 | | the entirety and homestead property , which is located in this 82 |
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| 132 | 132 | | state, and which: 83 |
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| 133 | 133 | | (a) Was acquired with the rents, issues, or inco me of, the 84 |
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| 134 | 134 | | proceeds from, or in exchange for, property acquired as, or 85 |
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| 135 | 135 | | which became and remained, community property under the laws of 86 |
|---|
| 136 | 136 | | another jurisdiction; or 87 |
|---|
| 137 | 137 | | (b) Is traceable to that community property. 88 |
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| 138 | 138 | | Section 3. Subsection (2) of section 732.218, Florida 89 |
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| 139 | 139 | | Statutes, is amended to read: 90 |
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| 140 | 140 | | 732.218 Rebuttable presumptions. —In determining whether 91 |
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| 141 | 141 | | ss. 732.216-732.228 apply to specific property, the following 92 |
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| 142 | 142 | | rebuttable presumptions apply: 93 |
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| 143 | 143 | | (2) Real property located in this state , other than 94 |
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| 144 | 144 | | homestead and real property held as tenants by the entirety, and 95 |
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| 145 | 145 | | personal property wherever located acquired by a married person 96 |
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| 146 | 146 | | while domiciled in a jurisdiction under whose laws property 97 |
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| 147 | 147 | | could not then be acquired as com munity property and title to 98 |
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| 148 | 148 | | which was taken in a form which created rights of survivorship 99 |
|---|
| 149 | 149 | | are presumed to be property to which these sections do not 100 |
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| 157 | 157 | | Page 5 of 12 |
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| 158 | 158 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
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| 159 | 159 | | |
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| 160 | 160 | | |
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| 161 | 161 | | |
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| 162 | 162 | | apply. 101 |
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| 163 | 163 | | Section 4. Section 732.219, Florida Statutes, is amended 102 |
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| 164 | 164 | | to read: 103 |
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| 165 | 165 | | 732.219 Disposition upon d eath; waiver.— 104 |
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| 166 | 166 | | (1) Upon the death of a married person, one -half of the 105 |
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| 167 | 167 | | property to which ss. 732.216 -732.228 apply is the property of 106 |
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| 168 | 168 | | the surviving spouse , is not property of the decedent's probate 107 |
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| 169 | 169 | | estate, and is not subject to testamentary disposition b y the 108 |
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| 170 | 170 | | decedent or distribution under the laws of succession of this 109 |
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| 171 | 171 | | state. One-half of that property is the property of the 110 |
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| 172 | 172 | | decedent's probate estate decedent and is subject to 111 |
|---|
| 173 | 173 | | testamentary disposition or distribution under the laws of 112 |
|---|
| 174 | 174 | | succession of this s tate. The decedent's one -half of that 113 |
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| 175 | 175 | | property is not in the elective estate. For purposes of this 114 |
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| 176 | 176 | | section, the term "probate estate" means all property wherever 115 |
|---|
| 177 | 177 | | located, that is subject to estate administration in any state 116 |
|---|
| 178 | 178 | | of the United States or in the District of Columbia. 117 |
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| 179 | 179 | | (2) If not previously waived pursuant to s. 732.702, the 118 |
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| 180 | 180 | | right of a surviving spouse to assert a claim arising under ss. 119 |
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| 181 | 181 | | 732.216-732.228, to any right, title, or interest in any 120 |
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| 182 | 182 | | property held by the decedent at the time of his or he r death 121 |
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| 183 | 183 | | may be waived, wholly or partly, by a written contract, 122 |
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| 184 | 184 | | agreement, or waiver, signed by the surviving spouse, or any 123 |
|---|
| 185 | 185 | | person acting on behalf of a surviving spouse, including, but 124 |
|---|
| 186 | 186 | | not limited to, an attorney in fact; agent; guardian of the 125 |
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| 194 | 194 | | Page 6 of 12 |
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| 195 | 195 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
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| 196 | 196 | | |
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| 197 | 197 | | |
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| 198 | 198 | | |
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| 199 | 199 | | property; or personal representative, if the written contract, 126 |
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| 200 | 200 | | agreement, or waiver includes the following or substantially 127 |
|---|
| 201 | 201 | | similar language: 128 |
|---|
| 202 | 202 | | "By executing this contract, agreement, or waiver, I intend 129 |
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| 203 | 203 | | to waive my right as a surviving spouse to assert a claim 130 |
|---|
| 204 | 204 | | to any right, title or interest in property held by the 131 |
|---|
| 205 | 205 | | decedent at the time of the decedent's death arising under 132 |
|---|
| 206 | 206 | | the Florida Uniform Disposition of Community Property 133 |
|---|
| 207 | 207 | | Rights at Death Act (ss. 732.216 -732.228, Florida 134 |
|---|
| 208 | 208 | | Statutes), wholly or partly, as provided h erein." 135 |
|---|
| 209 | 209 | | Section 5. Section 732.221, Florida Statutes, is repealed. 136 |
|---|
| 210 | 210 | | Section 6. Section 732.2211, Florida Statutes, is created 137 |
|---|
| 211 | 211 | | to read: 138 |
|---|
| 212 | 212 | | 732.2211 Demands or disputes; statute of repose. — 139 |
|---|
| 213 | 213 | | (1)(a) Any demand or dispute arising, wholly or partly, 140 |
|---|
| 214 | 214 | | under ss. 732.216-732.228, regarding any right, title, or 141 |
|---|
| 215 | 215 | | interest in any property held by the decedent or surviving 142 |
|---|
| 216 | 216 | | spouse at the time of the decedent's death shall be determined 143 |
|---|
| 217 | 217 | | in an action for declaratory relief governed by the rules of 144 |
|---|
| 218 | 218 | | civil procedure. Notwithstanding any other law, a complaint for 145 |
|---|
| 219 | 219 | | such action must be filed within 2 years after the decedent's 146 |
|---|
| 220 | 220 | | death or be forever barred. 147 |
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| 221 | 221 | | (b) A action for declaratory relief instituted pursuant to 148 |
|---|
| 222 | 222 | | this section is not a claim, as defined in s. 731.201, and i s 149 |
|---|
| 223 | 223 | | not subject to ss. 733.701 -733.710. 150 |
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| 231 | 231 | | Page 7 of 12 |
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| 232 | 232 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
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| 233 | 233 | | |
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| 234 | 234 | | |
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| 235 | 235 | | |
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| 236 | 236 | | (2) The personal representative or curator has no duty to 151 |
|---|
| 237 | 237 | | discover whether property held by the decedent or surviving 152 |
|---|
| 238 | 238 | | spouse at the time of the decedent's death is property to which 153 |
|---|
| 239 | 239 | | ss. 732.216-732.228 apply, or may apply, unless a written demand 154 |
|---|
| 240 | 240 | | is made by: 155 |
|---|
| 241 | 241 | | (a) The surviving spouse or a beneficiary within 6 months 156 |
|---|
| 242 | 242 | | after service of a copy of the notice of administration on the 157 |
|---|
| 243 | 243 | | surviving spouse or beneficiary. 158 |
|---|
| 244 | 244 | | (b) A creditor, except as provided in paragraph (c), 159 |
|---|
| 245 | 245 | | within 3 months after the time of the first publication of the 160 |
|---|
| 246 | 246 | | notice to creditors. 161 |
|---|
| 247 | 247 | | (c) A creditor required to be served with a copy of the 162 |
|---|
| 248 | 248 | | notice to creditors, within the later of 30 days after the date 163 |
|---|
| 249 | 249 | | of service on the creditor or the time under paragra ph (b). 164 |
|---|
| 250 | 250 | | (3) The rights of any interested person who fails to 165 |
|---|
| 251 | 251 | | timely file an action for declaratory relief pursuant to this 166 |
|---|
| 252 | 252 | | section are forfeited. The decedent's surviving spouse, personal 167 |
|---|
| 253 | 253 | | representative or curator, or any other person or entity that at 168 |
|---|
| 254 | 254 | | any time is in possession of any property to which ss. 732.216 -169 |
|---|
| 255 | 255 | | 732.228 apply, or may apply, shall not be subject to liability 170 |
|---|
| 256 | 256 | | for any such forfeit rights. The decedent's personal 171 |
|---|
| 257 | 257 | | representative or curator may distribute the assets of the 172 |
|---|
| 258 | 258 | | decedent's estate without liability for any such forfeit rights. 173 |
|---|
| 259 | 259 | | (4) This section does not affect any issue or matter not 174 |
|---|
| 260 | 260 | | arising, wholly or partly, under ss. 732.216 -732.228. 175 |
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| 268 | 268 | | Page 8 of 12 |
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| 269 | 269 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
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| 270 | 270 | | |
|---|
| 271 | 271 | | |
|---|
| 272 | 272 | | |
|---|
| 273 | 273 | | Section 7. Section 732.223, Florida Statutes, is repealed. 176 |
|---|
| 274 | 274 | | Section 8. Section 732.2231, F lorida Statutes, is created 177 |
|---|
| 275 | 275 | | to read: 178 |
|---|
| 276 | 276 | | 732.2231 Protection of payors and other third parties. — 179 |
|---|
| 277 | 277 | | (1) As used in this section the terms: 180 |
|---|
| 278 | 278 | | (a) "Governing instrument" has the same meaning as in s. 181 |
|---|
| 279 | 279 | | 732.2025. 182 |
|---|
| 280 | 280 | | (b) "Payor" means the decedent's personal repres entative, 183 |
|---|
| 281 | 281 | | a trustee of a trust created by the decedent, an insurer, 184 |
|---|
| 282 | 282 | | business entity, employer, government, governmental agency or 185 |
|---|
| 283 | 283 | | subdivision, or any other person authorized or obligated by law 186 |
|---|
| 284 | 284 | | or a governing instrument to make payments. 187 |
|---|
| 285 | 285 | | (c) "Person" has the same meaning as in s. 732.2025. 188 |
|---|
| 286 | 286 | | (2) A property interest is subject to property rights 189 |
|---|
| 287 | 287 | | under ss. 732.216-732.228, however a payor or other third party 190 |
|---|
| 288 | 288 | | is not liable for paying, distributing, or transferring such 191 |
|---|
| 289 | 289 | | property to a beneficiary designated i n a governing instrument, 192 |
|---|
| 290 | 290 | | or for taking any other action in good faith reliance on the 193 |
|---|
| 291 | 291 | | validity of a governing instrument. 194 |
|---|
| 292 | 292 | | Section 9. Section 732.225, Florida Statutes, is amended 195 |
|---|
| 293 | 293 | | to read: 196 |
|---|
| 294 | 294 | | 732.225 Acts of married persons. —Sections 732.216-732.228 197 |
|---|
| 295 | 295 | | do not prevent married persons from severing or altering their 198 |
|---|
| 296 | 296 | | interests in property to which these sections apply. The 199 |
|---|
| 297 | 297 | | reinvestment of any property to which these sections apply in 200 |
|---|
| 305 | 305 | | Page 9 of 12 |
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| 306 | 306 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
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| 307 | 307 | | |
|---|
| 308 | 308 | | |
|---|
| 309 | 309 | | |
|---|
| 310 | 310 | | real property located in this state which is or becomes real or 201 |
|---|
| 311 | 311 | | personal property held by tenants by the entirety or homestead 202 |
|---|
| 312 | 312 | | property creates a conclusive presumption that the spouses have 203 |
|---|
| 313 | 313 | | agreed to terminate the community property attribute of the 204 |
|---|
| 314 | 314 | | property reinvested. 205 |
|---|
| 315 | 315 | | Section 10. Subsection (1) of section 732.702, Florid a 206 |
|---|
| 316 | 316 | | Statutes, is amended to read: 207 |
|---|
| 317 | 317 | | 732.702 Waiver of spousal rights. — 208 |
|---|
| 318 | 318 | | (1) The rights of a surviving spouse to an elective share, 209 |
|---|
| 319 | 319 | | intestate share, pretermitted share, homestead, exempt property, 210 |
|---|
| 320 | 320 | | family allowance, or to assert a claim under the Florida Unif orm 211 |
|---|
| 321 | 321 | | Disposition of Community Property Rights at Death Act as 212 |
|---|
| 322 | 322 | | described in ss. 732.216 -732.228, and preference in appointment 213 |
|---|
| 323 | 323 | | as personal representative of an intestate estate or any of 214 |
|---|
| 324 | 324 | | those rights, may be waived, wholly or partly, before or after 215 |
|---|
| 325 | 325 | | marriage, by a written contract, agreement, or waiver, signed by 216 |
|---|
| 326 | 326 | | the waiving party in the presence of two subscribing witnesses. 217 |
|---|
| 327 | 327 | | The requirement of witnesses shall be applicable only to 218 |
|---|
| 328 | 328 | | contracts, agreements, or waivers signed by Florida residents 219 |
|---|
| 329 | 329 | | after the effective date of this law. Any contract, agreement, 220 |
|---|
| 330 | 330 | | or waiver executed by a nonresident of Florida, either before or 221 |
|---|
| 331 | 331 | | after this law takes effect, is valid in this state if valid 222 |
|---|
| 332 | 332 | | when executed under the laws of the state or country where it 223 |
|---|
| 333 | 333 | | was executed, whether or not he or she is a Florida resident at 224 |
|---|
| 334 | 334 | | the time of death. Unless the waiver provides to the contrary, a 225 |
|---|
| 342 | 342 | | Page 10 of 12 |
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| 343 | 343 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
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| 344 | 344 | | |
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| 345 | 345 | | |
|---|
| 346 | 346 | | |
|---|
| 347 | 347 | | waiver of "all rights," or equivalent language, in the property 226 |
|---|
| 348 | 348 | | or estate of a present or prospective spouse, or a complete 227 |
|---|
| 349 | 349 | | property settlement ente red into after, or in anticipation of, 228 |
|---|
| 350 | 350 | | separation, dissolution of marriage, or divorce, is a waiver of 229 |
|---|
| 351 | 351 | | all rights to elective share, intestate share, pretermitted 230 |
|---|
| 352 | 352 | | share, homestead, exempt property, family allowance, or to 231 |
|---|
| 353 | 353 | | assert a claim under the Florida U niform Disposition of 232 |
|---|
| 354 | 354 | | Community Property Rights at Death Act as described in ss. 233 |
|---|
| 355 | 355 | | 732.216-732.228, and preference in appointment as personal 234 |
|---|
| 356 | 356 | | representative of an intestate estate, by the waiving party in 235 |
|---|
| 357 | 357 | | the property of the other and a renunciation by the w aiving 236 |
|---|
| 358 | 358 | | party of all benefits that would otherwise pass to the waiving 237 |
|---|
| 359 | 359 | | party from the other by intestate succession or by the 238 |
|---|
| 360 | 360 | | provisions of any will executed before the written contract, 239 |
|---|
| 361 | 361 | | agreement, or waiver. 240 |
|---|
| 362 | 362 | | Section 11. Paragraph (g) is added to subsec tion (2) of 241 |
|---|
| 363 | 363 | | section 733.212, Florida Statutes, to read: 242 |
|---|
| 364 | 364 | | 733.212 Notice of administration; filing of objections. — 243 |
|---|
| 365 | 365 | | (2) The notice shall state: 244 |
|---|
| 366 | 366 | | (g) That the personal representative or curator has no 245 |
|---|
| 367 | 367 | | duty to discover whether any property held at the time of the 246 |
|---|
| 368 | 368 | | decedent's death by the decedent or the decedent's surviving 247 |
|---|
| 369 | 369 | | spouse is property to which the Florida Uniform Disposition of 248 |
|---|
| 370 | 370 | | Community Property Rights at Death Act as described in ss. 249 |
|---|
| 371 | 371 | | 732.216-732.228 applies, or may apply, unless a written demand 250 |
|---|
| 379 | 379 | | Page 11 of 12 |
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| 380 | 380 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
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| 381 | 381 | | |
|---|
| 382 | 382 | | |
|---|
| 383 | 383 | | |
|---|
| 384 | 384 | | is made by the surviving spouse or a beneficiary as specified 251 |
|---|
| 385 | 385 | | under s. 732.2211. 252 |
|---|
| 386 | 386 | | Section 12. Subsection (1) of section 733.2121, Florida 253 |
|---|
| 387 | 387 | | Statutes, is amended to read: 254 |
|---|
| 388 | 388 | | 733.2121 Notice to creditors; filing of claims. — 255 |
|---|
| 389 | 389 | | (1) Unless creditors' claims are o therwise barred by s. 256 |
|---|
| 390 | 390 | | 733.710, the personal representative shall promptly publish a 257 |
|---|
| 391 | 391 | | notice to creditors. The notice shall contain the name of the 258 |
|---|
| 392 | 392 | | decedent, the file number of the estate, the designation and 259 |
|---|
| 393 | 393 | | address of the court in which the proceedings are pending, the 260 |
|---|
| 394 | 394 | | name and address of the personal representative, the name and 261 |
|---|
| 395 | 395 | | address of the personal representative's attorney, and the date 262 |
|---|
| 396 | 396 | | of first publication. The notice shall state that creditors must 263 |
|---|
| 397 | 397 | | file claims against the estate with the court durin g the time 264 |
|---|
| 398 | 398 | | periods set forth in s. 733.702, or be forever barred. The 265 |
|---|
| 399 | 399 | | notice shall state that a personal representative or curator has 266 |
|---|
| 400 | 400 | | no duty to discover whether any property held at the time of the 267 |
|---|
| 401 | 401 | | decedent's death by the decedent or the decedent's survi ving 268 |
|---|
| 402 | 402 | | spouse is property to which the Florida Uniform Disposition of 269 |
|---|
| 403 | 403 | | Community Property Rights at Death Act as described in ss. 270 |
|---|
| 404 | 404 | | 732.216-732.228, applies, or may apply, unless a written demand 271 |
|---|
| 405 | 405 | | is made by a creditor as specified under s. 732.2211. 272 |
|---|
| 406 | 406 | | Section 13. Subsection (1) of section 733.607, Florida 273 |
|---|
| 407 | 407 | | Statutes, is amended to read: 274 |
|---|
| 408 | 408 | | 733.607 Possession of estate. — 275 |
|---|
| 416 | 416 | | Page 12 of 12 |
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| 417 | 417 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
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| 418 | 418 | | |
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| 419 | 419 | | |
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| 420 | 420 | | |
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| 421 | 421 | | (1) Except as otherwise provided by a decedent's will, 276 |
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| 422 | 422 | | every personal representative has a right to, and shall take 277 |
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| 423 | 423 | | possession or control of, t he decedent's property, except the 278 |
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| 424 | 424 | | protected homestead, but any real property or tangible personal 279 |
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| 425 | 425 | | property may be left with, or surrendered to, the person 280 |
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| 426 | 426 | | presumptively entitled to it unless possession of the property 281 |
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| 427 | 427 | | by the personal representative will b e necessary for purposes of 282 |
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| 428 | 428 | | administration. The request by a personal representative for 283 |
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| 429 | 429 | | delivery of any property possessed by a beneficiary is 284 |
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| 430 | 430 | | conclusive evidence that the possession of the property by the 285 |
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| 431 | 431 | | personal representative is necessary for the purp oses of 286 |
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| 432 | 432 | | administration, in any action against the beneficiary for 287 |
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| 433 | 433 | | possession of it. The personal representative shall take all 288 |
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| 434 | 434 | | steps reasonably necessary for the management, protection, and 289 |
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| 435 | 435 | | preservation of the estate until distribution and may maintain 290 |
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| 436 | 436 | | an action to recover possession of property or to determine the 291 |
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| 437 | 437 | | title to it. Notwithstanding anything in this section, the 292 |
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| 438 | 438 | | personal representative has no right to, and shall not knowingly 293 |
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| 439 | 439 | | take possession or control of, a surviving spouse's one -half 294 |
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| 440 | 440 | | share of property to which the Florida Uniform Disposition of 295 |
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| 441 | 441 | | Community Property Rights at Death Act as described in ss. 296 |
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| 442 | 442 | | 732.216-732.228, applies. 297 |
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| 443 | 443 | | Section 14. Except as otherwise expressly provided in this 298 |
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| 444 | 444 | | act, this act shall take effect upon becoming a law. 299 |
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