Florida ladybird deed

Many Florida homeowners think that having a Will is all they need to protect their home or other real estate, but it is not! Having a will does not avoid probate. A Will only explains who the property owner wishes to give the real estate to and who will be in charge of the estate--the personal representative. A Will still requires probate which can delay the transfer of a home or other real estate to the heirs for many months -- and it is very costly!

We are fortunate in Florida to have an enhanced life estate deed or so-called "Ladybird Deed" as an option. With a Ladybird Deed, the property owner keeps all of their property rights during their lifetime and can designate the loved ones they wish to receive the property at their death by designating them as the remainder beneficiaries as part of the deed. Then at the time of death, all that is required is the death certificate be recorded. The remainder beneficiaries become the owners without any type of probate!

Call or message us to discuss whether a Ladybird Deed is right for you!

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Important Features of a Florida Ladybird Deed

ladybird deeds avoid probate

A Ladybird Deed can be used to avoid probate of any type of parcel of real property in Florida. The only other way to avoid probate of real property is to create and fund a trust, and although this option would avoid probate, it does not avoid trust administration at the time of death. Trust administration requires that a lawyer be retained to prepare a deed out of trust and other documents. A Ladybird deed avoids both probate and trust administration.

ladybird deeds are revocable

When an owner of real property in Florida uses a Ladybird Deed, they are giving the property back to themselves in an enhanced life estate. The enhanced part is all the rights that the owner retains. One of those retained rights is the right to revoke the ladybird deed if the estate plan changes and the owner wants to give their real property to a different remainder beneficiary. The revocation of a ladybird deed is also a special type of deed.

Property owners retain their property rights for life

Owners who use a Ladybird Deed retains all of their rights in what is called an enhanced life estate. They retain the right to use and enjoy their property, to sell, to mortgage, to lease, to cut timber or make other decisions, and to revoke the ladybird deed and replace it with a different deed, all without the consent of the remainder beneficiary.

ladybird deeds are the most cost effective way to transfer real estate upon death

The cost of a Ladybird Deed is just the cost of having the deed prepared, signed, and recorded. There are no other costs except to record a death certificate when the owner dies. Any other method of transfer of real estate at death is many times more costly. Probate and even trust administration has a much greater cost to the loved ones than the simple cost of a Ladybird Deed.

Get a low cost Ladybird Deed today!

Our firm prepares ladybird deeds for owners with property anywhere in florida. Contact us today to discuss your property and your goals for transfer at time of death. flat fee of $400 includes property research, deed preparation, and recording fees. document signing can be at our office if you are in the gainesville area or deed can be sent to you to sign wherever you live.