Monday, October 1, 2012

Florida Lady Bird Deed - Enhanced Life Estate Deed


A Lady Bird deed (called an enhanced life estate deed in Florida) is a relatively new form of deed that, like a traditional life estate deed, allows property to pass automatically to one or more designated recipients at death, without the need for Florida probate.  Florida is one of only a handful of states that recognize Lady Bird deeds.

How a Lady Bird Deed Works

Lady Bird deeds are used to avoid probate.  Here’s how it works:
  • You sign a deed transferring your real estate to a person or group of people (called the remaindermen or remainder beneficiaries) at your death, but retaining the right to sell, use, and otherwise deal with the property during your lifetime.
  • If you decide to sell, mortgage, or otherwise deal with the property during your lifetime, you are able to do so without the consent of the remaindermen (this is the difference between a life estate deed and a Lady Bird deed).
  • Upon your death, your remainder beneficiaries simply file your death certificate in the land records. This serves as proof of yours death and allows the property to be transferred to the remaindermen without the need for probate.

Advantages: Lady Bird Deeds versus Traditional Life Estate Deeds

Perhaps the biggest drawback of a traditional life estate deed is the inability of the person who deeds the property to change his or her mind.  Once a traditional life estate deed is signed, the grantor cannot sell, mortgage, convey, gift, or otherwise terminate the remainder interest during his or her lifetime without the consent of the remainder beneficiaries.
The intention of a Lady Bird deed is to avoid this problem.  Like a traditional life estate deed, a Lady Bird deed  allows you to name someone to receive the property at your death while reserving the right to use the property during your lifetime. But unlike a traditional life estate deed, you are able to deal with the property during your lifetime, without the consent of the remainder beneficiaries.
Lady Bird deeds can allow you to:
  • Keep complete control of the property during your lifetime without requiring consent of the remainder beneficiaries;
  • Retain the right to use, profit from, or sell the property during your lifetime;
  • Avoid triggering the Federal gift tax on the transfer during your lifetime; and
  • Avoid probate of the property at your death.

Problems to be aware of with Lady Bird Deeds

Lady Bird deeds are easy to mess up.  Here are a few common mistakes to watch out for:
  • It is important that the document be drafted by a knowledgeable attorney.  If a mistake is made, the Lady Bird deed will not satisfy the Florida title insurance companies and will still require probate.  The deed needs to be drafted so as not to allow the property to end up back in your estate through lapse (prior death of a named remainderman) or otherwise.
  • Lady Bird deeds require special consideration if the property is subject to a mortgage.  The cost of Florida’s mortgage taxes should be taken into account when considering whether the Lady Bird deed is the most cost-effective alternative.
  • Lady Bird deeds must still meet the formalities required under Florida law for a deed to be valid.  Otherwise, the deed will not achieve your goals of transferring the property without probate.
  • Florida’s complicated homestead laws should be considered when dealing with Lady Bird deeds.

A little bit of history on the Lady Bird Deed

A Lady Bird Deed is named after Lady Bird Johnson.  History tells us that President Johnson reportedly transferred property to his wife by utilizing such a deed.

2 comments:

  1. These deeds are also called “enhanced life estate” deeds. With a standard life estate deed, you could name a beneficiary to inherit your property while you keep ownership of it for your lifetime, but with significant restrictions. You wouldn’t have the right to sell or mortgage the property, and you might also be liable to the beneficiary you named if you greatly decreased the value of the property—for example, let a house fall into serious disrepair.
    Professional Legal Network

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  2. Thank you for your response. Its important to evaluate the client's needs and understand the complete picture before deciding on a Lady Bird Deed / Enhanced Life Estate Deed.

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