Flegal v. Guardianship of Swistock

This case centered around the ownership of stock shares and due process within a guardianship proceeding. The dispute arose over the ownership of stock shares which were initially purchased by a father and his daughters as joint tenants with right of survivorship….

Recent News

24 Jun 2019

Levine v. Stimmel

By Jenna G. Rubin, Esq.

Florida Statutes F.S. 736.1004 provides that in actions for breach of fiduciary duty or challenging a trustee’s exercise (or nonexercise) of their powers, and in trust modification proceedings, the court may award fees as in chancery actions. Here, the Court considered whether F.S. 736.1004 allowed a party to recover fees after unsuccessfully litigating entitlement to fees under F.S. 57.105.

23 Jun 2019

Due Process Limitations Apply to Limit State Tax of Trust Beneficiaries

States with income taxes have varying rules on when they assert authority to tax income of trusts, based on combinations of contacts with their state of settlors, trustees, beneficiaries, assets, and management activities. In one of the more aggressive assertions of authority to tax, several states assert that they can tax the income of a trust merely because a beneficiary resides in the state. In a challenge to North Carolina’s scheme, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the presence of in-state beneficiaries alone does not empower a state to tax undistributed trust income when the beneficiaries have no right to demand that income and are uncertain to receive it.

In the case, the settlor formed a trust for his children in his home state of New York. The trustee of the trust was a New York resident. Trust documents and records were kept in New York, and the asset custodians were in Massachusetts.The trust granted the trustee absolute discretion to distribute assets to the beneficiaries. One of the children moved to North Carolina . . .

09 Jun 2019

Electronic Notarization Comes Alive in Florida, and Electronic Notarization and Witnessing of Wills and Trusts Comes Along for the Ride [Florida]

A 78 page bill on the subject of electronic and remote notarization and witnessing of documents was approved by the governor two days ago. Here is some info to start to get you up to speed.

General Provisions:

In addition to the statute, the Florida Department of State will adopt rules that online notaries will need to follow.
Online notarization is conducted through and requires audio-video communication technology.
Notarial certificates should indicate whether they are notarizing in person or online. Sample certificates are in the new statute.
The online notary must confirm the identify of the principal, either by personal knowledge or all of the following: remote presentation of identification, credential analysis of identification provided, and identity proofing based on knowledge-based authentication or similar method. Credential analysis involves a third party aiding the notary in affirming the validity of government-issued identification credentials. Identify proofing involves a a third party affirming the identity of an individual through use of public or proprietary data sources, including knowledge-based authentication (question and answer systems) or biometric verification. . .

04 Jun 2019

Romanoff v. Lazarus

By Jenna G. Rubin

Failure to raise a defense of lack of personal jurisdiction at the right time can constitute a waiver of the defense altogether. The timing of the defense has to be exactly right or the defense will often be waived. Here, the defendant did not raise the defense in her first motion to dismiss, but did raise it in a second motion to dismiss which was filed before the court heard her first motion to dismiss.

21 May 2019

Jacobsen v. Busko

By Jenna G. Rubin, Esq.

This decision is a short and sweet reminder that once an order of incapacity is entered removing a ward’s right to contract, that ward no longer has the ability to independently hire counsel for him or herself.

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