Making a Will in Florida

What Can I Do With a Florida Will?

A will, also called a "last will and testament," can help you protect your family and your property. You can use a will to:

• leave your property to people or organizations
• name a personal guardian to care for your minor children
• name a trusted person to manage property you leave to minor children, and
• name a personal representative, the person who makes sure that the terms of your will are carried out.

What Happens If I Die Without a Will?

In Florida, if you die without a will, your property will be distributed according to state "intestacy" laws. Florida's intestacy law gives your property to your closest relatives, beginning with your spouse and children. If you have neither a spouse nor children, your grandchildren or your parents will get your property. This list continues with increasingly distant relatives, including siblings, grandparents, aunts and uncles, cousins, and your spouse's relatives. If the court exhausts this list to find that you have no living relatives by blood or marriage, the state will take your property.

Do I Need a Lawyer to Make a Will in Florida?

No. You can make your own will in Florida, using Nolo's do-it-yourself will software or online will programs. However, you may want to consult a lawyer in some situations. For example, if you think that your will might be contested or if you want to disinherit your spouse, you should talk with an attorney. Nolo's will-making products tell you when it's wise to seek a lawyer's advice.

What Are the Requirements for Signing a Will in Florida?

To finalize your will in Florida:

• you must sign your will or acknowledge it in front of two witnesses, and
• your witnesses must sign your will in front of you and each other. Fla. Stat. Ann. § 732.502.

Do I Need to Have My Will Notarized?

No, in Florida, you do not need to notarize your will to make it legal.

However, Florida allows you to make your will "self-proving" and you'll need to go to a notary if you want to do that. A self-proving will speeds up probate because the court can accept the will without contacting the witnesses who signed it.

To make your will self-proving, you and your witnesses will go to the notary and sign an affidavit that proves who you are and that each of you knew you were signing the will. You can do this at the time of signing your will or later.

Should I Use My Will to Name a Personal Representative?

Yes. In Florida, you can use your will to name a personal representative who will ensure that the provisions in your will are carried out after your death. Nolo's will software and online will produces a letter to your personal representative that generally explains what the job requires. If you don't name a personal representative, the probate court will appoint someone to take on the job of winding up your estate.

Can I Revoke or Change My Will?

In Florida, you may revoke or change your will at any time. You can revoke your will by:

• burning, tearing, canceling, defacing, obliterating or destroying your will yourself with the intent to revoke it
• instructing someone else to do any of the acts listed above in front of you, or
• making a new will or codicil.

Fla. Stat. Ann. §§ 732.505 and 732.506.

If you need to make changes to your will, it’s best to revoke it and make a new one. However, if you have only very simple changes to make, you could add an amendment to your existing will – this is called a codicil. In either case, you will need to finalize your changes with the same formalities you used to make your original will (see above).

If you and your spouse divorce (or if a court determines that your marriage is not legal), Florida law revokes any language in your will that leaves property to your spouse or names your spouse to be your personal representative. This rule does not apply if you specifically state in your will (or divorce decree) that divorce should not affect the provisions in your will. Fla. Stat. Ann. § 732.507. If you have any concerns about the effects of divorce on your will, see an estate planning attorney for help.

Where Can I Find Florida’s Laws About Making Wills?

You can find Florida’s laws about making wills here: Florida Statutes Title XLII Estates and Trusts Chapter 732 Probate Code Intestate Succession and Wills.