Yes. Sometimes a testator (or someone) will attempt to make changes to a Will by writing directly on the original – crossing out names, changing percentages, modifying personal representative nominations. These changes are not valid. The proper way to change a Will is to execute a completely new Will that revokes the prior one or to execute a “codicil” which is an amendment to the Will that changes certain provisions. Codicils must be executed with the same formalities as a Will.

When a testator dies, the Will is offered for probate. Generally, the person who seeks to be appointed personal representative (executor) files the original Will with the probate court and submits a Petition for Administration and Petition to Admit Will. At that time, a copy of the Petition for Administration should be served on all interested persons via formal notice, which gives the interested person 20 days to object. Alternatively, the personal representative, once appointed, will serve or publish a Notice of Administration, which gives a 90-day period for challenging a Will or the appointment of the personal representative (albeit after the person has been appointed).

No. Florida Statute §732.518 states that any action to contest the validity of all or part of a Will or the revocation of all or part of a will may not be commenced before the death of the testator.

Yes. These clauses are referred to as “in terrorem” clauses, which is Latin for “to frighten,” and are void in Florida. Florida Statute §732.517 states “a provision in a Will purporting to penalize any interested person for contesting the Will or instituting other proceedings relating to the estate is unenforceable.”

It depends. In Florida, there is no law that requires a testator to make provisions for adult children. The fact that you have been cut out alone does not necessarily give rise to a will contest action. However, if your parent had long-standing testamentary documents leaving everything equally to all of his/her children and made an end-of-life change in favor of a sibling who may have put himself in a confidential relationship with the parent, you may have a case for undue influence.

It depends. While Hospice care is palliative, end-of-life care, the fact that a testator was receiving it does not necessarily mean he/she lacked capacity. That said, it is certainly worth investigating because oftentimes at the end of a terminal condition, the condition itself may result in diminished capacity or the patients may be administered heavy narcotics that interfere with their normal capacity.

Yes, in fact the capacity of the witnesses to the Will is just as important as the capacity of the testator. Years ago, we had a case in our office where a woman who was in a psychiatric hospital as the result of a Baker Act proceeding executed a Will and the two witnesses were fellow patients in the psychiatric ward. Accordingly, mental capacity, not only of the testator but also of the witnesses, was at issue in that case.

Yes, Florida Statute §732.502(1) requires that a Will be in writing, that it be signed at the end by the testator (person who is making the Will), and that the testator sign in the presence of two witnesses (or acknowledge to the two witnesses that he/she signed the Will). Carefully read, these are three separate requirements that must all be met for a Will to be validly executed in Florida. Improper execution is a common problem when testators elect to prepare and execute Wills without the assistance of attorneys.