A deed is a legal weapon. Use a dull or broken one, and it may fail when you need it most. Spend a little now to save your heirs a lot later.
If you own real estate in Florida and want to pass it to your heirs without the time, expense, and public hassle of probate, you’ve likely heard of a Lady Bird Deed (formally known as an enhanced life estate deed ). A quick online search for “free printable lady bird deed florida form” yields dozens of downloadable PDFs. But before you hit print, there’s something every Florida homeowner needs to understand. What a Lady Bird Deed Does (And Why It’s So Powerful) Unlike a standard life estate deed, a Lady Bird deed allows you—the current owner—to keep full control of the property for as long as you live. You can sell it, mortgage it, or even give it away without the consent of the eventual beneficiary (the “remainderman”). When you pass away, the property automatically transfers to that beneficiary outside of probate, while Florida also offers a $50,000 homestead protection to the surviving owner. free printable lady bird deed florida form