Probate of a Lost Will in Florida

         In order to administer (probate) a Last Will and Testament in Florida, the original copy of the will must be deposited with the Clerk of Court in the County where the decedent resided at the time of decedent’s death. Pursuant to statute, the custodian of a will is required to deposit the will with the clerk of the court within 10 days after receiving information that the testator is dead.                                                                                                       Unfortunately, sometimes a will can be lost, misplaced, or damaged, so that it cannot be deposited with the clerk. Under certain circumstances, Florida law provides for the establishment and probate of lost or destroyed will. However, a party seeking to admit a lost or destroyed will to probate must overcome the presumption that the will was intentionally revoked by destruction.                                                                                               Pursuant to § 733.207, Fla. Stat., “Any interested person may establish the full and precise terms of a lost or destroyed will and offer the will for probate. The specific content of the will must be proved by the testimony of two disinterested witnesses, or, if a correct copy is provided, it shall be proved by one disinterested witness.” Accordingly, even when there is a copy of the allegedly lost or destroyed will, a witness must still be able to prove the contents of the will.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            It is important to note that the content of the alleged will must be proved by one or more disinterested witnesses and that the witnesses must have first-hand knowledge of the contents of the purported will. Moreover, the witness must provide oral testimony to the court at an evidentiary hearing. An affidavit made by a witness is not sufficient.                                                                                                                                                                    Proving a lost or destroyed will is only the first step in overcoming the presumption of revocation. The presumption of revocation can be rebutted in four ways, (1) evidence that a person with an adverse interest, and the opportunity, may have destroyed the will; (2) evidence that the will was accidentally destroyed, lost, or misplaced; (3) evidence that the original will had been seen among the decedent’s papers after her death; and (4) evidence that the decedent lacked the testamentary capacity to effectively revoke the will.                                                                                                                                                                                                                            In the event a party seeks to establish and probate an allegedly lost will, notice must be provided to all interested persons, including the beneficiaries named in the will and the beneficiaries who would or may inherit if there was no will or if the will was intentionally destroyed and revoked. Parties who have been disinherited pursuant to an allegedly lost or destroyed will have a strong interest in addressing their potential legal rights. This can lead to significant and contentious litigation.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              A lost or destroyed will is a complex legal matter. The experienced attorneys at the Elder Law Center of Kirson & Fuller are here to help. We can assist and advise you regarding a lost or destroyed will and with probate and estate administration, with or without a will. Contact the Elder Law Center of Kirson & Fuller today at 407-422-3017.