Can I still sell my house after signing one?
Yes. A Lady Bird deed lets you keep control of the property for life. You can sell it or mortgage it without needing permission from the people named in the deed.
Lady Bird deeds · Hollywood, Florida
Pass your property on without probate, and keep control of it while you live.
A Lady Bird deed names who will receive your Florida property when you die, without giving up any control of it in the meantime. I prepare Lady Bird deeds and quitclaim deeds for property owners in Hollywood, Fort Lauderdale, Dania Beach, Hallandale Beach, Miami and Miami Beach.
What it is
How a Lady Bird deed works
You sign a deed that names who will receive the property after your death. Until then, you keep the right to live in the property, sell it, rent it or mortgage it, without asking the people named.
Because the property passes through the deed rather than through a will, it generally doesn't go through probate. That can spare your family the time and cost of a court case.
Is it right for you
Lady Bird deed, quitclaim deed, or neither
A Lady Bird deed
suits an owner who wants to keep full control for life and have the property pass to named people at death.
A quitclaim deed
transfers whatever interest you hold right now. It's often used to move a property between family members, but it takes effect immediately, so you give up ownership straight away.
Doing nothing
usually means a property in your sole name goes through probate after your death. I'll tell you what applies to your property.
What's involved
From the first conversation to a recorded deed
I look at how the property is owned today, tell you which kind of deed fits, prepare it, and arrange for it to be signed and recorded. The first conversation is where we decide whether a Lady Bird deed is the right tool or whether something else suits your property better.
Free family guide
Know who to call before you need to
Estate planning, elder law and probate attorneys do different jobs, and families often find out which one they need at the worst possible moment. This free guide explains each in plain language: who to call when you're planning ahead, when a parent's health begins to decline, and in the weeks after a loss.
Questions
About Lady Bird deeds
Is a Lady Bird deed the same as a will?
No. A will works through probate. A Lady Bird deed passes only the property it describes, and it passes it directly. Your other assets need their own arrangements.
Can a Lady Bird deed be changed later?
Because you keep control while you live, you can generally change your mind. I'll explain how that works for your property.
Does the deed need to be recorded?
Yes. A deed is recorded with the county so the transfer is on the public record. I arrange that as part of preparing the deed.
Which other property transfers do you handle?
Quitclaim deeds, where they're appropriate, as well as Lady Bird deeds. If a property needs to be bought or sold, I handle that under my real estate practice.
This page offers general information, not legal advice for your situation.
Related: Real estate · Probate and trust administration · Landlord eviction
Tell me about the property
Tell me where it is and who owns it today, and I'll tell you what would work.