This is my running list of significant Florida trusts-and-estates related appellate opinions for 2008. If you think I’ve missed an important case that deserves wider notice, please let me know. As new decisions are published I’ll add them to the list. The cases listed below are hyper-linked to a copy of the original source document and any commentary I may have written about the case.

  1. Raborn v. Menotte, — So.2d —-, 2008 WL 90037 (Fla. Jan 10, 2008) (Florida land trusts)
  2. Macier v. Estate of Giamportone, — So.2d —-, 2008 WL 80199 (Fla. 3d DCA Jan 09, 2008) (reopening probate estate)
  3. Knight v. C.I.R. , — S.Ct. —-, 2008 WL 140749 (U.S. Jan 16, 2008) (Income tax deductions for trusts and estates)
  4. Wheeler v. Powers, — So.2d —-, 2008 WL 160881 (Fla. 5th DCA Jan 18, 2008) (Standing to Revoke Probate)
  5. Fernandez-Fox v. Estate Of Lindsay, — So.2d —-, 2008 WL 160920 (Fla. 5th DCA Jan 18, 2008) (Deadlines to File Independent Actions)
  6. In re Estate of McKibbin, — So.2d —-, 2008 WL 161322 (Fla. 2d DCA Jan 18, 2008) (Powers of Attorney)
  7. Barrett v. Barrett, — So.2d —-, 2008 WL 239032 (Fla. 4th DCA Jan 30, 2008) (Trust litigation/ motion to amend answer)
  8. Nasser v. Nasser, — So.2d —-, 2008 WL 239073 (Fla. 4th DCA Jan 30, 2008) (Fees and costs in probate litigation)
  9. McKoy v. DeSilvio, — So.2d —-, 2008 WL 343255 (Fla. 2d DCA Feb 08, 2008) (Contested real property deeds)
  10. In re Estate of Cummins, — So.2d —-, 2008 WL 373414 (Fla. 3d DCA Feb 13, 2008) (Extending deadline dates in probate)
  11. Schneberger v. Schneberger, — So.2d —-, 2008 WL 373243 (Fla. 4th DCA Feb 13, 2008) (Homestead/ life estate litigation)
  12. Brooks v. AMP Services Ltd., — So.2d —-, 2008 WL 373423 (Fla. 4th DCA Feb 13, 2008) (Pro Hac Vice Motions)
  13. RBC Ministries v. Tompkins, — So.2d —-, 2008 WL 398821 (Fla. 2d DCA Feb 15, 2008) (Undue Influence Claims/ Summary Judgment)
  14. Kravitz v. Levy, — So.2d —-, 2008 WL 441403 (Fla. 4th DCA Feb 20, 2008) (Statute of Limitations/ Suing Personal Representative)
  15. Bernheim v. Broberg, — So.2d —-, 2008 WL 441621 (Fla. 4th DCA Feb 20, 2008) (Vexatious Pro Se Litigants)
  16. Pflaum v. Pflaum, — So.2d —-, 2008 WL 425585 (Fla. 1st DCA Feb 19, 2008) (Vexatious Pro Se Litigants)
  17. Young v. Kurlansik, — So.2d —-, 2008 WL 508427 (Fla. 4th DCA Feb 27, 2008) (Election of Remedies)
  18. Perry v. Perry, — So.2d —-, 2008 WL 588901 (Fla. 4th DCA Mar 05, 2008) (Breach of Contract to Make Will)
  19. Clemons v. Thornton, — So.2d —-, 2008 WL 624863 (Fla. 1st DCA Mar 10, 2008) (Invalid Homestead Deed)
  20. Chaffin v. Overstreet, — So.2d —-, 2008 WL 678664 (Fla. 5th DCA Mar 14, 2008) (Removal of Trustee)
  21. Fleck v. Fleck, — So.2d —-, 2008 WL 818814 (Fla. 2d DCA Mar 28, 2008) (Remedies in Trust Litigation)
  22. In re Estate of Woodward, — So.2d —-, 2008 WL 942044 (Fla. 2d DCA Apr 09, 2008) (Mortgaged Property)
  23. Cleare v. EA Management Services, Inc., Slip Copy, 2008 WL 1711533 (S.D.Fla. Apr 10, 2008) (Federal Diversity Jurisdiction for Estates)
  24. In re Guardianship of Shell, — So.2d —-, 2008 WL 1757211 (Fla. 2d DCA Apr 18, 2008) (Compensation of Guardian Dispute)
  25. American United Life Ins. Co. v. Barber, Slip Copy, 2008 WL 1766916 (M.D.Fla. Apr 15, 2008) (Insurance Policies; Florida’s Slayer Statute)
  26. Julia v. Russo, — So.2d —-, 2008 WL 1883905 (Fla. 4th DCA Apr 30, 2008) (Jointly Titled Bank Accounts)
  27. American Home Assur. Co. v. Junger, — So.2d —-, 2008 WL 1958615 (Fla. 3d DCA May 07, 2008) (Lost Life Insurance Policy)
  28. Parker v. Shullman, — So.2d —-, 2008 WL 2038046 (Fla. 4th DCA May 14, 2008) (Trust Litigation)
  29. Hall v. Tungett, — So.2d —-, 2008 WL 2065802 (Fla. 2d DCA May 16, 2008) (Probate Jurisdiction; Due Process)
  30. Reid v. Judea, — So.2d —-, 2008 WL 2356814 (Fla. 3d DCA Jun 11, 2008) (Trust Litigation; Standing)
  31. Mercurio v. Headrick, — So.2d —-, 2008 WL 2434193 (Fla. 1st DCA Jun 18, 2008) (Partition Actions)
  32. Sarhan v. Rothenberg, Slip Copy, 2008 WL 2474645 (S.D.Fla. Jun 17, 2008) (Probate Exception to Federal Jurisdiction)
  33. Berkow v. Isaevna, — So.2d —-, 2008 WL 2511272 (Fla. 3d DCA Jun 25, 2008) (Summary Judgment Standard; Escheate to State)
  34. Klem v. Espejo-Norton, — So.2d —-, 2008 WL 2511276 (Fla. 3d DCA Jun 25, 2008) (Constructive Trust; Quasi in Rem Jurisdiction)
  35. Ehrlich v. Severson, — So.2d —-, 2008 WL 2512375 (Fla. 4th DCA Jun 25, 2008) (Costs in Guardianship)
  36. Julia v. Russo, — So.2d —-, 2008 WL 2596324 (Fla. 4th DCA Jul 02, 2008) (Joint Accounts; Presumed Gift)
  37. Staup v. Wachovia Bank, N.A., Slip Copy, 2008 WL 2598005 (S.D.Fla. Jun 27, 2008) (Exception to Federal Jurisdiction; Vexatious Litigation)
  38. Hoegh v. Estate of Johnson, — So.2d —-, 2008 WL 2605068 (Fla.App. 5 Dist. Jul 03, 2008) (Attorney’s Fees for Appeals)
  39. Wagner, Vaughn, McLaughlin & Brennan, P.A. v. Kennedy Law Group, — So.2d —-, 2008 WL 2668801 (Fla. 2d DCA Jul 09, 2008) (Attorney’s Fees; Wrongful Death Act)
  40. Hirchert v. Hirchert Family Trust, — So.2d —-, 2008 WL 2695897 (Fla. 5th DCA Jul 11, 2008) (Personal Jurisdiction; Homestead Protections)
  41. Demello ex rel. Jerome Adams Trust, Irene V. Adams Trust v. Buckman, — So.2d —-, 2008 WL 2906652 (Fla. 4th DCA Jul 30, 2008) (Attorney’s Fees)
  42. LaCalle v. Barquin, — So.2d —-, 2008 WL 3358300 (Fla. 3d DCA Aug 13, 2008) (Petition to establish and probate lost or destroyed will)
  43. Cutler v. Cutler, — So.2d —-, 2008 WL 4057751(Fla. 3d DCA Sep 03, 2008) (Homestead Litigation)
  44. Jaylene, Inc. v. Moots, — So.2d —-, 2008 WL 4181140 (Fla. 2d DCA Sep 12, 2008) (Power of Attorney; Arbitration Authority)
  45. McCormick v. McCormick, — So.2d —-, 2008 WL 4377136 (Fla. 1st DCA Sep 29, 2008) (Removal of Personal Representatives)
  46. Balboni v. LaRocque, — So.2d —-, 2008 WL 4414240 (Fla. 4th DCA Oct 01, 2008) (Lost/Destroyed Will)
  47. Duncombe v. Adderly, — So.2d —-, 2008 WL 4489234 (Fla. 4th DCA Oct 08, 2008) (Attorneys Fees in Probate Litigation)
  48. Urbanek v. Hopkins, — So.2d —-, 2008 WL 4489266 (Fla. 4th DCA Oct 08, 2008) (Quashing Unfair Discovery Orders)
  49. Eichler v. Leshner, Slip Copy, 2008 WL 4459029 (M.D.Fla. Sep 29, 2008) (Trustees & Arbitration)
  50. Brown v. Miller, — So.2d —-, 2008 WL 4600940 (Fla. 5th DCA Oct 17, 2008) (Trust Litigation/Trust Agreement Construction)
  51. Wintter & Associates, P.A. v. Kanowsky, — So.2d —-, 2008 WL 4643358 (Fla. 4th DCA Oct 22, 2008) (Attorneys Fees/Trust Litigation)
  52. Donkersloot v. Donkersloot, — So.2d —-, 2008 WL 4647415 (Fla. 2d DCA Oct 22, 2008) (Attorneys Fees/Trust Litigation)
  53. Brindle v. Brindle, — So.2d —-, 2008 WL 4722746 (Fla. 3d DCA Oct 29, 2008) (In Rem v. In Personam Jurisdiction)
  54. Brundage v. Bank of America, Trustee, — So.2d —-, 2008 WL 4722970 (Fla. 4th DCA Oct 29, 2008) (Trustee’s Duties to Remaindermen)
  55. Babcock v. Estate of Babcock, — So.2d —-, 2008 WL 4863088 (Fla. 4th DCA Nov 12, 2008) (What’s a Specific Bequest)
  56. Klingensmith v. Ferd and Gladys Alpert Jewish Family of Palm Beach County, Inc., — So.2d —-, 2008 WL 4922917 (Fla. 4th DCA Nov 19, 2008) (Appealable Orders)
  57. Barash v. Kates, — F.Supp.2d —-, 2008 WL 4922787 (S.D.Fla. Jun 25, 2008) (Motion to Enjoin Frivolous Filings)
  58. Hernandez v. Gil, — So.2d —-, 2008 WL 5156623 (Fla. 3d DCA Dec 10, 2008) (Sanctions v. Client & Attorney) [Attorney Interview]
  59. Hunt v. Hooper, — So.2d —-, 2008 WL 5191505 (Fla. 2d DCA Dec 12, 2008) (Venue/Trust Litigation)
  60. Metropolitan Life Ins. Co. v. Erickson, Slip Copy, 2008 WL 5341174 (M.D.Fla. Dec 19, 2008) (Life Insurance Beneficiary Designations)
  61. Sandra O’Neill v. Scher, — So.2d —-, 2008 WL 5352183 (Fla. 3d DCA Dec 24, 2008) (General Releases/Settlement Agreements)
  62. Five Points Health Care, Ltd. v. Mallory, — So.2d —-, 2008 WL 5411834 (Fla. 1st DCA Dec 31, 2008) (Power of Attorney/Arbitration Agreements)