This is my running list of significant Florida trusts-and-estates related appellate opinions for 2009. 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. Taylor v. Taylor, — So.2d —-, 2009 WL 186155 (Fla. 1st DCA Jan 28, 2009) (Contractual Waiver of Spousal Rights)
  2. Hays v. Lawrence, — So.2d —-, 2009 WL 211048(Fla. 5th DCA Jan 30, 2009) (Applicability of Rule 1.525 to Probate Proceedings)
  3. Belanger v. Salvation Army, 2009 WL 223884 (11th Cir.(Fla.) Feb 02, 2009) (Pay on Death Accounts) [Attorney Interview]
  4. Garcia v. Celestron, — So.2d —-, 2009 WL 249211 (Fla. 3d DCA Feb 04, 2009) (Deciphering Ambiguous Wills)
  5. Crescenze v. Bothe, — So.2d —-, 2009 WL 284858 (Fla. 2d DCA Feb 04, 2009) (Beneficiary Standing in Trust Litigation)
  6. Juega ex rel. Estate of Davidson v. Davidson, — So.2d —-, 2009 WL 321564 (Fla. 3d DCA Feb 11, 2009) (Foreign Executor’s Standing)
  7. Morris v. Knight, — So.2d —-, 2009 WL 321586 (Fla. 4th DCA Feb 11, 2009) (Family Preference as Guardian)
  8. Estate of Shefner v. Shefner-Holden, — So.2d —-, 2009 WL 322153 (Fla. 3d DCA Feb 11, 2009) (Homestead/Slayer Statute)
  9. Greenberg Traurig, P.A. v. Bresnahan, — So.2d —-, 2009 WL 383622 (Fla. 4th DCA Feb 18, 2009) (Trust Litigation; Waiving Attorney-Client Privilege)
  10. Fintak v. Wachovia Bank, N.A., Slip Copy, 2009 WL 413599 (M.D.Fla. Feb 18, 2009) (Trustee Suing Banks)
  11. In re Kurzon, 399 B.R. 274 (Bankr.M.D.Fla. Apr 17, 2008) (Bankruptcy discharge of probate judgement)
  12. Brigham v. Brigham, — So.2d —-, 2009 WL 454492 (Fla. 3d DCA Feb 25, 2009) (Conflict of interest voids trust distribution)
  13. Griem v. Becker, — So.2d —-, 2009 WL 454517 (Fla. 3d DCA Feb 25, 2009) (Bearer shares in probate litigation)
  14. Levine v. Levine, — So.2d —-, 2009 WL 482260 (Fla. 5th DCA Feb 27, 2009) (Challenging Examining Committee Findings/Fees)
  15. Provost v. Justin, — So.2d —-, 2009 WL 484633 (Fla. 2d DCA Feb 27, 2009) (Amending Joint Trusts)
  16. Edelstein v. Beagell, — So.2d —-, 2009 WL 500913 (Fla. 1st DCA Feb 27, 2009) (Non-appealable orders)
  17. Price v. Abate, — So.2d —-, 2009 WL 559908 (Fla. 5th DCA Mar 06, 2009) (Witnessing a Will)
  18. Hansen v. Bothe, — So.3d —-, 2009 WL 1066296 (Fla. 2d DCA Apr 22, 2009) (Trustees & Merger Doctrine)
  19. Bayview Loan Servicing, LLC v. Giblin, — So.3d —-, 2009 WL 1139236 (Fla. 4th DCA Apr 29, 2009) (Residency vs. Homestead)
  20. Blake v. Waks, — So.3d —-, 2009 WL 1212242 (Fla. 3d DCA May 06, 2009) (Disqualifying a Probate Judge)
  21. Zoldan v. Zohlman, — So.3d —-, 2009 WL 1310995 (Fla. 3d DCA May 13, 2009) (Valuing Limited Partnership Interests)
  22. U.S. v. Guyton, Slip Copy, 2009 WL 1308431 (M.D.Fla. May 08, 2009) (IRS as Estate Creditor)
  23. MacIntyre, ex rel. Wedrall Trust v. Wedell, — So.3d —-, 2009 WL 1393375 (Fla. 4th DCA May 20, 2009) (Revocable Trusts and Undue Influence Claims)
  24. Glantz and Glantz, P.A. v. Chinchilla, — So.3d —-, 2009 WL 1531644 (Fla. 4th DCA June 3, 2009) (Abuse of discretion in cutting attorney fees)
  25. Herrilka v. Yates, — So.3d —-, 2009 WL 1531772 (Fla. 4th DCA June 03, 2009) (Lien on Homestead to Pay Curator’s Fees)
  26. Geary v. Butzel Long, P.C., — So.3d —-, 2009 WL 1606034 (Fla. 4th DCA Jun 10, 2009) (Assessing litigation fees against a beneficiary for frivolous litigation)
  27. Lanning v. Pilcher, — So.3d —-, 2009 WL 1941210 (Fla. 1st DCA Jul 08, 2009) (Constitutionality of “Save Our Homes” Amendment)
  28. Rust v. Brown, — So.3d —-, 2009 WL 2031288 (Fla. 4th DCA Jul 15, 2009) (Appealable orders in probate)
  29. Mercer v. Kanowsky, — So.3d —-, 2009 WL 2168810 (Fla. 4th DCA Jul 22, 2009) (Pleading requirements for attorney’s fees in trust litigation)
  30. Aguilar v. Aguilar, — So.3d —-, 2009 WL 2169133 (Fla. 2d DCA Jul 22, 2009) (Limitations period for contesting will)
  31. Copeland v. Buswell, — So.3d —-, 2009 WL 2243701 (Fla. 2d DCA Jul 29, 2009) (Priority of payments; medical expenses)
  32. Chin v. Estate of Chin, — So.3d —-, 2009 WL 2382326 (Fla. 3d DCA Aug 05, 2009) (Ambiguous life-estate clause)
  33. Boulis v. Blackburn, — So.3d —-, 2009 WL 2382358 (Fla. 4th DCA Aug 05, 2009) (Estate tax apportionment)
  34. In re Barrett, Slip Copy, 2009 WL 2448153 (Bankr. S.D.Fla. Aug 06, 2009) (Discharge in bankruptcy of surcharge judgement against former trustee)
  35. Robertson v. Deeb and RBC Wealth Management, 16 So.3d 936, 34 Fla. L. Weekly D1661 (2d DCA August 14, 2009) (Inherited IRA not creditor protected)
  36. Littell v. Law Firm Of Trinkle, Moody, Swanson, Byrd and Colton, 2009 WL 2749666 (11th Cir.(Fla.) Sep 01, 2009) (Standing to sue for estate planning malpractice)
  37. McMullen v. Bennis, — So.3d —-, 2009 WL 2837426 (Fla. 3d DCA Sep 2, 2009) (Virtual Adoption)
  38. Doe v. Doe, — So.3d —-, 2009 WL 2841190 (Fla. 2d DCA Sep 04, 2009) (Trust Construction Common Law vs. DNA Testing)
  39. Turchin v. Turchin, — So.3d —-, 2009 WL 2871564 (Fla. 4th DCA Sep 09, 2009) (Spousal gift presumptions v. prenuptial agreements)
  40. PLR 201004022 (TAM) (September 15, 2009) (Estate tax consequences of settlement agreements; IRS says no to charitable deduction)
  41. Buroz-Henriquez v. De Buroz, — So.3d —-, 2009 WL 3271354 (Fla. 3d DCA Oct 14, 2009) (Default judgment as discovery sanction)
  42. Vaughn v. Boerckel, — So.3d —-, 2009 WL 3364856 (Fla. 4th DCA Oct 21, 2009) (Life Tenant/Trustee’s individual liability)
  43. Carey v. Rocke, 18 So.3d 1266 (Fla. 2d DCA October 23, 2009) (Ethics Violation; Undue Influence)
  44. Buettner v. Fass, — So.3d —-, 2009 WL 3446478 (Fla. 4th DCA Oct 28, 2009) (Probate Court’s Lack of Authority over Homestead Property)
  45. LoCascio v. Sharpe, — So.3d —-, 2009 WL 3448111 (Fla.App. 3 Dist. Oct 28, 2009) (Slayer Statue ≠ Forfeiture Statue)
  46. Estate of Madrigal v. Madrigal, — So.3d —-, 2009 WL 4061747 (Fla. 3d DCA Nov 25, 2009) (Deference to Trial Judge; Undue Influence Ruling)
  47. Mack v. Perri, — So.3d —-, 2009 WL 4912602 (Fla. 1st DCA Dec 22, 2009) (Untimely creditor claim)
  48. Morgenthau v. Estate of Andzel, — So.3d —-, 2009 WL 5151741 (Fla. 1st DCA Dec 31, 2009) (Late creditor claim)