This is my running list of significant Florida trusts-and-estates related appellate opinions for 2010. 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. Rachid v. Perez, — So.3d —-, 2010 WL 173776 (Fla. 3d DCA Jan 20, 2010) (Getting out of Mediation Agreements)
  2. Burgess v. Prince, — So.3d —-, 2010 WL 199422 (Fla. 2d DCA Jan. 22, 2010) (Trust construction)
  3. Foster v. Estate of Gomes, — So.3d —-, 2010 WL 322170 (Fla. 5th DCA Jan. 29, 2010) (Marital agreements waiving inheritance rights)
  4. Doe v. Suntrust Bank, — So.3d —-, 2010 WL 323031 (Fla. 2d DCA Jan 29, 2010) (DNA testing in trust and probate litigation)
  5. Thomas v. Thomas, — So.3d —-, 2010 WL 391833 (Fla. 5th DCA Feb 05, 2010) (Limitations period for accounting objections)
  6. Grainger v. Wald, — So.3d —-, 2010 WL 479862 (Fla. 1st DCA Feb 12, 2010) (Properly serving notice to creditors)
  7. In re Estate of Harrison, Slip Copy, 2010 WL 503077 (Bankr.M.D.Fla. Jan 29, 2010) (Strategic use of Florida’s 2-year Non-claim Statute)
  8. Morrison v. West, — So.3d —-, 2010 WL 532792 (Fla. 4th DCA Feb 17, 2010) (Payment to out-of-state probate lawyer)
  9. Pajares v. Donahue, — So.3d —-, 2010 WL 934101 (Fla. 4th DCA Mar 17, 2010) (Will Construction; Homestead Devise)
  10. Foundation For Developmentally Disabled, Inc. v. Step By Step Early Childhood Educ. And Therapy Center, Inc., — So.3d —-, 2010 WL 1135901 (Fla. 2d DCA Mar 26, 2010) (Charitable Gifts Litigation)
  11. United States v. Guyton, Jr., 2010 WL 1172428 (11th Cir. March 26, 2010) (Personal representative’s liability for decedent’s unpaid income taxes)
  12. Hall v. Maal, — So.3d —-, 2010 WL 1212794 (Fla. 1st DCA March 30, 2010) (No common-law marriage in Florida)
  13. Hill v. Davis, — So.3d —-, 2010 WL 1347314 (Fla. 1st DCA March 31, 2010) (Limitations period; objecting to Personal Representative’s appointment)
  14. Baillargeon v. Sewell, — So.3d —-, 2010 WL 1727842 (Fla. 2d DCA Apr 30, 2010) (No class-action claims in probate proceedings)
  15. Miller v. Kresser, — So.3d —-, 2010 WL 1779899 (Fla. 4th DCA May 05, 2010) (Spendthrift trust creditor protection)
  16. Bessard v. Bessard, — So.3d —-, 2010 WL 1875627 (Fla. 3d DCA May 12, 2010) (Statutory attorney’s fees in Power of Attorney litigation)
  17. Yawt v. Carlisle, — So.3d —-, 2010 WL 1879697 (Fla. 4th DCA May 12, 2010) (Raising new claims in Trust Litigation)
  18. Fernandez v. Guardianship of Fernandez, — So.3d —-, 2010 WL 2178831(Fla. 3d DCA Jun 02, 2010) (How to conduct guardianship trials)
  19. Timmons v. Ingraham, — So.3d —-, 2010 WL 2217637 (Fla. 5th DCA Jun 04, 2010) (Step children are NOT lineal descendants under FL law)
  20. Townsend v. Morton, — So.3d —-, 2010 WL 2218327 (Fla. 5th DCA Jun 04, 2010) (Rescinding fraudulently obtained deeds)
  21. Olmstead v. F.T.C., — So.3d —-, 2010 WL 2518106 (Fla. Jun 24, 2010) (Asset protection and single-member LLCs)
  22. Brennan v. Estate of Brennan, — So.3d —-, 2010 WL 2866987 (Fla. 5th DCA Jul 23, 2010) (Litigating lost wills)
  23. Magill v. Dresner, — So.3d —-, 2010 WL 3025111 (Fla. 3d DCA Aug 04, 2010) (Judicial deference to pre-need designation of guardian)
  24. Price v. Austin, — So.3d —-, 2010 WL 3120212 (Fla. 1st DCA Aug 10, 2010) (Deadlines for attorney’s fee motions in guardianship litigation)
  25. Covenant Trust Co. v. Guardianship of Ihrman, — So.3d —-, 2010 WL 3564731 (Fla. 4th DCA Sep 15, 2010) (Jurisdiction over foreign trusts; cutting off trustee fees without evidence; forcing trustee to pay guardianship fees)
  26. O’Brien v. McMahon, — So.3d —-, 2010 WL 3909644 (Fla. 1st DCA Oct 07, 2010) (Litigating insurance policy beneficiary designation forms)
  27. Piloto v. Lauria, — So.3d —-, 2010 WL 4103017 (Fla. 4th DCA Oct 20, 2010) (Venezuelan spouse as PR in Florida)
  28. Sowden v. Brea, — So.3d —-, 2010 WL 4135857 (Fla. 5th DCA Oct 22, 2010) (personal jurisdiction by consent)
  29. Aronson v. Aronson, — So.3d —-, 2010 WL 4226204 (Fla. 3d DCA Oct 27, 2010) (Homestead held by trust; pre-judgment interest in trust litigation)
  30. Lorenzo v. Medina, — So.3d —-, 2010 WL 4483470 (Fla. 3d DCA Nov 10, 2010) (Lapsed Gifts; Will Construction)
  31. Beane v. Suntrust Banks, Inc., — So.3d —-, 2010 WL 4483472 (Fla. 4th DCA Nov 10, 2010) (Totten Trusts and Powers of Attorney)
  32. In re Miller, — B.R. —-, 2010 WL 5184798 (Bkrtcy.S.D.Fla.2010) (Bankruptcy vs. Elective Share/Inheritance Rights)
  33. Rossen v. Bilchik, — So.3d —-, 2010 WL 4628288 (Fla. 4th DCA Nov 17, 2010) (Fines; Failure to File Will)
  34. Johnson v. Amritt, — So.3d —-, 2010 WL 4861745 (Fla. 3d DCA Dec 01, 2010) (Attorneys Fees; Required Detailed Orders)
  35. Bennett v. Berges, — So.3d —-, 2010 WL 4961803 (Fla. 4 Dist. Dec 08, 2010) (Fees for Fees litigation; specificity of findings)
  36. Stalley v. Williford, — So.3d —-, 2010 WL 4967982 (Fla. 2 Dist. Dec 08, 2010) (Personal Representative order of priority)