Jody Strauss

Attorney Jody Strauss has spent her 14-year career in law assisting clients with Probate Administration, Estates and Trusts Litigation, and Trust Administration.

As an Associate with Elder Needs Law, Jody enjoys leveraging her experience helping families plan for their future.

Jody earned her Bachelors and Masters Degrees in Accounting from the University of Florida and her Juris Doctorate and LL.M. in Taxation from the University of Florida.

Jody is also a Certified Public Accountant.

University of Florida Levin College of Law

LL.M. (2008) | Taxation

University of Florida Levin College of Law

J.D. (2007) | Law

Lawyer

Elder Needs Law

Current

Certified Public Accountant

Florida Board of Accountancy

Florida Bar  # 41648

Member

2007 - Current

Florida

The Florida Bar

ID Number: 41648

Since 2007

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Q. Do you have to file a will in Fl? Everything is left to the husband/wife. House & car is paid off.

March 23, 2022

A: It really depends on how assets are titled. As an example, if the husband and wife co-own the house as Tenants-by-the-Entirety OR Joint Tenants with Rights of Survivorship, then when one passes away, title automatically passes to the surviving spouse (i.e. no need to probate the house).

If all financial accounts, life insurance policies, are either jointly owned or list the surviving spouse as the "pay on death beneficiary" - then those accounts would also automatically pass to the surviving spouse (i.e. no need to probate those appropriately named financial accounts).

But if any asset is only owned by the deceased spouse (without a co-owner or POD beneficiary listed) then a probate WOULD be necessary and the Will would need to be filed with the probate court. ... Read More