[FL] How do I transfer title of my aunt’s mobile home?
My 91-year-old aunt and her domestic partner own a mobile home in Cape Canaveral, Florida. They both agreed that when they could no longer care for themselves, they wanted a friend to have the house. My aunt moved to Dallas and passed away six months later. Her partner is still in Florida in an assisted living facility. I am the power of attorney for my aunt and the sole beneficiary of her estate under her will. How do I get the mobile home title and registration in their friend’s name?
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Since your aunt’s will leaves everything to you and does not mention the friend, legally, the mobile home is part of her estate and passes to you. Verbal wishes don’t override a valid will (§ 732.502). Even if the partner signs a statement, he doesn’t own your aunt’s half to give away. Because the home is valued at about $10,000, you may be able to use Florida’s simplified probate (“summary administration”). Once the mobile home is formally transferred to you, you can then transfer it to the friend.
Contact the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles or the local county tax collector. Provide the VIN or identifying info, and they can tell you exactly whose names are on the title and registration.
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My 91-year-old aunt and her domestic partner own a mobile home in Cape Canaveral, Florida. They both agreed that when they could no longer care for themselves, they wanted a friend to have the house. My aunt moved to Dallas and passed away six months later. Her partner is still in Florida in an assisted living facility. I am the power of attorney for my aunt and the sole beneficiary of her estate under her will. How do I get the mobile home title and registration in their friend’s name?
Lexi, Chatbot
I’m sorry to hear about your aunt. Have you located the title and registration documents for the mobile home?
I have a copy of the registration that has my name and her name on it as owners. She told me she took my name off and put his on, since he was living there. I don’t know if she actually got it changed.
Lexi, Chatbot
Do you have a copy of the will that specifies the friend as recipient?
The will does not specify the friend. It says all her property comes to me. But both she and her partner told me (and his brother) that they wanted their friend to have it.
Lexi, Chatbot
Anything else the lawyer should know?
How much will this cost me?
TJ, Esq.
Hi, I’m TJ, an attorney. Since your aunt’s will leaves everything to you and does not mention the friend, legally the mobile home is part of her estate and passes to you. Verbal wishes don’t override a valid will. Even if the partner signs a statement, he doesn’t own your aunt’s half to give away. Because the home is valued at about $10,000, you may be able to use Florida’s simplified probate (“summary administration”). Once the mobile home is formally transferred to you, you can then transfer it to the friend.
Hello.
TJ, Esq.
Since your aunt’s will leaves everything to you and does not mention the friend, legally, the mobile home is part of her estate and passes to you. Verbal wishes don’t override a valid will (§ 732.502). Even if the partner signs a statement, he doesn’t own your aunt’s half to give away. Because the home is valued at about $10,000, you may be able to use Florida’s simplified probate (“summary administration”). Once the mobile home is formally transferred to you, you can then transfer it to the friend.
Contact the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles or the local county tax collector. Provide the VIN or identifying info, and they can tell you exactly whose names are on the title and registration.
If it’s in my name and my aunt’s name, what do I need to do to get it changed to the friend’s name?
TJ, Esq.
You’ll still need to probate your aunt’s half, since her will left everything to you. Once her half is legally transferred to you, you’d then sign the title over to the friend and submit it to the DMV/tax collector with the required forms and fees.
How do I go through probate?
TJ, Esq.
With summary administration, you file a Petition for Summary Administration with the probate court in the Florida county where your aunt lived. The petition lists her death, her assets (like the mobile home), and that you inherit under the will. If approved, the court issues an Order of Summary Administration, which legally transfers her interest to you. You then use that order to retitle the home at the DMV.
The mobile home is in a park and the land is leased. Do I talk to an attorney in Texas or do you handle this?
TJ, Esq.
This platform is for information only—I can’t represent you. You’ll need a Florida probate attorney to help file.
My aunt also has assets in Indiana. Do I need to file there too?
TJ, Esq.
Yes, that would be ancillary probate. Florida handles the main estate, but Indiana requires probate for assets located there. Indiana has simplified processes for small estates, depending on the type and value of property.
How do I open a probate case?
TJ, Esq.
You file the petition in probate court where your aunt lived (in Florida, and also in Indiana if needed). The court reviews it, and if it qualifies as a small estate, issues an order transferring the property.
Can I get a copy of our discussion?
TJ, Esq.
You’d need to ask customer service for a transcript—I can’t provide that directly. Thanks.
TJ, Esq.
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