Monday, January 21, 2013

Avoiding Florida Probate - Do I have to include my spouse's name on my vehicle title to avoid probate in Florida?

No, but joint tenancy will avoid a trip to the Department of Vehicles.  Florida law provides that two motor vehicles held in decedent's name and regularly used by the decedent or immediate family for personal use are considered "exempt assets"... and not subject to general creditors of decedent (excluding liens).



732.402. Exempt property
(1) If a decedent was domiciled in this state at the time of death, the surviving spouse, or, if there is no surviving spouse, the children of the decedent shall have the right to a share of the estate of the decedent as provided in this section, to be designated “exempt property.”
(2) Exempt property shall consist of:
(a) Household furniture, furnishings, and appliances in the decedent's usual place of abode up to a net value of $20,000 as of the date of death.
(b) Two motor vehicles as defined in s. 316.003(21), which do not, individually as to either such motor vehicle, have a gross vehicle weight in excess of 15,000 pounds, held in the decedent's name and regularly used by the decedent or members of the decedent's immediate family as their personal motor vehicles.

Veteran Benefits: New VA Healthcare Center Opens in Cape Coral Florida

The new healthcare facility opened in December, 2012 offering our veterans a variety of health services in a state of the art building.

Here is some information from the VA website: www.baypines.va.gov


Lee County VA Healthcare Center, Cape Coral, FL

 

Features

  • Services Available:
    • Primary Care
    • Mental Healthcare
      • Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
      • Substance Abuse counseling, Intensive Outpatient Program, and Recovery Program
      • General mental health counseling
      • Sexual Trauma Recovery
    • Women’s Healthcare
    • Ambulatory Surgery
    • Audiology
    • Cardiology and EKGs/Echocardiograms
    • Compensation and Pension Examinations in cooperation with the Veterans Benefits Administration
    • Coumadin Clinic
    • Dental
    • Dermatology
    • Eye Care
      • Blind Rehabilitation Outpatient Services (BROS) for the Visually Impaired
      • Low Vision Clinic Compensation
      • Optometry
      • Surgery including laser eye surgery
    • Gastroenterology
    • Home and Community Care (Clinic Based Home Care, Community Homeless Veteran Services and Outreach, Nursing Home, Community Hospice)
    • Imaging
      • X-ray
      • Ultrasound
    • Neurology/EEGs
    • Nuclear Imaging (standard and cardiovascular diagnostics)
    • Nutrition Counseling/Weight Management
    • Orthopedics
    • Pharmacist Consultation and Medication pick up
    • Phlebotomy (blood draws and specimen collection)
    • Podiatry
    • Prosthetics
    • Tobacco Cessation Program
    • Social Work
    • Spinal Cord Injury
    • Urology
    • Referrals to Specialty Care at Bay Pines VA Medical Center
  • Prescriptions: Routine prescriptions processed through the mail or My HealtheVet.
  • Handicapped Accessible: full and easy access for veterans

Driving Directions

Traveling North on I-75:
  • Take exit 143 for FL-78 W
  • Turn left onto Bayshore Rd
  • Continue onto FL-78 W/Pine Island Rd
  • Turn right onto Corbett Rd
  • Take the 1st right onto Diplomat Pkwy E
  • Destination will be on the right
Traveling South on I-75:
  • Take exit 158 toward Cape Coral/N Ft Myers
  • Merge onto Tuckers Grade Blvd
  • Slight left onto Tuckers Grade
  • Turn left onto FL-45 S/U.S. 41 S/Tamiami Trail
  • Continue to follow FL-45 S/U.S. 41 S
  • Turn right onto Diplomat Pkwy E
  • Destination will be on the right

Parking

  • Free on premises

Facility

The Lee County VA Healthcare Center officially opened in December 2012. It replaced the VA Outpatient Clinic previously located in Fort Myers, Fla. VA health care services have been available in Lee County, Fla. since 1979. To learn more about the history of this facility, click here.

Special features of Lee County VA Healthcare Center include:
  • Open floor plan with significant natural lighting
  • Energy efficient building management equipment
  • Enhanced communication to include video conferencing and Telehealth
  • Coffee Bistro for patients, family, and staff