Is Homestead Owned by a Trust Still Protected?
Generally speaking, the Florida consitution protects homestead property owned by a natural person. But, what happens if a person deeded their homestead to their living trust, and as a result the legal title is held in the name of the trustee for the trust. In the case of Callava v. Feinberg, the Second District Court of Appeals held in October 2003, that homestead protection for creditors applies even if a person's primary residence is titled in the name of the trustee of a trust, The court stated
" The constitutional provision "does not designate how title to the property is to be held and it does not limit the estate that must be owned...." Southern Walls, Inc. v. Stilwell Corp., 810 So.2d 566, 569 (Fla. 5th DCA 2002). "[T]he individual claiming homestead exemption need not hold fee simple title to the property." Id. (citing Bessemer Props., Inc. v. Gamble, 158 Fla. 38, 27 So.2d 832 (1946)). See also HCA Gulf Coast Hospital v. Estate of Downing, 594 So.2d 774, 776 (Fla. 1st DCA 1991)(beneficiary of spendthrift trust entitled to claim homestead exemption as to trust property). Thus, even if Callava owns only a beneficial interest in the property, she is entitled to claim a homestead exemption to the forced sale of the property and the trial court erred in foreclosing her interest in the property."
Based on this decision a Florida resident's homestead property is still protected from creditors after the person conveys legal title to a living trust or any other trust as long as the resident retains a beneficial interest
