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Date: 04-06-2019
Case Style:
MAERCKS V. MAERCKS
Case Number: 18-0458
Judge: Thomas W. Logue
Court: Third District Court of Appeal State of Florida
Plaintiff's Attorney: Elliot B. Kula, W. Aaron Daniel, and William D. Mueller
Defendant's Attorney: Sergio L. Mendez and Daniel J. Mendez
Description:
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This appeal arises from a probate matter. Decedent Nita Maercks executed a
will that was admitted to probate. She also executed another document regarding
the distribution of her assets. Appellee Arin B. Maercks, one of the three children
who are beneficiaries under the will and who is the personal representative,
petitioned to have the second document admitted to probate as a codicil even
though he had not included it initially. The trial court granted the motion and
admitted the document as a codicil. In its order doing so, the trial court stated:
By entering this Order, the Court does not make any rulings of fact or law, as it applies to the content of the [Codicil] . . . , the legal positions of the parties, or the effect of the Codicil on the Order entered in this case. Any such arguments will need to be further litigated by the parties. The Court simply rules on the admission of the Codicil which was executed on November 16, 2013, to probate.
(Emphases added). Rian A. Maercks, one of the three beneficiaries, timely
appealed. Appellee moved to dismiss the appeal for lack of jurisdiction.
Appellant contends we have jurisdiction under Florida Rule of Appellate
Procedure 9.170(b)(2), (12) & (13). This rule provides a non-exclusive list of
probate orders that are appealable because they “finally determine a right or
obligation of an interested person.” Rule 9.170(b).
At the outset, we note that the order under review does not “finally
determine a right or obligation of an interested person.” To the contrary, it
expressly states that it “simply rules on the admission of the Codicil.” In so doing,
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the order itself explicitly states that it “does not make any ruling of fact or law, as
it applies to the content of the Document . . . , the legal positions of the parties, or
the effect of the Codicil on the other Orders entered in this case.” Indeed, the Order
expressly contemplates additional judicial labor: it provides that such arguments or
issues “will need to be further litigated.” The Order, therefore, does not terminate
judicial labor or provide finality as to any issue or party in this case. See
Klingensmith v. Ferd & Gladys Alpert Jewish Family, 997 So. 2d 436 (Fla. 4th
DCA 2008); Dempsey v. Dempsey, 899 So. 2d 1272 (Fla. 2d DCA 2005).
Nevertheless, Appellant contends that we have jurisdiction because the
Order determines “a petition or motion to revoke probate of a will.” Fla. R. App. P.
9.170(b)(2). Notably, no such petition or motion was ever filed in the probate court
proceedings. And, the plain language contained in the Order clearly states that the
Order does not rule on other orders entered in the case.
Next, Appellant argues that we have jurisdiction because the Order
determines “an estate’s interest in any property.” Fla. R. App. P. 9.170(b)(12).
However, the Order merely admits the codicil to probate; the legal effect of which
will be determined after the parties further litigate the issues. It therefore cannot be
said to rule on any estate’s interest in any property.
Finally, Appellant submits that we have jurisdiction because the Order
determines “exempt property, family allowance, or the homestead status of real
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property.” Fla. R. App. P. 9.170(b)(13). Appellant claims that the Order has the
legal effect of determining a homestead status. Essentially, Appellant insists that
the Order undoes a previously entered order which determined the homestead
status of the home left by Decedent and converts that homestead to conform to the
time-sharing plan contained in the Codicil. But the Order plainly states that it does
not decide on such issues or overrule any other order entered in the case.
Outcome: Dismissed
Plaintiff's Experts:
Defendant's Experts:
Comments: