Home, Home on the Range

While I'm still struggling to get my parents' estates settled, I hope I'm making progress in easing up the process for my own children when the time comes. In the process, I'm able to transfer some of what I'm hearing to my parents' situation. I'm also learning a few new things.

Here's the biggest thing I learned this week. Homestead exemption in Florida is not just about getting a break on one's real estate taxes each year. The Homestead exemption provides protection from creditors in all sorts of situations. Like... if I go into the hospital, an assisted living or into a skilled nursing facility, no one can come after my house. My heirs will still be able to inherit the house if it's been my primary residence and I have the Homestead exemption.


Of course there are some exceptions. If I don't pay my taxes, I can lose my house. If I mortgage my house, the mortgage holder can take back the house.

But homesteading protects my spouse and our heirs.

Florida's homestead exemption providing exemption from forced sale before and at death are among the most protective in the United States.