When a Will Isn’t Enough: A Florida Estate Planning Lesson from a Famous Ranch Dispute

Estate planning mistakes don’t just happen to everyday families—they happen to celebrities, too. And when they do, the consequences can be expensive, emotional, and very public.

A well-known dispute involving rock & roll legend Jerry Lee Lewis shows an important estate planning lesson that applies just as strongly here in Florida: your will can only control what you legally own.

Legal Ownership Always Comes First

In this case, the property at the center of the dispute was a ranch Lewis lived on for decades. While he believed it would eventually pass to his son—and even stated so in his will—the legal title told a different story.

Years earlier, the property had been transferred into someone else’s name. Even though Lewis continued living there, even though his family treated it as “his,” and even though his will attempted to leave it to his son, he did not legally own the property at the time of his death.

That single fact changed everything.

Under Florida law (and probate law generally), a will cannot transfer property the decedent does not own. Courts are bound by legal title—not promises, intentions, or verbal assurances.

Why This Matters in Florida Estate Planning

Florida sees many cases where:

• A parent deeds property to someone else for tax or liability reasons

• A family member is allowed to live in a home long-term without owning it

• A property is placed in another person’s name “temporarily”

• Someone assumes their will can fix ownership issues later

Unfortunately, once ownership is transferred, control is transferred too—unless specific legal tools are used.

Living on Property Is Not the Same as Owning It

Another key takeaway: Occupancy does not equal ownership.

Even if someone:

• Lived on the property for decades

• Paid expenses or maintained it

• Was told they would “get it one day”

None of that overrides the deed. In Florida probate court, judges look first to who holds legal title, not who expected to inherit it.

The Role of Powers of Appointment

One estate planning tool that can provide flexibility—when done correctly—is a power of appointment.

A power of appointment allows one person to decide, later on, who ultimately receives certain assets, even though they are not the original owner. This power must be clearly granted in a valid will or trust.

Without it, no one can redirect property they don’t own. This is why estate planning is not just about who you want to inherit—it’s about how assets are legally structured during your lifetime.

The Florida Estate Planning Lesson

The biggest lesson here is simple but critical: You can’t give away what you don’t legally own. In Florida, a strong estate plan means:

• Making sure assets are titled correctly

• Understanding the consequences of transferring ownership

• Using trusts and powers of appointment properly

• Ensuring your will matches your actual asset structure

When ownership and estate planning documents don’t align, families are often left with court battles—and outcomes no one intended.

Final Thought

Estate planning isn’t just about writing a will. It’s about making sure your legal reality matches your wishes. If something is important enough to pass on, it’s important enough to plan correctly.

For more information, contact our office at Askew & Associates, P.A. by calling 954-546-2699.

Disclaimer: this blog post is not intended to be legal advice. We highly recommend speaking to an attorney if you have any legal concerns.