Do I need a new will when I move to Florida?

A Florida will is signed by the person at the end, in front of two witnesses who sign in front of the person and of each other, and it can be made self-proved before an officer who can give oaths, so the witnesses need not be found later. The Florida Bar suggests having a will reviewed by a Florida lawyer.

A Florida homestead has its own rules. If the owner leaves a spouse or a minor child, the home cannot be left by will to anyone else, except that it may go to the spouse when there is no minor child. If it is not left by will, the spouse gets a life estate and the descendants get the home after, unless the spouse chooses, within 6 months of the death, to take an undivided half instead. The surviving spouse of someone who dies living in Florida also has a right to an elective share, 30 percent of the elective estate.

A power of attorney signed in Florida needs the person's signature, two witnesses and a notary; one signed in another state is valid here if it followed that state's law, though, the Florida Bar says, its use is then subject to Florida's Power of Attorney Act. A health care surrogate form and a living will are each signed in front of two adult witnesses, at least one of whom is neither the spouse nor a blood relative, and a directive made in another state under its law is valid in Florida.

Where to go from here.