Lady Bird Deed for DeSoto County, Florida

In Florida, a Lady Bird deed is recognized by the state bar's title standards: the owner keeps a life estate and the power to sell or convey the property without the grantee and revoke or revise the deed. In DeSoto County, the Clerk of the Circuit Court records it for $10 for the first page plus $8.5 for each additional page.

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The owner of the property, named as on the current deed. Florida recognizes the deed through the state bar's title standards (Fla. Unif. Title Std. 6.10 (RPPTL Section of The Florida Bar).

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Yes. Florida recognizes the deed by the state bar's title standards, under the name “enhanced life estate”. The owner conveys the property now while keeping a life estate and the power to convey the whole during life, so the grantee's remainder follows the owner's death only if the owner has not conveyed the property.

A life estate in the property and the power to sell or convey the property without the grantee and revoke or revise the deed, in the words of the authority that recognizes the deed. The grantee's consent is not needed for an exercise of the reserved powers. Changing it later: A conveyance by the life tenant that clearly states the intent to divest the remainderman, where the deed creating the enhanced life estate reserved the power to divest (Standards 6.10 and 6.11, Comments). During the owner's life the grantee holds a vested remainder interest subject to divestment.

The deed is signed in the presence of 2 subscribing witnesses and acknowledged before a notary public or other authorized officer. It is recorded with the clerk of the circuit court. Recording is what makes the deed effective against purchasers and creditors. A married owner's spouse joins a deed of homestead property.

The deed is subject to the transfer tax on recording. The county recording office collects its recording fee per page in every case; the prepared packet prints the office's fee schedule.

At the owner's death, if the property was not conveyed during life, the grantee holds it in fee simple, free of the life estate. No court proceeding is named in the authority that recognizes the deed; the land records show the owner's deed and, where the state uses one, a recorded affidavit of the owner's death.

Recording a Lady Bird Deed in DeSoto County

A Lady Bird deed for DeSoto County property is recorded with the Clerk of the Circuit Court at 115 East Oak Street, Room 101, Arcadia, FL 34266. Phone: 1-863-993-4876. Hours: Monday-Friday 8:30 AM-noon and 1:00 PM-4:30 PM.

Recording costs $10 for the first page plus $8.5 for each additional page; a 2-page deed records for $18.5. Page count, cover sheets, and any local transfer-tax add-ons can change the final amount, so confirm the total with the Clerk of the Circuit Court before submitting.

In Florida, the deed is signed in the presence of 2 subscribing witnesses and acknowledged before a notary public or other authorized officer. Recording is what makes the deed effective against purchasers and creditors. On recording, the deed is subject to the transfer tax on recording. A married owner's spouse joins a deed of homestead property.

Legal Sources

(7)·Updated October 23, 2026

SimplyTrust Editorial

Fla. Unif. Title Std. 6.10 (RPPTL Section of The Florida Bar; June 2019 text, 2024.09.04 compilation)
Fla. Stat. 28.24(13), (13)(c), (13)(d), (13)(e); Fla. Stat. 201.02(1)(a)
Fla. Const. art. X, § 4(c)
Fla. Stat. § 201.02(1)(a) (2026)
Fla. Stat. § 689.01(1) (2026); § 695.03 (2026)
Fla. Stat. § 695.01(1) (2026)
desotoclerk.com

Data sourced from Florida statutes and official state code and Clerk of the Circuit Court primary sources (2 pages reviewed). How we research.

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Lady Bird Deed for DeSoto County, Florida

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Lady Bird Deed for DeSoto County, Florida

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