What are the specific legal grounds for contesting a beneficiary designation in Florida?

July 24, 2026 – Daniel A. Seigel

In Florida, the legal grounds for contesting a beneficiary designation include undue influence, where someone exerts improper pressure on the account holder; lack of testamentary capacity, meaning the account holder was not mentally capable of making such decisions; fraud, where the designation was made based on false information; and duress, where the account holder was forced into making the designation against their will.

Establishing the will’s validity is important, and a judge will look for adequate grounds before allowing a challenge to proceed. Legal capacity is an important requirement for a valid will, as the person must have the mental soundness and legal ability to make such decisions. Contesting a will or trust in Fort Lauderdale, FL, requires proving legal grounds such as undue influence, lack of testamentary capacity, fraud, or improper execution. Florida case law, such as the Keul v. Hodges Blvd. Presbyterian Church case, provides precedent for these challenges.