FL S1146

Creates section 732.703, Florida Statutes to void beneficiary designations naming a former spouse on certain assets if the decedent's marriage was judicially dissolved or declared invalid before death, with the interest passing as if the former spouse predeceased the decedent.

Applies to life insurance policies, annuities, employee benefit plans, individual retirement accounts, payable-on-death accounts, transfer-on-death securities, and similar tax-deferred contracts.

Provides exceptions when the designation is made after the dissolution or court order and expressly names the former spouse, when controlled by federal law, when irrevocable under applicable law, or when the decedent remarries the former spouse.

Shields payors from liability for distributing assets to beneficiaries based on the death certificate's marital status statement or upon delivery of a notarized affidavit by the beneficiary if the death certificate is silent on marital status.

Becomes effective July 1, 2012 and applies to all designations made by decedents dying on or after that date, regardless of when the designation was originally made.