Big Question: Can your practice survive if you suddenly die or become incapacitated?
Recently, a highly respected physician suddenly died owning 100% of his practice in a Professional Association. No other person was listed on Florida’s Sunbiz.org as an officer. Payroll was paid on a weekly basis. Even though the Professional Association had been assigned to the doctor’s living trust, the bank (a large Florida bank) refused to give the successor trustee access to the Professional Association’s bank accounts citing F.S. 621.06, 621.09 and 621.11.
The statutes cited limit ownership of a P.A. to a licensed professional. We contend the Bank’s interpretation is overly narrow because no court has held that transfer of any interest to a living revocable trust is a transfer of beneficial interest. A living revocable trust is essentially the settlor. Although we believe the bank’s interpretation of these statutes is wrong it is not worth fighting the bank. The bank holds all the valuable cards: the King, the Ace and of course all the money.