Homestead, Sweet Homestead

Home is where the Homestead is, where that sweet tax break allows you to live comfortably for years without the constant tap of exponentially increasing property taxes on your door.  However, blended families can create a unique risk to homestead exemption.  

Here’s the story of a lovely lady, who was bringing up three very lovely girls.  

She owned her home on a quiet circle, with lots of birds and squirrels.  

It’s the story of a man named Grady, who was busy with three boys of his own.  

He had a rental place, it was in shambles, through which the wind would moan.  

Till the one day when this lady wed this fellow, and the four guys moved into the lady’s home.  

They were happy there with her tax exemption, and in a great school zone.

Then the one day when the lady met her Maker, she left her three girls to her husband with the house,

But Mr. Grady failed to adopt her lovely children, he lost the homestead, although he was her spouse.  

A Ladybird Deed could have fixed this.  

Attention blended families:  Before you cross-stitch “Homestead, Sweet Homestead” into your couch cushion, protect the tax exemption with a Ladybird Deed.  A Ladybird Deed gives a life estate to the living spouse, and allows the homestead tax exemption to continue uninterrupted.  

From "Land Title Talk" Podcast, November 6, 2025