Florida is one of a handful of US states that does not charge an income tax. Local governments however do receive revenue from property taxes that are charged each year to property owners throughout the state. Commercial and residential property owners may file property tax appeals if they disagree with the amount that they are…
Many Florida-based planned communities were started with a Homeowners Association already in place. However, a number of existing neighborhoods in the State of Florida have not yet formed an HOA to govern their communities. In such cases, a group of residents may take it upon themselves to launch an HOA. Doing so requires a degree…
The State of Florida has regulations in place to protect the rights of homeowners who use renewable energy practices and install solar panels and other renewable energy hardware. While homeowner associations (HOAs) define the aesthetic of their neighborhoods with rules on what improvements can be made, they have limited leeway in restricting residents’ rights to…
Many associations in the state of Florida manage their properties by hiring a property management company. A property management company is a third-party entity that is contracted to handle the day-to-day operations of a real estate asset. Whether or not to hire a property management company depends on a number of factors that includes the…
The Homeowner’s Association (HOA) or Condo Association is the governing administration of a housing or condominium community. The vast majority of new developments and nearly every condo or townhome development in the State of Florida has an HOA board that is made up of volunteer homeowners. There are some basics that all residents who are…
Franchising occurs when one company (the franchisee) gains the rights to use the brands and business model of another company (the franchisor) for a fixed period of time for an agreed fee. The name of the business that is formed by the franchisee is called a franchise. For the franchisor, the franchise is a way…
When you think of estate planning is the only thing that comes to mind how your money will be distributed after you pass? If so, think again. An estate plan outlines how the legacy you leave behind should be allocated and cared for after you are no longer there to manage it. While your financial…
In Florida, filing a construction bid protest is a regulated process. Competitive bidding is statutorily mandated so as to ensure the best interests of the public. The Administrative Procedure Act (APA) of 1961, codified as Florida Statutes Ch. 120 is the state’s main mechanism to ensure visibility and accountability in the public procurement process. The…
Homeowners associations (HOAs) and condo associations, from time to time, end up in potential legal conflicts with their residents. These HOA or condo association disputes are often resolvable through means other than going to court. While residents may represent themselves in these disputes there are distinct advantages to hiring an attorney experienced in handling similar…
Starting and running a Florida nonprofit can be document-intensive. From the beginning, documents are required that define the scope and mission of the organization as well as the rules by which the organization is run. Later, once regular operations are underway, other documents could be created that govern the non-profit’s relationship with its beneficiaries, volunteers…
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