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Florida Real Estate Law Questions & Answers
1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning, Real Estate Law and Probate for Florida on
Q: Can a beneficiary (NOT a court-appointed PR) be reimbursed for estate related expenses?

I was named the PR/executor in deceased's will. Will was submitted to the court. Formal probate was initiated, but then before I was named PR, it was converted to summary administration (there is no court-appointed PR in summary administration) because the only asset needing probate was the... View More

Lauren Nagel Richardson
Lauren Nagel Richardson
answered on Feb 1, 2024

I often have this conversation with clients after summary administration. In your situation, your last opportunity for reimbursement of estate related and real estate related expenses is at the time of the real estate closing. You are going to want to provide proof of payment of these expenses to... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Criminal Law and Real Estate Law for Florida on
Q: In Fl, how can criminal charges be brought for embezzlement & theft against those HOA board members involved?

After at least 6 yrs of HOA board profitting from community funds, illegal property sales, etc, significant, indisputable evidence has been compiled confirming these activities. How do we go about getting criminal charges brought against those involved, before they bankrupt us or take over our... View More

James L. Arrasmith
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answered on Feb 1, 2024

To initiate criminal charges against HOA board members for embezzlement and theft in Florida, you should follow these steps:

Gather Evidence: Ensure you have significant, well-documented evidence of the alleged criminal activities. This may include financial records, contracts, emails, or...
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2 Answers | Asked in Foreclosure, Real Estate Law and Probate for Florida on
Q: How do I go about assuming the mortgage of my deceased Uncle's home, which is in foreclosure.

I received a Summons as a party with possible interest in the estate of my deceased Uncle, in the state of Florida. He died intestate. His home is in foreclosure and was a reverse mortgage. I have inquired as to the balance due but haven't received an answer yet. My questions are: Can I... View More

Terrence H Thorgaard
Terrence H Thorgaard
answered on Jan 29, 2024

You can bring the mortgage current, but you wouldn't necessarily have clear title unless you institute a probate case and get the court to find that you are the heir pursuant to the intestacy statutes. Alternatively, you could seek financing if necessary and purchase the property at the... View More

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1 Answer | Asked in Civil Litigation, Real Estate Law and Landlord - Tenant for Florida on
Q: I am a property owner of a 4-plex in which a rental co has long term lease for all units.

Can I trespass their maintenance worker/gardener if they are defacing my property during the course of their work. Example, spray painting on building where they want tenants to place trashcans, even after they have been told by property owner that they will be placed somewhere else.

Terrence H Thorgaard
Terrence H Thorgaard
answered on Jan 28, 2024

Depends on what you mean by "trespass". You probably can get away with peaceably confronting the worker and notifying them that you are the owner and that they are not to deface your property. Follow it up with a mailed notice to the lessee, perhaps from your attorney.

1 Answer | Asked in Real Estate Law and Probate for Florida on
Q: Explain Florida Statutory Warranty Deed, purchased by a single childless man sold to grantee and “his heirs” and assigns

The elective inclusion of “Heirs,”included in sale and assignment forever:

1. What type of ownership does this deed provide and to whom?

2. Ownership interest in home, at sale, and upon grantee’s death? Does title pass to heir automatically? Etcetera??

3. If this... View More

Terrence H Thorgaard
Terrence H Thorgaard
answered on Jan 26, 2024

1. Title is in the grantee (the "single childless man").

2. No, heirs would be whoever he sells ("assigns") it to, or, if he still owns it at the time of his death, whoever is named in his will or to whoever would inherit under the "intestacy" laws, if he...
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1 Answer | Asked in Real Estate Law and Gov & Administrative Law for Florida on
Q: Where can I find in the Florida Statues a copy of my mobile home parks bylaws as recorded in Pasco county , Florida?
Barbara Billiot Stage
Barbara Billiot Stage
answered on Jan 24, 2024

It depends on how your mobile home park is organized. If you have a mandatory HOA (you own the lot and the home), then it would be in Fla. Stat. 720.303(1). If you rent the lot and have a voluntary HOA pursuant to Chapter 723 Florida Statutes, the park owner is not required to record the bylaws... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Real Estate Law for Florida on
Q: I recently purchased 10 acres, now the surveyor is telling me that it is probably 3 or so. What legal rights do I have?

The purchase was 10+/- acres. Looked at the property with the realtor and looked at pictures and information they gave me. Purchased the property, received the deed, and started the survey and the survey shows about 3.5 this was 2 plots, now just 1. What do I do? What are my legal rights?

Jane Kim
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answered on Jan 22, 2024

It depends how you acquired title by way of what type of a deed?

Did you do a title search prior to closing? It does not sound like it. That means you acquired the property through a quitclaim deed. You may have claims against both the seller and the realtor.

Good luck

2 Answers | Asked in Contracts and Real Estate Law for Florida on
Q: In Florida, what is the legal definition of a gated community?

We have a front gate but a big section of our community does not have a barrier separating it from surrounding areas. We are trying to figure out whether or not it was false advertising and the builder is responsible for providing the additional barrier needed to gate in the full community or if... View More

Jane Kim
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answered on Jan 21, 2024

There is no specific definition about that. You may want to review your PUD (Planned Unit Development) documents filed with the county and your HOA governing documents, to determine if the final community reflects the governing documents.

It also depends what you are trying to get at...
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2 Answers | Asked in Real Estate Law and Elder Law for Florida on
Q: Folks got locked out of their rental. How do I get the realtor to let them back in? Says HOA did not approve app.

My folks 87 & 89 sold their house moved into a condo, rent until close. Now realtor is kicking them out & changed locks. They have 2 cats that’s the HOA does not allow but they were not aware when they made the deal and the HOA will not approve their rental application. They paid 1 month... View More

Lauren Nagel Richardson
Lauren Nagel Richardson
answered on Jan 21, 2024

This is more of a real estate or a landlord tenant question than an elder law question. I would suggest that you choose one of those categories are resubmit your question.

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1 Answer | Asked in Landlord - Tenant and Real Estate Law for Florida on
Q: in Florida do both husband and wife need to own a mobile home to have privileges as owners on leased land?

The husband and wife buyers were both approve by the park. The couple chose to put the mobile home in the wifes name. They have not signed the lease yet.

James L. Arrasmith
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answered on Jan 21, 2024

According to Florida law, it is not strictly necessary for both spouses to be named on the title to a mobile home or be co-signers of a land lease in order to have rights and privileges associated with the property. Some key points:

• Florida recognizes rights of a spouse with regards to...
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1 Answer | Asked in Banking, Foreclosure and Real Estate Law for Florida on
Q: during my loan transfer I got a collection agency sent to my door when I wasn’t even late on my payment.

I think my my mortgage company is not acting legally. I was transferred this year and I was never late on a payment. During the transfer period my previous mortgage company never sent me the info that I was being transferred. This being the case I delayed my payment until I got confirmation from... View More

James L. Arrasmith
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answered on Feb 5, 2024

Based on the facts you have described here, it does seem there could be some concerning practices by your mortgage company and the collection agency they sent. A few key points:

- Under Florida law, mortgage lenders cannot initiate foreclosure proceedings until a mortgage is over 90 days...
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1 Answer | Asked in Real Estate Law, Estate Planning and Probate for Florida on
Q: Can an executor and beneficiary of a will sell an asset (house) of the will and receive 3% commission on the sale?

Seems like a conflict of interest.

Phillip William Gunthert
Phillip William Gunthert
answered on Jan 6, 2024

An Executor (called Personal Representative in Florida), is entitled to 3% of the estate value for their role, if they are a real estate agent and it is agreed that they get 3% in that role, that would likely be fine as well. The real issue is that the property may or may not be qualified as part... View More

2 Answers | Asked in Estate Planning, Probate and Real Estate Law for Florida on
Q: Hello, I need legal aid, my name and a few other family members name is on a home that was left to us by an uncle.

Hello, I need legal aid, my name and a few other family members name is on a home that was left to us by an uncle, who died and left his home and property to his brothers children, myself and my two sisters name is on the home because my mother who is now deceased was and heir(one of his nieces),... View More

Nicole Deese Newlon
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answered on Jan 5, 2024

A list of legal aid providers can be found here: https://www.flcourts.gov/Resources-Services/Office-of-Family-Courts/Self-Help-Information/Legal-Aid. If you are in Orange County, you are served by Community Legal Services of Mid-Florida, Inc.

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2 Answers | Asked in Real Estate Law for Florida on
Q: What type of legal counsel do I need for undisclosed issues and multiple things missed by home inspectors in a home?

Rotten support beam in roof, rusted in half drainpipe drywalled over, toilets installed incorrectly, large rotten area on wall under kitchen sink (water damage), things that were required to be fixed during first inspection that were not fixed and then ignored or just not inspected again even... View More

Jane Kim
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answered on Jan 4, 2024

Inspection agreements usually have disclaimers that they are not responsible for anything. However, these disclaimers do not hold up in court and there are other causes of action you can assert without suing them under the agreement.

Some known home defects or issues must be disclosed by...
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1 Answer | Asked in Real Estate Law and Landlord - Tenant for Florida on
Q: new home, owner wants me to pay for the water of the new sod.
Barbara Billiot Stage
Barbara Billiot Stage
answered on Jan 8, 2024

Is there a question? Generally, unless there is language stating the landlord is responsible for watering the grass, the tenant is responsible for this.

1 Answer | Asked in Contracts, Real Estate Law, Arbitration / Mediation Law and Landlord - Tenant for Florida on
Q: ASSISTED LIVING FACILITY- annual increase amount notice received. no mention of re-categorize unit and charge more money

my father lives in an assisted living for 2+ years. The resident agreement states they can raise the rent annually and also make a cost of living adjustment annually. In addition, they can raise the rates on the nursing services. Written notice 30 days prior. We received a notice on 12/1/2023 that... View More

Tim Akpinar
Tim Akpinar
answered on Jan 16, 2024

A Florida attorney could advise best, but your question remains open for two weeks. A starting point could be to make another request for an explanation. If you contemplate disputing, you could check the agreement/contract as to any provisions for the resolution of disputes (arbitration, courts of... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Real Estate Law for Florida on
Q: My neighbor has a tree that is leaning and about to fall onto my house. I send her a certified letter and asked her to

seek an arborist and a professional tree trimmer. Of course I just received a letter from her attorney. They stated that in Florida the homeowner( or tree owner) is not responsible for any damage. They cited Scott v McCarty, 41So.3d 989 and Gallo v Heller 512 So2nd. Could you please verify this for... View More

Terrence H Thorgaard
Terrence H Thorgaard
answered on Jan 2, 2024

Those cases, from 2010 and 1987 respectively do rule that trees growing on a landowner's property are not nuisances justifying injunctive relief or damages. They state that what an adjoining landowner such as you should do is to trim the trees at your own expense.

You might want to...
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2 Answers | Asked in Probate and Real Estate Law for Florida on
Q: I am living in a gated 55 plus community where I was willed the estate a 74 year old man whom I was his live in caretake

Live in caretaker, although I'm 41, the mobile home park knew I was there for 2 years, they accepted my first lot payment, refused my 2 nd one which I have proof I tried to pay it. Then through Atlas law group out of Tampa they served me an eviction letter and for a month straight I was... View More

Terrence H Thorgaard
Terrence H Thorgaard
answered on Jan 2, 2024

If he left the property to you in his last will and testament, you don't need additional notarized document to that effect., because the will itself should have been notarized. A will doesn't take effect automatically; you should talk to an attorney about applying to the courts to have... View More

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1 Answer | Asked in Real Estate Law and Tax Law for Florida on
Q: How can the states claim authority to assess ad valorem taxes based on federal reserve notes? USC Title 31 section 742

USC Title 31 section 742 states “Except as otherwise provided by law all stocks, bonds treasury notes and other obligations of the United States Government shall be exempt from the state, local, and municipal authority. This exemption extends to every form of taxation that would require that... View More

James L. Arrasmith
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answered on Jan 3, 2024

The authority of states and municipalities to levy ad valorem taxes, which are based on the value of property, is not directly related to the provisions you mentioned in USC Title 31 Section 742 or Title 12 Section 411. These sections refer to the tax-exempt status of obligations of the U.S.... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Land Use & Zoning and Real Estate Law for Florida on
Q: Is it legal for a resort to lock us out from using our parking lot

We've had access to are parking lot for over 50 years then a resort came in and put up a gate that we use to enter our parking lot and they put a padlock on it to keep us locked out from accessing it,is that legal

It is the only way into our parking lot is through access off a main... View More

Charles M.  Baron
Charles M. Baron
answered on Jan 1, 2024

Best to schedule a consultation with a attorney handling real estate disputes, as there are a few issues to be examined, such as: Was the former owner's permission formalized into a recorded easement? (An easement is a permitted through-way of someone else's land.) If no recorded... View More

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