PRACTICE AREAS
ESTATE PLANNING & PROBATE ADMINISTRATION
We provide individuals and family advice on wills and trusts planning, lifetime gifting strategies, life insurance, philanthropic and charitable objectives, asset protection strategies and disability. Our firm can help draft important estate planning documents such as wills, trusts, livings wills, powers of attorney, and designations of health care surrogates, as well as pre-need guardians for adults and minor children.
We counsel and advise executors, administrators, trustees and guardians through the probate and estate administration process, such as collecting and inventorying decedent property, discovering and settling the debts of the decedent, and distributing the remaining assets to the beneficiaries.
BUSINESS/CORPORATE LAW (E.G., FORMATION, CORPORATE GOVERNANCE, CONTRACTS, M&A, ETC.)
We counsel clients in a wide array of corporate and business matters ranging from initial formation to any and all other issues a business entity could encounter, including corporate governance, contracts, real estate matters, general and regulatory law, labor and employment issues, and intellectual property disputes. Our corporate law practice is an all-encompassing speciality that deals with all legal matters related to conducting business.
*We also offer to serve as outsourced general counsel to local small businesses who may not have the resources to employ a full time attorney.
FAMILY LAW/DOMESTIC RELATIONS
Navigating family matters is often messy and very complicated, especially when children and financial issues are involved. Having a trusted legal advisor by your side when dealing with these important issues is critical.
Our family law/domestic relations practice includes:
Divorce
Divorce modification
Child custody
Child support
Contempt
Domestic violence (see below for more details)
Paternity
Adoption
Pre- and post-nuptial agreements
INJUNCTIONS (E.G., VIOLENCE, STALKING, ETC.)
An "injunction" is effectively a restraining order that prevents someone from doing something or from coming into contact with another person. These proceedings are specifically intended to provide a quick means for the protection for individuals. In Florida, there is NO FEE to file an injunction for protection.
Florida recognizes six (6) different types of injunctions:
Domestic Violence
Repeat Violence
Sexual Violence
Dating Violence
Stalking (including Cyberstalking)
Exploitation of a Vulnerable Adult (recent addition to Florida law - Fla Stat. §825.1035)
The process starts with a temporary injunction. The judge must be presented with “clear and convincing evidence” that dating violence, domestic violence, sexual violence, repeat violence, or stalking has occurred. Temporary injunctions are usually granted unless the petition is deficient. There is no hearing to determine whether a temporary injunction should be granted.
If the temporary injunction is granted, the court will set a final hearing to determine if a permanent injunction should be granted. The hearing will usually be held within fifteen (15) days from the date that the temporary injunction was ordered. There generally is no definitive time limit for when a permanent injunction expires. Under Florida law, an injunction may remain in place until changed or dissolved at a later time.
There can be severe consequences to violating an injunction, such as arrest. Under Florida law, a violation of an injunction is a first degree misdemeanor, with penalties of up to one year in jail and substantial fines. Plus, each violation is considered a separate offense.
ALWAYS CALL 911 IF YOU FEEL YOU ARE IN DANGER.
LANDLORD/TENANT (RESIDENTIAL & COMMERCIAL)
Whether you are renting a house, an apartment, or you are a business renting a commercial space, a legal relationship is created between the property owner and the tenant. In these situations, Florida law imposes rights and responsibilities on you and your landlord. If there is a breach of these obligations, the non-breaching party may have a legal claim.
Whether you are a landlord or a tenant, if you believe the other party has breached the lease, give us a call to review your case in further detail.
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY (TRADEMARKS ONLY, NO PATENTS)
My intellectual property services consist of working diligently with companies seeking assistance with managing and executing intellectual property strategies. My firm offers expertise on intellectual property development, protection strategies*, and licensing.
My intellectual property practice focuses on:
U.S. Trademark and Copyright law
Trade Secret protection
Intellectual property due diligence in transactions
Licensing agreements for all types of intellectual properties
*I do not offer services in the area of Patents.
NOTARY SERVICES
I have been a Florida Notary since 2004 and can provide notarial services upon request.