In the state of Florida, there are two positions that have the power to attest to the validity of signatures on legal documents: a notary public and civil law notary. Notaries public are U.S. citizens (18 or older) who have a clean criminal record and complete a three-hour course with the state. Upon passing, one may be a notary public for one or more four-year terms. While a notary public is certainly useful in many Read More

If a loved one of yours has recently passed away, you will probably need to help navigate his or her estate through the Florida probate court, which is the venue in which estates are settled.  When it is determined that your loved one’s estate needs to go through probate, there are generally two options for you: summary administration and formal administration.  Formal administration is the standard operating Read More

After months and months of searching, you and your family have finally found a home you can envision spending decades in. You feel a sense of excitement, but not relief; you know that you have to make the right offer on the house or the sellers will not pull the trigger. This blog is intended to serve as a general guide for making an acceptable offer on your dream home that will seal the deal.  Work with your own Read More

Your property tax notice has been mailed to you and you are shocked by how much you have to pay in property taxes this year! Despite the recent economic downturn and a slipping real estate market your property taxes may actually go up this year. If this is your reality, you should know your rights to ensure a proper “fight”.  In August of each year, Miami-Dade county property owners receive a Notice of Proposed Read More

Written by Nataline Garcia, Esq. When determining your estate planning needs it is essential to understand the differences between an irrevocable trust and a revocable trust. In this blog article I will discuss the fundamental benefits and drawbacks of an irrevocable trust, and how it may, or may not, be beneficial for you. Who are the parties involved in a Trust? First it is important to understand the parties Read More

In our previous blog titled "What You Should Know if a Hurricane Damages Your Home in Florida" we discussed the proactive and immediate steps to take immediately following a hurricane or major storm. In effort to help reduce the stress, anxiety and damage brought on from a storm, this article will discuss the different steps to consider to adequately prepare for hurricane season. As hurricane season approaches South Read More

Written by Nataline Garcia, Esq. During your lifetime, while you have full mental capacity, you have the legal right to make any changes or amendments to your will. These changes can range from a minor change to a complete revocation and republication of your will. To accomplish this, a codicil may be prepared, if it is appropriate for your desired revision. A codicil is a legal document that changes specific Read More

Written by: Nataline Garcia, Esq. A Florida LLC can combine the efficiency and simplicity of sole proprietorships and partnerships with the numerous legal protections afforded by a corporation. To keep the explanation of an LLC simple, “limited liability” means that its owners, also known as members, will generally not be personally responsible for an LLC’s debts nor lawsuits. For example, if an LLC were to file for Read More

Written by: Nataline Garcia, Esq. Summary administration probate is a summary proceeding, governed by Florida Chapter 735, that does not require the appointment of a Florida personal representation, nor does it require formal publication to estate creditors. A Florida summary administration probate generally requires less time, effort, and expense than a formal administration probate.   Although it seems like a Read More