Written by: Nicole M. Garcia It’s no secret the fair market values of properties in South Florida are high and continue to rise. More often than not, I am asked by clients, friends, and family members what may be some of the benefits to attempting to purchase property at a foreclosure sale. The cost that is saved purchasing a property at a foreclosure sale can be impressive. This is because it’s an auction sale and Read More
341 Meeting of Creditors
After filing bankruptcy, one of the requirements is for the debtor to attend a Meeting of Creditors. The meeting usually takes place within 20 to 40 days after submitting your petition to the court and it provides an opportunity for the Trustee and creditors to ask questions about your bankruptcy filing and finances disclosed within your petition. The purpose of this meeting is to ensure that the debtor properly Read More
4 Common Commercial Lease Disputes (and How to Avoid Them)
A lease, be it commercial or residential, is arguably the most commonly type of contract entered into. Most businesses find it necessary to occupy a physical space (although more companies are going virtual). Compared to residential leases, though, commercial leases are more complex. Businesses are usually restricted in the activities they may conduct on the property, in addition to other terms that sometimes cause Read More
What you should consider before purchasing a piece of land
You’ve found the perfect piece of land in which you envision your dream home built on or maybe you’ve found the right piece of land to build your business on. Whatever the scenario may be, the major thing to consider before you purchase that piece of land is what zoning regulations it has. Zoning law govern what can and what cannot be done with a piece land. Zoning laws are the reason homeowners do not have a store Read More
Top Essential Estate Planning Tasks to Consider When Having a New Baby
Written by Nataline Garcia, Esq. Having a new baby is a special and exciting time for families. With that excitement also comes a new sense of responsibility and even associated stress. Now that you are responsible for another life, it is essential to plan for the future, in the event of any unforeseen circumstances arising. Below are a few of the top essential estate planning tasks to consider when you are Read More
How Does a Bankruptcy Affect Inheritances?
If a Debtor inherits money or property during their bankruptcy process, it can, and often does, affect the inheritance. When someone files for bankruptcy, a bankruptcy estate is created. The estate consists of the Debtor’s property or assets owned. A bankruptcy estate is administered through a bankruptcy trustee, where the estate is temporarily considered a legal owner of the Debtor’s property and assets claimed. Read More
Divorce and Florida Estate Plans: What should you know?
By Nataline Garcia, Esq. It is common for spouses to prepare joint estate planning documents or name each other in their individual estate planning documents. Florida law allows married couples to prepare joint estate planning documents. However, there are some important laws that may affect your estate planning in the event of a divorce that you should be aware of. Knowing this information can help you take the Read More
Short Sale in Avoidance of Foreclosure
Written by: Nicole M. Garcia, Esq. When facing a Foreclosure action knowing what options are available is essential. If the Homeowner wishes to keep the property some of the loss mitigation options possibly available are loan modification, forbearance agreement, and repayment plan. Once those options have been exhausted there are other options, which allow the borrower to voluntarily turn over the property in order Read More
4 Essential Documents You Need in Your Estate Plan
When our day-to-day lives are interrupted to the degree we are seeing with the COVID-19 pandemic, certain situations and aspects of our lives are seen with more clarity than before. One indirect consequence of the current health crisis is that more Floridians are creating estate plans. Additionally, those who already have a plan in place have been spurred to take a second look and ensure that their financial goals Read More
Understanding a Business Succession Plan
By: Nataline Garcia, Esq. Last week in the blog titled “Do you need an Estate Plan” we overlooked the several reasons why one would want to consider preparing an Estate Plan. We briefly discussed the topic of a Business Succession Plan and received a lot of inquiries from business owners about what a business succession plan could do for them. Today, I’m going to elaborate on the purpose of a business succession Read More
