Why Would You Need an Opinion Letter in Florida? There are several reasons you might need an attorney opinion letter, including: Lawfulness of An Action
Full Answer
Combined Monthly Income | One | Two |
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$900 | $213 | $302 |
$950 | $224 | $347 |
$1,000 | $235 | $365 |
$1,050 | $246 | $382 |
As an introduction, a power of attorney is a document in which a person (the “principal”) designates another person to act on the principal’s behalf (the “agent”). Florida law gives the option to create a “durable” power of attorney, which remains effective even if the principal becomes incapacitated—reducing the potential need for ...
Earlier this year, Florida’s legislature passed an overhaul of Florida’s power of attorney law. The new law, which has an effective date of October 1, 2011, imposes many new requirements on this important estate planning tool. As an introduction, a power of attorney is a document in which a person (the “principal”) designates another person to act on the principal’s behalf (the “agent”). Florida law gives the option to create a “durable” power of attorney, which remains effective even if the principal becomes incapacitated—reducing the potential need for a court-appointed guardian.
It is important to consult a qualified attorney when establishing a power of attorney to ensure that it satisfies Florida’s new power of attorney law. Estate Planning for Unmarried Partners.
The new law allows an agent to perform only those acts expressly granted in the document.
7. All new powers of attorney will require two witnesses and a notary. Under the prior law, only durable powers of attorney had to be signed before two witnesses and a notary. Non-durable powers—i.e. those that terminate upon a person’s incapacity—did not require such formalities unless being used to convey real property. Under the new law, durable and non-durable powers of attorney must be signed by the principal in the presence of two witnesses and acknowledged before a notary.
A third party who is called upon to accept an out-of-state power of attorney may request an opinion of counsel concerning the power’s validity, at the principal’s expense. Military powers of attorney also remain valid in Florida if executed in accordance with relevant federal law .
1. Your existing power of attorney is still valid. Although Florida’s legislature completely re-wrote the power of attorney statute, the new law does not affect powers of attorney validly executed before October 1, 2011. Further, “springing” powers of attorney (discussed further in paragraph 6) signed before October 1, 2011, may still be deployed if the principal becomes incapacitated after October 1, 2011.
110.205 (2), to . . . disabled veterans " and certain others meeting statutory requirements. Section 295.08, F.S., provides for a "permanent" 10-point preference to disabled veterans who meet the requirements of s. 295.07 (1), F.S., " [f]or those positions for which an examination is used to determine the qualifications for entrance into employment with the state or its political subdivisions . . . ." I find no provisions in either of these sections relating to promotions; rather, these sections are limited by their terms to "appointment and retention in positions of employment," and to "entrance into employment" where a competitive examination is utilized in classifying applicants for a position. See AGO 79-45, analyzing ss. 295.07 and 295.08, F.S. 1977, and s. 295.09, F.S. (1978 Supp.), and distinguishing between employment and promotion. In that opinion, I concluded that certain veterans and other eligible persons are entitled to receive preference points toward their first promotions after employment as well as after reinstatement or reemployment, regardless of whether such persons received preference points upon their entrance into employment, and that certain veterans and other eligible persons who have not yet been awarded veterans' preference points toward their promotion as authorized under s. 295.09, F.S. (1978 Supp.), are entitled to the benefit of such points until the receipt of the "first" promotion under the statute, regardless of whether such persons received any prior promotions. In reaching that conclusion, I examined the provisions of s. 295.09, F.S. 1977, as amended by s. 2, Ch. 78-372, Laws of Florida, which read as follows:
In that opinion, I concluded that certain veterans and other eligible persons are entitled to receive preference points toward their first promotions after employment as well as after reinstatement or reemployment, regardless of whether such persons received preference points upon their entrance into employment, and that certain veterans and other eligible persons who have not yet been awarded veterans' preference points toward their promotion as authorized under s. 295.09, F.S. (1978 Supp.), are entitled to the benefit of such points until the receipt of the "first" promotion under the statute, regardless of whether such persons received any prior promotions. In reaching that conclusion, I examined the provisions of s. 295.09, F.S. 1977, as amended by s. 2, Ch. 78-372, Laws of Florida, which read as follows:
In a Will, the decedent can name the beneficiaries whom the decedent wants to receive the decedent ’s probate assets. The decedent also can designate a personal representative (Florida’s term for an executor) to administer the probate estate.
Probate is a court-supervised process for identifying and gathering the assets of a deceased person (decedent), paying the decedent’s debts, and distributing the decedent’s assets to his or her beneficiaries. In general, the decedent’s assets pay the probate proceeding’s cost, the decedent’s funeral expenses, then the decedent’s outstanding debts. The remainder of the assets is distributed to the decedent’s beneficiaries. You can find the Florida Probate Code in Chapters 731 through 735 of the Florida Statutes. You can find the rules governing Florida probate proceedings in the Florida Probate Rules, Part I and Part II (Rules 5.010-5.530).
Probate administration applies only to probate assets. Probate assets are those assets owned in the decedent’s sole name at death or owned by the decedent and one or more co-owners and lacked a provision for automatic succession of ownership at death. Examples of assets or property that may be probate assets may include:
If there is more than one descendant, the decedent’s probate estate will be divided among them in the manner prescribed by Florida law. The division will occur at the generational level of the decedent’s children.
There are two types of probate administration under Florida law: formal administration and summary administration. This pamphlet will primarily discuss formal administration.
In that case, the surviving spouse receives all of the decedent’s probate estate. A “descendant” is a person in any generational level down the descending line from the decedent and includes children, grandchildren, parents, and more remote descendants.
Florida’s intestate laws will pass the decedent’s probate estate to other, more remote heirs if the decedent is not survived by any of the close relatives described above.
Attached are a statute and a state bar advisory opinion from two states (Alabama and North Carolina) that restrict the functions that non-attorneys may engage in at closings.
In 2003, the Georgia Supreme Court approved an advisory opinion by the Georgia State Bar's Standing Committee on the Unlicensed Practice of Law finding that the preparation and execution of a deed of conveyance by a non-attorney represents the unauthorized practice of law (In re UPL Advisory Opinion 2003-2, 588 S.E.2d 741 (Ga. 2003); UPL Advisory Opinion 2003-02 (2003)).
The board found that the company engaged in the practice of law when (1) determining the proper legal description of the property as set forth on the deed to be included on an exhibit on the mortgage and (2) explaining to the borrower the terms of many legal documents, including the note, mortgage, Planned Unit Development Rider, the Truth-in-Lending Disclosure, and the first payment letter.
While there is no universal definition of what constitutes the practice of law, most states define the practice of law to include giving advice in matters relating to clients'legal rights or responsibilities, drafting legal documents, and representing clients before a court or similar body.
00-3 (Feb. 11, 2000)). The court concluded that “the lawyer must be in control of the closing process from beginning to end. The supervision of the paralegal [who would be physically present at the closing] must be direct and constant.”
2000)). The board noted that “no attorney is present during these settlements, and in most instances no Delaware attorney is involved in the loan and settlement process . . . In addition, no Delaware attorney reviews the documents used at the settlement” (Mid-Atlantic,2000 Del. LEXIS 243, at *3-4).
The section of the Alabama Code defining the practice of law permits a non-attorney to prepare title abstracts and issue title insurance, provided that the non-attorney does not prepare deeds or other legal documents (unless the non-attorney has a proprietary interest in the property) (Ala. Code § 34-3-6(c)). ...
Also, the attorney is also responsible for determining the adequacy of the title draft, doing the deeds, and managing the legal transfer of the property. Non-attorneys, on the other hand, are only allowed to participate in clerical and administrative duties such as titling insurance, abstracts, etc.
Your attorney will have the responsibility to gather all legal documents, the necessary paperwork, and make preparations for all facets that grant the homeowner legal rights . The attorney will also have a right to determine the validity and legitimacy of the property as well as the title to the property.
Much like Virginia, for property closings in West Virginia, real estate closing attorneys coordinate the closing or settlement process for the property being purchased. A real estate agent or attorney facilitates the closing by coordinating these activities necessary to ensure that the title to the property is transferred according to the terms of the purchase, sale contract and that the funds are accounted for on a settlement statement.
Being a sought-after retirement destination, it is essential for retirees as well as other buyers to know that it is mandatory to hire an attorney for the closing transaction. Your attorney will have the responsibility to gather all legal documents, the necessary paperwork, and make preparations for all facets that grant the homeowner legal rights. The attorney will also have a right to determine the validity and legitimacy of the property as well as the title to the property.
The state of Alabama has made it legal for non-attorneys to manage and be in control of closing transactions. However, they are limited in their role and involvement in other matters dictating the closing process. The phrase non-attorneys encompasses terms such as the assistant to an attorney, other parties involved in the home buying process (such as title companies), etc.
The state of Massachusetts places great emphasis on having an attorney for closing transactions on any real estate. The attorney is responsible not just for closing, but they are also required to be actively involved in the processes that need to be taken care of before and during the closing. Moreover, it is illegal for notaries to conduct the closings. Also, the attorney is also responsible for determining the adequacy of the title draft, doing the deeds, and managing the legal transfer of the property.
Moreover, in some state jurisdictions, it’s also a mandatory prerequisite to hiring an attorney to gather all the documents and legal advice needed in the procedure. The lawyer will also play a part in making all the preparations and execute all the necessary paperwork.
It sounds like this is a revocable living trust, and sounds like you do not have any ongoing relationship with the attorney who prepared it. Thus you will need to pay an attorney an hourly rate to read through your old trust agreement and provide the legal opinion that is requested.
I agree with my colleagues and only add here a link to the specific Fannie Mae guidelines when the borrower is a trust so you can see what needs to be accomplished in terms of whether a trust agreement comports or not with the required standards. https://www.fanniemae.com/content/guide/selling/b2/2/05.html...
This trust document of opinion can easily be prepared. Simply hire a local lawyer and in very short order the review and letter of opinion can be prepared. Good luck.
More importantly, the hiring of an attorney will help protect the HOA’s authority to govern and its financial well-being.
To ensure that your HOA is recognized by the State and that all standards for the future management of the community are in compliance with all applicable laws, an attorney should draft the founding documents. This includes, but is not limited to, the following:
It is always advisable for your Association to utilize the expertise of an attorney when engaging in the collection of any and all fines or monthly dues that have been levied by the Association. If an individual resident has compiled a lengthy list of violations or simply refuses to comply with an HOA’s order of payment, it may become necessary to file a lien against their home and, ultimately, foreclose on that property. This will require an attorney to file the applicable legal documents.