Florida Homestead Law and Residency
Florida Homestead Law and Residency
Carol W. Wood
Attorney at Law
Office Location:
1800 Second Street
Suite 725
Sarasota, FL 34236
Florida estate and trust lawyers call Florida homestead law the “legal chameleon” because it has so many different aspects. There are restrictions on the devise of homestead property if the owner is married or has a minor child. It is generally exempt from the claims of creditors but unknowing actions can endanger this protection. There is a cap on the amount of ad valorem taxes that can be assessed against one’s homestead property but, again, changes in the title can disrupt this and should not be made without proper legal advice. Carol has extensive experience in the many issues involved in Florida homestead law. People relocating their legal residence to Florida should take objective steps to demonstrate their subjective intent to make Florida their home. Carol can advise you regarding the steps to take as well as the advantages of Florida homestead status and the pitfalls for the unwary.
Florida estate and trust lawyers call Florida homestead law the “legal chameleon” because it has so many different aspects. There are restrictions on the devise of homestead property if the owner is married or has a minor child. It is generally exempt from the claims of creditors but unknowing actions can endanger this protection. There is a cap on the amount of ad valorem taxes that can be assessed against one’s homestead property but, again, changes in the title can disrupt this and should not be made without proper legal advice. Carol has extensive experience in the many issues involved in Florida homestead law. People relocating their legal residence to Florida should take objective steps to demonstrate their subjective intent to make Florida their home. Carol can advise you regarding the steps to take as well as the advantages of Florida homestead status and the pitfalls for the unwary.
Carol W. Wood
Attorney at Law
Office Location:
1800 Second Street
Suite 725
Sarasota, FL 34236
Phone:
941-362-0300
The Florida Bar
Carol W. Wood has been a member of the Florida Bar since her admission to practice.
The Florida Bar is the integrated bar association for the state of Florida. It is the third largest such bar association in the United States. Its duties include the regulation and discipline of attorneys.
As elsewhere in the United States, persons seeking admission to the bar must pass a moral character screening, in this case administered by the Florida Board of Bar Examiners. Admission to the bar includes passing a background investigation, the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination, and the bar exam, which tests both the common law through the Multistate Bar Examination and Florida law through written state essays and state-specific multiple-choice questions.
The Florida Bar’s core functions are to prosecute unethical lawyers; administer a client protection fund to cover certain financial losses a client might suffer due to misappropriation by a lawyer; administer a substance abuse program; and provide continuing education services for lawyers. The Florida Bar provides many other services to members and the public, including publishing legal periodicals, administering a public information program, providing ethics and law office management advice, and sponsoring conferences and meetings.