By F. Scott Pauzar, III, Florida Personal Injury Attorney For many dog owners, their dogs are not just pets, but more akin to family members. After the Covid-19 pandemic-related lockdowns began in early 2020, there was a tremendous upswing in people adopting dogs from their local animal shelters. Over the last decade there has beenRead more
By Lenore T. Brakefield, Florida Government Relations and Community Association Law Attorney The number one rule is: do not ignore this notice. The notice of violation provides the roadmap of what is to come. This roadmap is important because each jurisdiction has its own process for handling code enforcement issues. Even though Chapter 162,Read more
By Shay S. Raja, Florida Business and Real Estate Attorney Whether you are splitting time between Florida and another state for pleasure, business, school, or for retirement, there are benefits to obtaining Florida Residency, and much of that is attributed to taxes. For example, if you own a home up north but have aRead more
Spanning from 1971 to 2021, Woodward, Pires & Lombardo, P.A., Attorneys at Law (WPL) is proud to have served and will continue to serve you as their top priority. At WPL, our attorneys have lived and worked in Southwest Florida for decades and possess a vast knowledge of the law and a first-hand understanding ofRead more
By Anthony J. Dimora, Florida Estate Planning Attorney Let us be honest, our pets are our family, and we want to make sure they are taken care of today, tomorrow and always. Good news—Fla. Stat. 736.0408 allows pet owners to establish a specific trust for the care of fifi, fido, fluffy, tweetie etc. WhatRead more
By J. Christopher Lombardo, Marital and Family Law Attorney There is a second pandemic occurring during COVID: The Divorce Virus. One of the side effects of COVID is a significant negative impact on relationships. The divorce rate in this country has increased by over 34 percent since the advent. There are a series of contributingRead more
By Mark J. Woodward, Esq., Florida Real Estate Attorney A flawed title. This hidden hazard can ruin a real estate investment and jeopardize those who have an interest in the sale, including developers, real estate agents, home buyers and mortgage lenders. Whether it is a seemingly insignificant error in the public records or more seriousRead more
By Ross E. Schulman, Divorce & Family Law Attorney Fever? Chills? Cough? Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing? Fatigue? Aches? Sore throat? Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea? Loss of taste or smell? We have all become well versed in identifying the CDC listed symptoms of Covid-19. What is more interesting about this virus is how Covid-19Read more
By: Shay S. Raja, Esq. (SRaja@wpl-legal.com) There are several business entities options available in Florida. These include corporations, limited liability companies (LLCs), general partnerships, limited partnerships, and sole proprietorships. So, which is best for you? The best course of action is to discuss with an attorney what you hope to accomplish in setting up yourRead more
THE POTENTIAL PAIN OF GUARDIANSHIP Guardianship is a legal process. When a person becomes incapacitated and can no longer make sound decisions about their care and/or their finances, if they have not put the proper paperwork in place prior to becoming incapacitated, now the court must get involved and determine, through a series of examinations,Read more
By: Kenneth V. Mundy, Esq. (kmundy@wpl-legal.com) After a divorce with minor children or an action for the determination of paternity in Florida, a court will issue a child support order. The child support order will clearly identify the financial responsibilities each parent must meet for their children’s food, education, housing, healthcare, and other living expenses.Read more
By Cameron Grant Woodward, Esq. When it comes to living in Southwest Florida, we have it pretty good: beaches, golf, boating, you name it, Southwest Florida likely can offer it. But one thing we have that nobody wants are flood zones. Living within a flood zone has its own set of rules and regulations thatRead more
By: J. Christopher Lombardo, Esq. (CLombardo@wpl-legal.com) Family law……an unwelcoming area of law that many hopes they may never have to approach. When the initial thought of a family law attorney comes to mind, many may conjure up images of aggressive attorneys attempting to dismantle the lives of innocent spouses. They see unwarranted attempts to haveRead more
By: Lenore T. Brakefied, Esq. It’s that time of the year again. With all the holiday parties, treats and goodies, it’s hard to stay focused on getting or staying lean. Don’t fret, this article is about avoiding construction liens and how to deal with them (aka “mechanics lien”). What is a construction lien? Under FloridaRead more
Know and protect the value of your logo. Starting a new venture, whether it be a charity or for-profit, comes with innumerable considerations. One that’s often overlooked is the intellectual property rights of the venture’s logo. A few quick internet searches will provide a pile of articles and blog posts on the importance of qualityRead more
In September of 2017, Hurricane Irma made landfall in Southwest Florida, devastating thousands of homes and businesses, particularly on Marco Island. After the storm, Florida was flooded with hundreds of contractors, both licensed and unlicensed, who promised to fix and repair people’s roofs and homes. Many did follow through with these promises. However, some didRead more