Effective October 1, 2014, HB 489 was signed into law as a result of the legislature’s need to more closely regulate the disclosure of retained mineral interests. The law created Sec. 689.29, F.S.  which requires the seller to give written notice to the prospective buyer at Read More

HB 7037 took effect on July 1, 2014.  It amended Florida Statute §§718.116 by adding a statutory form release of lien. Note that the general rule in Florida is that an instrument creating a lien on real property does NOT require two witnesses, nor does Read More

In December, Sandra Rennick and Dillon Roberts assisted the Russell family in the sale of Russell Concrete, Inc. The sale included two plants, associated equipment, and approximately twenty-five acres of industrial real property. One of the oldest family-run businesses in Indian River County, Russell Concrete, Read More

If you have recently purchased real estate or created a new entity in Florida, you may be approached by a private organization offering to provide copies of documents for a fee.  These “service” fees can be up to $100, and you are paying for documents that Read More

In September, Sandra Rennick successfully completed a 1031 tax free exchange for a Florida entity acquiring a future Bonefish Grill site in central Florida.  The transaction included the assignment of a long term ground lease and the negotiation of ongoing responsibilities for pre and post-tender Read More

Florida Statute Sections 719.128 and 720.316 are newly created statutes effective July 1, 2014, affording Association board of directors with emergency powers in cooperative associations and mandatory homeowners associations. The boards of directors now have the power to take certain actions in response to damage Read More

Floridians value the benefits of Save Our Homes as established by our Florida Constitution. With the addition of Portability, the benefits of Save Our Homes can be transferred to new residential homestead property. Portability (Amendment One to Florida’s Save Our Homes) allows owners of residential Read More

House Bill 7119, effective July 1, 2013, adds Florida Statute Section 720.3033 requiring directors, within ninety (90) days of election or appointment to the board, to certify in writing to the secretary of the homeowners association, that he or she has read the homeowner association’s Read More

Florida Homeowner Associations: Who is responsible for past due homeowner association assessments when title is acquired through foreclosure or deed in lieu of foreclosure? House Bill 7119, effective July 1, 2013, amends several provisions of Chapter 720, the Florida Homeowners’ Association Statute. As members of Read More

Sandra G. Rennick of Gould Cooksey Fennell recently assisted the Board of Directors of the National Navy UDT-Seal Museum with the recent acquisition of the Trident House and a long-term usage agreement establishing the home as a place of rehabilitation and retreat for Navy SEALs Read More

The barrier island has experienced a drop in inventory to its lowest point since 2007.  This drop in inventory and resulting increase in demand and prices has proven favorable for the Indian River County Real Estate market.  GCF attorneys Christopher H. Marine and Sandra G. Read More

Sandra G. Rennick of Gould Cooksey Fennell, PA served as closing agent and attorney for the Buyer of this $15.6 million ocean to river compound said to be the biggest sale of the year on the barrier island, and one of the largest ever.  The breadth Read More

In prior years, many people formed Florida limited liability companies (LLCs) thinking that assets owned by the LLC could not be attached by creditors and that a creditor would not be permitted to take direct ownership of the LLC membership interest.  However, due to a Read More

The Indian River County real estate market has experienced its share of competing offers and bidding wars of multiple interested parties. This welcome development stems from both the economic rebound and a strong inventory of desirable undervalued Treasure Coast properties.  GCF attorneys Christopher H. Marine and Sandra Read More

Christopher H. Marine of GCF’s Real Property Group serves on the Advisory Board of the Indian River Land Trust.  In the last two years, the Land Trust has acquired nearly 450 acres of environmentally and culturally significant real estate along the Indian River Lagoon.  These Read More

Christopher Marine and Sandra Rennick of GCF’s Real Property Group each maintain a practice emphasis in transactions involving the acquisition and sale of waterfront estates on the ocean and the Indian River. Notwithstanding the flagging economy, this segment of the real estate market has experienced Read More

Christopher Marine of GCF’s Real Property Group successfully represented a group of landowners seeking to expand the Urban Services Area at a strategic commercial location in Indian River County.  As a result, the Land Use designation was amended for a large tract of 575 acres Read More

Sandra G. Rennick of GCF’s Real Property Group assisted Brantley Schirard and Schirard Citrus, Inc. in the sale of half of its citrus acreage and all of the farming equipment owned by them to Bernard Egan & Co. subsidiary Blue Goose Farms, LLC.    

Christopher Marine and Sandra Rennick of GCF’s Real Property Group represent numerous clients engaged in the acquisition and sale of waterfront estates on the ocean and the Indian River. These transactions often present unique issues and challenges that require creative, individualized legal solutions to meet Read More

Christopher Marine of GCF’s Real Property Group represents the Citrus Grillhouse, an upscale American bistro restaurant on Vero Beach’s oceanfront that was recently named Best New Restaurant in the State of Florida by Florida Monthly magazine. Mr. Marine coordinated both the private investment offering and acquisition Read More