Real Estate & Real Property

Whether you are interested in selling your property, giving it to a loved one, adding someone to the title or avoiding probate when you pass, we can help.

We have extensive experience with quit claim deeds, and can help you determine how much you will owe in documentary stamp taxes before you transfer the property, avoiding unwelcome tax bills.

If you want to avoid probate, but a trust is not right for you, we can help you execute an Enhanced Life Estate (“Lady Bird”) Deed. You will still own and have total control of your property until you die. Then your loved ones simply have to file your death certificate with the Clerk of Court, and the property becomes theirs, avoiding a year or more and thousands of dollars in court costs. Unlike many firms, we happily provide this service, even though we could make more money by not doing so.

We are experienced in helping people get the proper use of their property, whether that involves changing the zoning designation of one or more parcels of land, acquiring road access to landlocked lots, vested rights, getting waivers of unused right of ways and other matters.

Before we could open the doors at our current location, we had to get the Bradenton Planning Commission and City Counsel to approve a zoning change from T4-R (restricted) to T4-O (open). Both the Planning Commission and the City Counsel passed our proposal unanimously.

We have had the pleasure of representing both homeowners and contractors in disputes related to construction agreements. Whether it is a matter of disputed costs, construction liens, qualifications of subcontractors, permitting, or something else. We have probably dealt with it.

While still in law school, Dr. Grivas produced, revised and presented Declaratory Statements before the Florida Building Commission at its quarterly meetings, becoming familiar, not only with the process, but also with the parties involved.

We have had the pleasure of helping people who bought homes or other properties without the sellers disclosing major defects, un-permitted work and other matters. Don’t shrug your shoulders, because your purchase was an “As Is” contract. Even then, sellers are required to disclose anything that could materially affect the value of a property. Often, the sellers’ agents can also be liable, especially when they boast about numerous improvements made without pulling and completing the required permits. Also, sellers of condominium units, their listing agents, the association and its management company may fail to disclose the need for special assessments to remedy structural defects. If any of these happened to you, we may be able to help.

We are attorneys committed to assisting the people of the Sarasota Bradenton area who are facing foreclosure. We have defended homeowners in hundreds of foreclosure cases, giving them the time they needed to make choices.

Dr. Paul Grivas has been a panelist on foreclosure defense courses throughout Florida, helping other lawyers protect homeowners.

Regardless of which law firm you choose there are some things you need to know.

No attorney should promise results, but you must understand that if you do not assert your rights, no one else will.

If you do not respond to the complaint within twenty days of being served, you can be defaulted, and you can lose your home in three months.