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Real Estate Law

Understanding Lady Bird Deeds in Florida

By Jackson Law Group
September 11th, 2024

Posted in Asset Protection,Probate & Trust Administration,Real Estate Law,Wills, Trusts & Estate Planning

What is a Lady Bird Deed?

A Lady Bird Deed, also known as an Enhanced Life Estate Deed, is a unique type of deed recognized in Florida. It allows property owners to retain control over their real property during their lifetime while designating a beneficiary to inherit the property upon their death, without the need for probate.


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Florida Sales Tax Rates on Commercial Leases May Reduce to 2% in 2022

By Jackson Law Group
August 13th, 2021

Posted in Business & Corporate Law,Real Estate Law,Tax Law & IRS Defense

A legislative bill was recently enacted that may reduce the sales tax rate on commercial leases to 2%. The timing of the decrease depends on the economic recovery of the unemployment compensation trust fund. Once this balance has reached its pre-pandemic level, the sales tax rate will adjust. You may need to periodically consult with your accountant to determine the current tax rate since it is contingent upon the amount in the employment compensation trust fund.


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Your Permanent Residence for the Homestead Tax Exemption

By Jackson Law Group
June 12th, 2020

Posted in Real Estate Law,Tax Law & IRS Defense

As most Florida homeowners know, the Florida Constitution provides for a valuable homestead tax exemption. In general, to qualify for this exemption under Section 196.031 of the Florida Statues, you must have legal or beneficial title to your home and in good faith make the home your “permanent residence” as of January 1st.  Determining whether you make the home your “permanent residence” can be complicated for those who have multiple homes or sometimes rent the home on occasion.


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Florida Property Taxes – You Must Act Soon If You Wish to Contest Your County’s Proposed Assessments

By Jackson Law Group
August 22nd, 2019

Posted in Business & Corporate Law,Real Estate Law,Tax Law & IRS Defense

Your local Florida County Property Appraiser mails out the Notice of Proposed Property Taxes (Truth in Millage or “TRIM” form) in August or September of each year.

Property owners or taxpayers who wish to contest or appeal their property value to the Value Adjustment Board must file a petition (one of the DR-86 forms) with the clerk of court within 25 days of the Notice of Proposed Property Taxes:


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Florida Sales Tax on Commercial Leases Reduced in January 2020

By Jackson Law Group
July 1st, 2019

Posted in Business & Corporate Law,Real Estate Law

Good news for Commercial Landlords, the reduction on state level sales taxes continues to decline. Florida is reducing the state-level sales tax rate on commercial leases for occupancy periods beginning on or after January 1, 2020 down to 5.5%.  

However, counties are still imposing the local option surtax so be careful to check your county’s guidelines. The local option surtax varies between 0.5% to 1% for those counties that impose it.  Currently, for 2019 St. Johns County has an additional 0.5% surtax.


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Florida Sales Tax on Commercial Leases Reduced in January 2019

By Jackson Law Group
December 21st, 2018

Posted in Business & Corporate Law,Real Estate Law

Florida imposes sales tax on rental payments for the lease of commercial real estate. The 6% state-level tax was reduced to 5.8% for 2018. The Florida legislature passed another law to further reduce the state-level rate to 5.7% for occupancy periods beginning on or after January 1, 2019.
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Florida Property Taxes – You Must Act Soon If You Wish to Contest Your County’s Proposed Assessments

By Jackson Law Group
September 7th, 2018

Posted in Real Estate Law,Tax Law & IRS Defense

Your local Florida County Property Appraiser mails out the Notice of Proposed Property Taxes (Truth in Millage or “TRIM” form) in August or September of each year.  Property owners or taxpayers who wish to contest or appeal their property value to the Value Adjustment Board must file a petition (one of the DR-86 forms) with the clerk of court within 25 days of the Notice of Proposed Property Taxes.


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Legal Considerations for Rental Property Owners

By Jackson Law Group
August 6th, 2018

Posted in Business & Corporate Law,Real Estate Law,Tax Law & IRS Defense

Many local governments have enacted laws which require the owner of a short term rental property to obtain a certificate or other permit in order to utilize the property as a rental. This regulation comes in addition to obtaining a license from the Department of Business and Professional Regulation, a local business tax receipt, and the remission of Florida Sales Tax to the Department of Revenue. The issue of regulating short term vacation rentals has also been addressed recently by the Florida legislature.
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