Kelk Phillips, P.A. a Real Estate, Equine & Contract Lawyer serving Wellington, Royal Palm Beach & West Palm Beach, FL

Kelk Phillips, P.A. was founded on the premise that customer service and quality legal representation should go hand in hand. Kelk Phillips, P.A. is a full service law firm that provides quality legal services to clients throughout Florida. Whether it is to compensate for wrongs committed or to defend against a lawsuit, the attorneys at Kelk Phillips, P.A. are well equipped to serve the needs of our clients. If you would like to speak with a lawyer about any legal concerns, please contact us to schedule a free consultation. Evening and weekend meetings are also available.

The practice of real estate law is very complex and diverse and it is important you get it right, whether it's a commercial matter or a personal one.

Some of the many different issues involved in this area are:

• Landlord/Tenant Specific Issues
• Home Owner's Associations
• Selling & Purchasing Real estate
• Zoning & Land Use
• Settlement of Claims Against Property Rights

The Closing Process

The selling and purchasing of real estate culminates in a final process known as Closing.

The closing process includes, among other things, making sure the title is clear to the real property and disbursing the funds from the buyer to the seller.

The single biggest expense other than real estate agent commissions is title insurance in Florida. Depending on the county, either the seller or the buyer customarily pays for the title insurance. Most parties who pay for the title insurance are unaware that they have a choice in what title company or attorney they use for the title work. If you are entering into a transaction in which you will be paying for title insurance, make sure you do some research on who is doing the title work and choose someone who is competent, reliable and efficient. The attorneys at Kelk Phillips, P.A. can write title insurance, which enables our firm to take you from the initial contract to the closing of the transaction all in one smooth process with no surprises.

The probate process is often an emotionally overwhelming procedure. Not only do you have to come to terms with the passing of a loved one, but you must also distribute their belongings either according to their wishes or as dictated by statute. It is important to have a competent attorney to guide your through this often complex process.

In Florida, a Personal Representative is appointed by the probate court to administer the estate of the deceased. It is important to have a knowledgeable attorney at your side if you are the Personal Representative because you can be personally liable if any mistakes are made in the administration of the estate. Not only can creditors of the recently deceased make claims against the estate, but unknown and existing heirs can make claims against the estate and each will need to be evaluated and either paid or objected to within certain timeframes dictated by statute. The attorneys at Kelk Phillips, P.A are able to handle all sorts of probate issues with a sympathetic ear, from complex to simple, and can help a Personal Representative complete the probate process in an efficient and effective manner.

Kelk Phillips, P.A. is located in Royal Palm Beach & Wellington, Florida, or, as known to the horse world, the Winter Equestrian Capital. Being local, Kelk Phillips, P.A. is conveniently located close to many of the top equestrians in the world. As an avid equestrian herself, Laura Kelk Phillips has the industry experience to bring a lifetime of in-depth knowledge of various equestrian fields to the practice of equine law. This experience is hugely valuable in being able to understand all facets of how an equine transaction may differ from standard contract law.

As an owner of an equestrian facility, it is important that you have standard releases of liability from all boarders. It is not only imperative to get these releases signed, but also to make sure they are signed by the right party. For example, a family member of the rider signing the release will not protect you against claims from the actual rider who suffers injury. Similarly, the lessee of the horse will not protect against claims from the owner of the horse. The attorneys at Kelk Phillips, P.A. can assist in all stages of the purchase and sale contract for horses and can make sure your interests are fully protected whatever sort of equine transaction you are undertaking. You might be surprised at how many seemingly simple equine transactions end up going wrong, and how a simple agreement in writing can protect both parties involved.

Did you know that many people do not have a will or trust? Perhaps you don't have one yet yourself. The reason wills and trusts are so important is they are the way in which you can make sure your assets pass to your loved ones at the time of your passing. If there is no will, it can cause considerable stress and financial hardship for the family. The same applies if you have an invalid will.

It is imperative to have a knowledgeable attorney draft these documents for you. There are many do-it-yourself programs that are available to the consumer to do these documents. However, most of these programs are not updated to the most current laws and they are also not tailored to the specific laws of each individual state. You would be amazed at how many of these programs result in wills that are not validly recognized by the State of Florida, which effectively means that it is as if you never had a will or trust in place.

Only a licensed attorney can advise you if these do it yourself wills and trusts are correct. This means that you still have to pay an attorney to check your self-made wills and trusts in addition to paying for the programs! Why waste your money on the program when you can start with a trustworthy and knowledgeable attorney in the first place? The attorneys at Kelk Phillips, P.A. prepare wills and trusts that you can depend on to be accurate and complete and tailored to you specifically. For example, did you know in Florida you can create a Pet Trust to protect your beloved dog or horse? The attorneys at Kelk Phillips, P.A. can also draft a revocable trust that will keep your loved ones from having to pay costly probate costs.