“I had typed an angry reply to the board. They read the notice first and found the hearing step had been skipped. My answer was three calm lines.”
Ned P.Homeowner, single-family community
For Port St. Lucie homeowners
The letter from your association is not the last word
A fine, a violation notice, a lien on the title: each one has steps, deadlines and people who must answer for them. We read your governing documents with you before you reply, and say plainly what the board can and can’t do.
Start with the worry
Which worry is yours?
Pick the one that keeps you up. Each links to what we do about it.
What happens to my fine if I ignore it?
Unpaid fines can pick up late fees and costs. Replying early, and in writing, usually costs less than waiting.
Fines and liensWhat happens to my home if a lien is filed?
A lien clouds the title but is not a foreclosure by itself. We check the notices, the amount and the steps in between.
What a lien meansWhat happens to my fence, paint or solar panels?
Committees approve most requests. When yours is denied, the standards and the appeal step matter more than the meeting.
Architectural reviewWhat happens to me at the committee hearing?
You may speak, bring a lawyer and ask for the evidence. We help you decide what to say, and what to leave out.
Notices and hearingsWhat happens to my rights if the rules change?
A board can adopt only the rules the declaration lets it adopt. We read the layers and tell you which one wins.
Governing documentsWhat happens when I ask to see the books?
Owners can usually ask to inspect records. We write the request and follow up if no one answers.
Asking for records
Before you reply to anyone
The short answers. Your documents may change them.
Can the association really fine me?
Many can, if the governing documents give the board that power and the steps were followed: written notice, a chance to be heard, then a decision. We check the steps before anyone talks about paying.
I got a violation letter. Should I fix it and say nothing?
Fix what is truly yours to fix, and keep photos of the result. If the letter mentions a fine, a hearing or a deadline, send it to us before you answer; a hasty reply can be quoted back to you.
What if I can’t pay a fine or assessment right now?
Say so early, in writing. Associations and their collection lawyers will often agree to a plan, and a plan is much easier to ask for before a lien than after.
The committee said no to my project. Is that final?
Not always. Most documents give a second look or an appeal, and some changes are protected by state law. Bring us the denial letter and the standards it cites.
Do you represent associations or boards?
No. This office works for homeowners only, so you never share a lawyer with the other side. Boards we can’t help are sent to a lawyer who works for them.
What does it cost?
We tell you the fee in writing before we start, and what it covers. Letter replies and document reviews are often a flat fee; hearings and court work are by the hour, with an estimate.
Your lawyer, a neighbor
Your lawyer lives under a declaration too
Oriel Tavernier owns a home in a deed-restricted neighborhood a few miles from the office. She has stood in her own garden holding a notice, and she knows how large a small problem feels when it comes with a deadline.
That is why a first call here is a conversation, not an intake script. Bring the letter, the photos and any covenant pages you have. We’ll sort what matters from what doesn’t, and tell you what we’d do first.
Oriel Tavernier
Founding attorney
From homeowners we’ve helped
“The lien letter scared me more than the amount did. They got an itemized statement, and we set up a plan I could keep.”
Clifton R.Homeowner, townhome community
“Our fence was denied with no reason given. One letter asking for the standards, and the committee approved a version of it.”
Winona T.Homeowner, gated community
Each homeowner’s situation is different, and what happened for one doesn’t predict what will happen for you. Names are shortened.
Before you answer the letter, call us
Bring the notice, the photos and the covenant pages. We’ll tell you what the association can do, and what you can do back.
Please don’t send confidential details with a first message.