If your neighborhood has a homeowner’s association, it’s important to hire someone who is familiar with community association law in Fort Walton Beach to help you. He or she can help you draft legal documents, handle issues that come up, and take care of other important information. When hiring an attorney to help you, here are a few questions that you should ask him or her about to help you make your decision on who to hire:
Experience
Not only should you look for an experienced attorney, but you should find one that has lots of experience in this specialized field of the law. Ask about the number of associations that he or she is currently representing. If the number is substantial, then you know that he or she works exclusively with that type of law rather than just as a sideline to the regular business. You may want to ask about any other attorneys that may be working with you. What is their background? What experience do they bring to the table?
Location
What area does the firm service? Do they often work in your county? Some firms will charge the association for travel time if they are outside of your area. This is pretty common, but you should make sure that you are comfortable with this amount.
Meetings
Some associations choose to have meetings at the firm’s office so the attorneys can attend. If you plan on doing this, make sure that the office is in close proximity to your office to allow this to occur. You should also make sure that there is plenty of space at the office for everyone who wants to attend. Check the parking situation, too, to make sure that everyone could park there for the meeting. If this doesn’t work out or you don’t prefer to meet there, you could also find out whether or not the attorney would be willing to come to your community for the meetings.
Educational Opportunities
Some firms will offer educational opportunities for communities in the form of seminars or monthly newsletters. Find out whether they do anything to keep you and the other members of your community informed.
Professionalism
When interviewing candidates, it’s important to take the time to stop by their office. This will give you a better idea of the level of professionalism that they offer. You can meet the staff and other attorneys in the firm to make sure that they convey a professional appearance and speak to you in a kind and friendly manner. You should also ask about how you can communicate with your attorney if you have any questions or concerns. What is the best way to reach him or her? How quickly will he or she be able to get back to you? You want to find someone who will work to communicate with you on a regular basis, especially when you need assistance.
Cost
How will you be charged for the attorney’s services? Will you pay a retainer, flat fee, contingency fee, or hourly rate? As you compare the various costs, you should remember that cheaper doesn’t always mean it’s the better deal. For example, one attorney may charge $150 per hour but he or she will take longer than the attorney charging $300 per hour. Make sure to take this into account when looking for the best bargain.
As you look for someone to help you with community association law in Fort Walton Beach, it’s important to ask these questions to make sure that you find someone with knowledge, experience, and time to fulfill your needs and keep your community running properly.