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A Thoughtful Refresh: Our Updated Lobby

Thu, 26 Mar 2026 13:47:37 GMT

A small place designed with comfort, tradition, and care in mind

In a small firm, every detail matters. Our lobby may be modest, but it’s often the first place we welcome the people we serve—so we wanted it to reflect the same care and attention we bring to our work.

With this refresh, we focused on warmth and simplicity. Classic wood furnishings, soft lighting, and a clean, comfortable layout create a calm, welcoming space. Subtle touches—from traditional legal symbols to shelves of well-used law books—reflect the values and experience behind our practice.

It’s a simple update, but a meaningful one. We hope it helps every client feel at ease from the moment they walk through our door.

Jennifer Codding Sworn in as President-Elect of PFAWL

Thu, 02 Oct 2025 19:36:48 GMT

Ret. Judge Irizarry Swears in Voluntary Bar Board of Directors

On June 26, 2025, retired Pinellas County Florida Judge Myriam Irizarry swore in the new Board of Directors for the Pinellas County Florida Chapter of the Florida Association for Women Lawyers (PFAWL), including Jennifer Codding as its President-Elect.

PFAWL is one of 36 chapters of the Florida Association for Women Lawyers, which is a voluntary bar association that focuses on elevating women lawyers to positions of power.

Jennifer has served on the board 8 out of her 15 years of practice and previously served as President from 2013 - 2015.

Alec Buchanan Sworn in as Rotary President

Thu, 27 Jun 2024 20:07:20 GMT

Buchanan the First Person in Chapter History to Serve Twice

In a historic moment for the Rotary Club of Milford, New Hampshire, Alexander Buchanan has been sworn in as President for the second time, marking a significant milestone in the club's 75-year history. Alec, who previously served as President in 2002, is the first individual to hold this prestigious position twice, underscoring his dedication and exceptional leadership within the community.

Alec's initial term as President was marked by impactful projects and initiatives that strengthened the club's presence and outreach in Milford. His return to the presidency is met with enthusiasm and high expectations, as his proven track record and deep understanding of Rotary's values promise to guide the club towards continued success and community service.

This year is especially significant as it marks the 75th anniversary of the Rotary Club of Milford. The club has been a cornerstone of community service, fostering fellowship and contributing to numerous local and international projects. The 75th anniversary is not just a time to reflect on past achievements but also to look forward to new opportunities for making a positive impact.

Congratulations to Alec Buchanan and the Rotary Club of Milford, NH, on this remarkable achievement. Here's to a year of extraordinary accomplishments and community service!

Jennifer Codding Wins Prestigious President's Award

Thu, 27 Jun 2024 19:47:23 GMT

New Title

We are pleased to announce that the Pinellas County Chapter of the Florida Association for Women Lawyers (PFAWL) has awarded Attorney Jennifer L. Codding with this year's President's Award. The President’s Award is given out annually to a member who has given distinguished service to the chapter throughout the year.

PFAWL is a voluntary bar association whose mission is to advance women in the legal profession. Jennifer has been an active member of PFAWL having served as President from 2013 – 2015 as well as in various other board positions throughout the years. In addition to receiving this year’s President’s Award, in 2014 the state chapter awarded Jennifer with a Leader in the Law award.

Jennifer prides herself in being a strong advocate for women in law. Her efforts have significantly contributed to breaking down barriers and creating opportunities for women in the profession. The President's Award is a well-deserved recognition of Jennifer’s hard work and dedication and highlights her exceptional contributions to the legal profession and her support for women in law.

ABLE Networking Tampa Bay

Thu, 09 Nov 2023 20:40:05 GMT

Women Accountants, Bankers, Lawyers and Engineers Supporting Each Other in Tampa Bay

On November 8, 2023, the Pinellas County Florida Association for Women Lawyers (PFAWL) co-sponsored the ABLE 2023 Reception in Tampa, Florida. ABLE, which was formed in 1987, is a networking group geared towards women accountants, bankers, lawyers and engineers which focuses on providing a supportive environment where women may network with and learn from other professional women in the Tampa Bay area. Attorney Jennifer Codding , a past President of and current Parliamentarian for PFAWL, attended the event along with over 100 other professional women.

Florida - Leading the Fight in Preventing Deed Fraud

Tue, 24 Oct 2023 13:38:51 GMT

New Law Makes it Harder To Commit Deed Fraud

Thanks to the hard work of the Florida legislature, a new law will strengthen Florida’s ongoing fight to protect property owners from fraudulent conveyances of their property. As of January 1, 2024, Fla. Stat. §695.26(c) will require that witnesses to a deed legibly print, type or stamp their post office addresses under their signature. Although Florida’s laws pertaining to conveyances of real estate were already stringent, requiring that a grantor’s signature be acknowledged by a notary public and witnessed by two witnesses, the requirement that witnesses provide their addresses will add an extra layer of protection for Florida property owners. Particularly, this will aid victims and law enforcement in locating and verifying the witnesses to the deed, and make it easier for the State to prosecute fraudsters.

How the Fraud Works

Although there are various schemes a fraudster can use to transfer real property fraudulently, one of the most prevalent schemes is to target vulnerable property. Vulnerable property generally meets most, if not all, of the following criteria: 1. The property is vacant 2. The property is located in a blighted area 3. The property owner is not maintaining the property 4. The taxes have not been paid for several years 5. The owner does not live locally 6. The property is unencumbered – meaning there is no mortgage or liens recorded against it.

Once a property is selected, the fraudster prepares a deed and gets his/her hands on a notary seal – whether through theft or creation via a computer. The fraudster then signs for the two witnesses and for the notary and records the deed. Once recorded, the fraudster sells the property and pockets the proceeds.

What Steps Closing Agents Were Already Taking

Prior to enactment of the law, many closing agents were already taking extra steps to help in the prevention of fraud. Particularly, if a title search showed a deed that was recently recorded for minimal consideration where the parties did not appear to be related, many closing agents would take additional steps to verify the validity of the deed. This generally would involve independently verifying that the property owner was aware of and did indeed execute the deed with the intention to convey. However, despite this extra effort by closing agents, fraudulent deeds were still slipping through. With this new law, the Legislature’s intent is to close the fraud gap, and if a deed slips through, make it easier for prosecutors to prosecute the fraudsters.

Common Penalties for Deed Fraud

If you are thinking that committing this crime will only result in a slap on the wrist, think again. In most cases, this type of fraud is classed as a felony. Various factors, such as the amount of the fraud and whether the victim is elderly, will determine which class of felony the criminal act will fall under. Since these crimes often involve violations of multiple laws, it is not unheard of for a fraudster to face a prison sentence of 30 years plus. In addition, if found guilty, a fraudster will likely also be required to pay fines and restitution to the victim.

Protecting Your Property

Many County Clerks in the State of Florida are helping with the fight against fraud by offering a free fraud alert service through their websites. Property owners who sign up for the service will be notified by the Clerk of any document recorded with their name on it in the County’s Official Records.

Lee County has also agreed to participate in a two-year pilot program called “Title Fraud Prevention Through Identity Verification”. Previously, the clerk’s office was required to accept and record a document if it met Florida’s statutory requirements, even if the document was fraudulent. With the new program, the Clerk requires that anyone who records a document in Lee County present a valid, government issued photo ID before the document is processed. If at the end of the pilot the program is deemed beneficial without placing an unnecessary burden on the County Clerks, the hope is that the program will expand to all 67 County Clerks within two years.

What to Do if You are a Victim

If you think you may have been a victim of deed fraud, contact your local law enforcement agency. If you are unsure if you have been a victim, the attorneys at Alexander S. Buchanan, PLLC can help by reviewing your title for fraud, and if fraud is discovered, serving as a liaison between you and law enforcement. Contact our office at 727-897-8686 or office@attorneybuchanan.com for a review of your case.

Declaratory Judgments for Unidentifiable Mobile Homes

Fri, 03 Feb 2023 12:33:44 GMT

UNDERSTANDING THE LEGAL PROCESS FOR OBTAINING TITLES TO UNIDENTIFIED MOBILE HOMES

You’ve lined up some snowbirds to buy your Florida property. They have excitedly told you how they plan to decorate the mobile home to be their tropical oasis. Suddenly, you receive a call from the closing agent asking for the original mobile home title. You think to yourself, “what mobile home title?” Neither a search of your documents nor a call to the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles produces a title. What do you do?

You may need an Order of Declaratory Judgment from a Court in order to complete the closing.

In most cases in Florida, if you sell a mobile home or a piece of property with a mobile home on it, you will need to provide the closing agent with an original Certificate of Title. If you do not have the title and are unable to obtain a duplicate title from the DHSMV because the DHSMV cannot identify the mobile home, you will need a Court order to close.

In an action for declaratory judgment based on an unidentifiable mobile home, the mobile home owner requests that the Court issue an order awarding title to the mobile home to the owner and directing the DHSMV to assign a vehicle identification number to the mobile home and issue a Certificate of Title.

Depending on the circumstances, the lawsuit could take several months or even a year or more to resolve.

Attorney Jennifer Codding is experienced in evaluating mobile home title issues and filing declaratory actions. If you think you may be in need of a declaratory action, contact our office for a consultation.