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Donley Law Firm PLLC

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Orange Park, FL
Donley Law Firm PLLC

Excellence in legal representation: Criminal, Corporate, Estate Planning, Guardianship, Probate law.

06/17/2026

Why every Florida business owner should have a succession plan:

A succession plan answers a simple question: if you stepped away from your business tomorrow, planned or unplanned, what happens next? Florida business owners often focus on day-to-day operations and put long-term planning aside, but a clear succession plan protects everything you have built.

It defines how ownership transfers, who steps into leadership, how partners are bought in or bought out, and how the business coordinates with your personal estate plan. For LLCs and corporations, the operating agreement or shareholder agreement carries most of that weight, and many small businesses have agreements that are outdated or silent on these questions entirely.

Whether you are planning for retirement, a sale, a partnership change, or simply preparing for the unexpected, a succession plan gives your business, your partners, and your family a clear path forward.

Call our office to discuss what a plan would look like for your situation.

06/16/2026

What a health care surrogate can and cannot decide for you.

A health care surrogate designation is one of the most important documents in any estate plan, and also one of the most misunderstood. Under Florida law, a health care surrogate is the person you authorize to make medical decisions on your behalf if you become unable to make them yourself.

That authority is significant: your surrogate can consent to or refuse treatment, communicate with your medical team, and in some cases make end-of-life decisions consistent with your stated wishes. What a surrogate cannot do is override a valid living will or act contrary to your known preferences.

The surrogate's authority also does not extend to financial or legal decisions, which require a separate durable power of attorney. Naming the right person and making sure they understand your wishes in advance is as important as having the document itself.

Visit donleylawfirm.com to learn how to put a health care surrogate designation in place before it is needed.

06/11/2026

Juvenile diversion programs in Florida: what they are and who qualifies.

Florida's juvenile justice system includes several diversion programs designed to resolve cases for first-time and lower-level offenders without a formal adjudication. These programs can include civil citation, juvenile diversion programs administered through the Department of Juvenile Justice, and teen court, among others.

Successful completion typically means the charge does not result in a formal delinquency record, which can have a lasting impact on a young person's future opportunities.

Eligibility depends on factors including the nature of the offense, the juvenile's prior history, and the specific county. Duval County and Clay County each have their own processes and available programs, and navigating them effectively requires knowing how they work and who makes the decisions at each stage.

Call our office to talk through whether diversion is a realistic option.

06/10/2026

Ask A Lawyer Wednesday: Can a landlord-tenant dispute become a criminal matter?

Most landlord-tenant disputes in Florida are civil matters, handled through eviction proceedings or small claims court. But in some situations, a property dispute can cross into criminal territory. A landlord who changes the locks, removes a tenant's belongings, or shuts off utilities without following the proper legal process may face a civil claim for wrongful eviction, and in some cases the conduct can rise to the level of criminal harassment or interference with property rights.

On the other side, a tenant who intentionally damages property or refuses to vacate after a valid court order may face criminal exposure as well. Knowing the line between a civil dispute and conduct that carries criminal consequences is important for property owners and renters alike in Northeast Florida.

Visit donleylawfirm.com to learn how we can help.

06/09/2026

Legal Tip Tuesday: Florida's homestead exemption

Florida's homestead exemption is one of the strongest property protections in the country, but many people misunderstand what it actually covers. The exemption protects your primary residence from forced sale by most creditors, which can be a meaningful safeguard for families facing financial difficulty.

It does not, however, protect against all claims. A mortgage lender, a contractor with a valid lien, or the IRS can still reach a homestead property under certain circumstances. The exemption also affects how your home can pass to your heirs: Florida law places restrictions on how a homestead can be devised in a will when a surviving spouse or minor child is involved, and those restrictions can override what the will says.

Understanding how homestead rules interact with your estate plan matters, and assumptions that lead to unintended outcomes are more common than most families expect.

Visit donleylawfirm.com if you have questions about how homestead law affects your property or your planning.

06/04/2026

When someone passes away with a will in Florida, the court typically appoints the person named in that will as the Personal Representative of the estate. This role carries real legal responsibilities: gathering and protecting the deceased's assets, notifying creditors, paying valid debts and expenses, filing final tax returns, and distributing what remains to the beneficiaries named in the will.

In Florida, the Personal Representative has a fiduciary duty, meaning they are legally obligated to act in the best interest of the estate and its beneficiaries, not in their own. The probate process moves more smoothly when the Personal Representative understands their obligations from the start and has proper guidance throughout.

Donley Law works with Personal Representatives throughout the Jacksonville area to help them fulfill their duties correctly and close estates as efficiently as possible. Call our office if you have been named to this role and want to understand what comes next.

06/03/2026

Summer break brings more free time and, for some families, unexpected contact with the juvenile justice system. In Florida, a juvenile who is charged with an offense faces a process that is separate from the adult criminal system, with different hearings, different terminology, and different possible outcomes.

An arrest does not automatically mean a record that follows your child everywhere, but how the case is handled in its earliest stages matters significantly. Florida offers diversion programs for first-time and lower-level offenders, and understanding whether your child qualifies is one of the first questions to ask.

If your family is navigating a juvenile matter in Duval, Clay, or surrounding counties, we can walk you through what the process looks like and what options may be available. Visit donleylawfirm.com to learn more about our juvenile defense practice.

06/02/2026

Summer travel season is a good time to review your estate planning documents before you leave Florida.

If you have a will, power of attorney, or health care surrogate designation, confirm that they reflect your current wishes and that the people named are still the right choices.

Florida law requires specific ex*****on formalities for these documents, including proper witnesses and notarization, and a document that does not meet those requirements may not be honored when it matters most.

A plan that was right five years ago may not account for changes in your family, your assets, or your wishes today.

Reviewing your documents before a trip is one of the most practical steps you can take for your family's protection.

Call our office to schedule a review before you travel.

05/28/2026

When a Will Is Contested in Florida

Not every family agrees on a loved one's final wishes, and when that happens, the result can be a will contest. In Florida, a will can be challenged on several grounds: the person lacked mental capacity when they signed it, they were under undue influence from someone else, the document wasn't properly executed, or a newer will exists.

Will contests can delay probate significantly and create lasting tension within families. At Donley Law Firm, we help families navigate these disputes with care, whether you're defending a valid will or raising legitimate concerns about one that doesn't reflect your loved one's true intentions.

If you're facing a dispute over a loved one's will, on either side, we're here to help you navigate it. 904-265-5422.

05/27/2026

Ask A Lawyer: What are my rights if I'm being investigated for a crime?

You have the right to remain silent and request an attorney. Avoid discussing the case with anyone except your legal representative to prevent complications.

If you've been contacted by investigators, the next steps you take matter. We're here to help. 904-265-5422.

Address

1700 Wells Road, Suite 27
Orange Park, FL
32073

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 5pm
Tuesday	9am - 5pm
Wednesday	9am - 5pm
Thursday	9am - 5pm
Friday	9am - 5pm

Telephone

+19042655422

Website

https://donleylawfirm.com/

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