With over 30 years of established relationships and hundreds of millions of dollars in closed transactions, Michael A. Trinkler, P.A. has cemented its status in the South Florida community as one of its top-notch and go-to real estate law firms.
Michael A. Trinkler, P.A. is a boutique law firm that offers affordable and knowledgeable legal representation throughout Florida in residential and commercial real estate transactions, including purchases, sales, and refinances.The firm has over 30 years of experience guiding and advising home buyers and sellers, residential and commercial real estate professionals, sophisticated investors, and mortgage lenders in the full spectrum of complex issues affecting each transaction.
Our clients can rely upon the extensive experience of the firm’s professional team to vigilantly protect their interests and guide them through important decisions. The firm goes beyond client expectations by always being easily accessible and approachable, establishing long-standing relationships in the South Florida community.
We are approved title agents for Fidelity National Title Insurance Company, First American Title Insurance Company, and Old Republic National Title Insurance Company and work with all major lenders.
Our attorneys have extensive knowledge and experience in the real estate industry, including contract formation and negotiation, purchase and sale contingencies, real estate disputes and resolutions, and title transfers. The firm represents various residential and commercial clients, including first-time buyers, existing owners, experienced buyers and sellers, sophisticated investors, and real estate investment and management companies. The firm also assists individuals and families with property and title transfers concerning specific estate planning needs. Our attorneys provide legal advice and real estate settlement closing services throughout Florida for three primary types of transactions: purchase, sale, and title transfers. Our services encompass all phases of residential and commercial real estate matters.
The home represents the centerpiece of one’s life and is likely the most significant investment and possession an individual and family can have. Therefore, properly securing this asset should remain a top priority for homeowners. At Trinkler Law, we offer prudent legal advice that allows you to circumvent and resolve any pitfalls arising from your transaction and ensure that your home is ultimately protected.
Commercial properties present multitudes of financial opportunities, whether as an investment in a business or yourself. As a commercial property owner, landlord, or investor in a fast-paced real estate market, your business requires top-notch legal guidance concerning commercial property acquisitions, sales, and refinances. At Trinkler Law, we provide the personal attention and responsiveness necessary to navigate the comprehensive real estate market while protecting your commercial asset.
Purchasing and selling real estate property can be a complicated and confusing process.Therefore, it is essential to have an experienced real estate professional guide you from contract to closing. Our goal is to make the process as straightforward as possible.
As part of our services, we provide:
Refinancing your mortgage at the right time could help improve your savings in the short and long term by reducing your monthly mortgage payments and the total amount of interest you pay over the life of the loan. Consulting an experienced real estate professional allows you to explore different refinance options and understand when to take advantage of those opportunities. Our goal is to walk through the refinance process, including its advantages and disadvantages, and enable our clients to make informed decisions when it makes the most sense for their finances.
As part of our services, we provide:
Individuals transfer title in real estate to another individual or entity for several reasons. Consulting an experienced real estate professional ensures you use the appropriate transfer instruments to best accomplish your wishes for your real estate portfolio. Our goal is to educate our clients on the legal consequences of transfers of ownership in Florida so that they make informed decisions and take control of their future.
As part of our services, we provide:
Michael A. Trinkler is an accomplished and efficient real estate and title attorney with over 30 years of experience and a stellar reputation for his reliability, adaptable nature, and consistent positive results.
Michael began his career in law as a litigation attorney and gained invaluable skills in negotiation, attention to detail, and zealous client representation, which have paid dividends in his current practice in residential and commercial real estate transactions. In 1998, Michael established his law firm, Michael A. Trinkler, P.A., which has allowed him to assist individuals, investors, and businesses engaged in real estate transactions that involve the purchase, sale, or refinancing of residential or commercial property.
During his time in real estate, Michael has served as legal counsel on thousands of real estate transactions, which collectively closed hundreds of millions of dollars. Michael’s enviable track record has helped him earn the loyalty and appreciation of his clients in the real estate industry, including realtors, lenders, and fellow legal professionals. Michael is an approved title agent for Fidelity National Title Insurance Company, First American Title Insurance Company, and Old Republic National Title Insurance Company and works with all major lenders. Additionally, he is a certified closing agent vetted by Secure Settlements, Inc.
Michael is licensed to practice law in Florida and New Jersey, including the U.S. Southern District Court of Florida and District Court of New Jersey. He is a member of the American Land Title Association, Florida Land Title Association, The Fund Broward County Circuit Advisory Team, Broward County Attorney’s Real Estate Counsel, Florida Real Estate Attorney’s Forum, and a founding member of the Parkland Coral Springs Business Group.
Michael has been married to his best friend and business partner, Jacqueline, for 30 years. Together, they have two daughters (Sydney and Danielle), who are both successful and hard-working Certified Public Accountants.
Jordan P. Goldman is a real estate and title attorney with extensive litigation experience in insurance and commercial law matters. Given his tremendous experience as a litigator, Jordan developed an efficient, collaborative, and results-driven approach to resolving disputes and closing transactions.
Jordan was admitted to The Florida Bar in 2017 and has remained a member in good standing since. Before joining the firm, Jordan was a litigator at a national law firm where he represented businesses and individuals in commercial real estate litigation, employment matters, corporate governance disputes, automobile liability, premises liability, and general casualty matters. He has handled hundreds of lawsuits on behalf of many small businesses and FORTUNE 500® companies from beginning to resolution.
Born and raised in South Florida, Jordan obtained his Bachelor of Science in Marketing from Florida State University. Before his legal career, Jordan worked for a premier advertising agency and gained valuable experience delivering comprehensive marketing campaigns for sophisticated clients.
Jordan earned his Juris Doctor from Nova Southeastern University Shepard Broad College of Law, where he was on the dean’s list and recognized as a student scholar by The Business Law Section of The Florida Bar. During law school, Jordan served as a judicial intern to the Honorable Mark A. Speiser of the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit Court of Florida and the Honorable A. Jay Cristol of the United States Bankruptcy Court Southern District of Florida.
When buying and selling residential or commercial property, the real estate professional you retain can impact the timeline and outcome of your closing. At Trinkler Law, we understand that the real estate closing process can be stressful and confusing. We devote ourselves and work diligently to streamlining the closing process and making it an enjoyable experience. We pride ourselves on being easily accessible and available to ensure our clients receive the expert representation and personal attention they deserve.
Please contact our office regarding rates, services, and other questions you may have. Thank you for your interest and we look forward to hearing from you and building a lasting professional relationship.
In any transaction, the Real Estate Attorney protects each party’s interests, facilitates contract negotiations and closing procedures, and communicates with various parties, including real estate professionals and lenders. The attorney also ensures that all contracts and other closing documents align with the party’s objectives and resolves all legal issues related to liens and title defects.
The attorney also serves as a valuable and knowledgeable resource for the legal parameters involved in your transaction. In Florida, only licensed attorneys may provide legal services, such as reviewing and explaining the effects of signing a contract and advising regarding responsibilities under the terms of an agreement. A title insurance company alone may not provide legal advice concerning the legal issues that may arise during a transaction. Therefore, you are encouraged to retain a Real Estate Attorney to ensure that your rights are protected and you remain informed when making critical decisions related to the transaction.
Florida’s Homestead Exemption provides homeowners a tax exemption of up to $50,000 for their permanent residence in Florida. Under Florida’s “Save Our Homes” assessment limitation, one year after the property becomes the homestead, the assessment for each following year cannot increase more than 3 percent or the percent change in the Consumer Price Index (CPI), whichever is less. The difference between the market value and the assessed value (i.e., assessment difference) of the homestead property is expected to increase over time and save the homeowner a considerable amount in property taxes. Notably, a homeowner may be able to transfer or “port” all or part of the assessment difference to a new Florida homestead. This concept is known as Portability. Homestead also protects the homestead property from creditors of the homeowner. Under most circumstances, a creditor cannot force the sale of the debtor’s homestead to satisfy a money judgment against the debtor.
In order to qualify for Florida’s Homestead Exemption, the homeowner must be a permanent Florida resident and the homestead property must be the resident’s primary place of residence. A second home or investment property will not qualify as homestead property. The owner of the homestead property must also be a natural person and the property cannot be titled in the name of a corporation, limited liability company, or partnership. Homeowners should consult their respective county’s property appraiser for any additional requirements to applying for homestead.
An enhanced life estate deed, known as a “Lady Bird Deed,” grants the current property owner (i.e., the life tenant) the right to use and control the property during their lifetime (i.e., life estate interest). Upon the life tenant’s death, the real property automatically transfers to the beneficiaries designated in the Lady Bird Deed (i.e., the remaindermen).
Under a Lady Bird Deed, the life estate is “enhanced” because the life tenant reserves all the rights of fee simple ownership in the property during their lifetime, including the right to sell, convey, mortgage, lease, or otherwise manage and dispose of the property, without the knowledge or consent of the beneficiaries. Furthermore, the life tenant does not owe a duty to the beneficiaries to preserve and maintain the real property and may also change the beneficiaries in the Lady Bird Deed at any time without their consent.
In the real estate context, a Lady Bird Deed allows the life tenant to preserve its Florida Homestead Exemption and avoid probate court. At the time of death, the beneficiaries indicated on the Lady Bird Deed will inherit the property without the need for probate.
In contemplation of a Lady Bird Deed, you should discuss the advantages and disadvantages of this transaction with a real estate attorney and formulate a legal strategy that best safeguards your interests in the property.
A Post-Occupancy Agreement is an agreement where the buyer of a property agrees to allow the seller to stay on the property past the closing date. The parties can determine the terms of the agreement while negotiating the Real Estate Contract or during the closing process. All parties will sign the agreement at or before closing.
The Post-Occupancy Agreement promotes flexibility and permits the seller more time to remain on the property to better align with the preferred timeline of the parties. Notably, the period of post-occupancy cannot exceed 60 days if it is a mortgage transaction. Under a Post-Occupancy Agreement, the seller becomes liable to the buyer for any injuries, loss, waste, or damage to the property post-closing.
When contemplating a Post-Occupancy Agreement, the parties should consult a real estate attorney to analyze the agreement and ensure that each party’s interests are protected.
A lien is a security interest attaching to a property to secure the payment of a debt or performance of some other obligation. All liens must be satisfied before closing so the property transfers with clear title to the buyer. Overall, liens can create complications for a real estate transaction and affect your ability to sell a property.
Liens break down into voluntary liens and involuntary liens. A voluntary lien is created by the homeowner agreeing or consenting to place a security interest on the property. The most common example of a voluntary lien is a mortgage, which allows the lender to foreclose on a property if the borrower fails to make timely payments or breaches some other condition in the agreement. An involuntary lien is founded in law and allows creditors to access your assets to satisfy certain debts. Involuntary liens are due to unpaid obligations, often seen in the forms of mechanic’s liens, tax liens, and judgment liens.
If you are considering selling real estate, you should consult a real estate attorney to conduct and review a lien search and determine the legal strategies for satisfying any liens preventing your sale.
