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Donley Law Firm PLLC

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United States
Orange Park, FL
Donley Law Firm PLLC

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

08/27/2026

What the Florida probate process actually looks like step by step.

Probate has a reputation for mystery, but in Florida it follows a defined path. A petition is filed, and the court appoints a personal representative.

Creditors are formally notified and given a window to make claims. The estate's assets are inventoried, valid debts and expenses are paid, and what remains is distributed to beneficiaries before the estate is closed. Formal administration commonly takes several months to a year, and smaller estates may qualify for a simpler summary administration.

Knowing the map does not remove the loss, but it does remove the fear of the unknown. Donley Law Firm guides personal representatives and families through each step.

Call 904-265-5422 if you have been named a personal representative or need to open an estate.

08/26/2026

Ask a Lawyer: Do you need a lawyer to start a Florida LLC

You can file the paperwork for a Florida LLC yourself in an afternoon, and for some single owner businesses that may be enough to start.

What the state filing does not give you is the structure that actually protects you: an operating agreement that spells out ownership and what happens if a partner leaves, guidance on keeping business and personal finances separate so your liability protection holds up, and the right tax election for how you plan to grow. Most LLC problems we see were built in at formation.

Whether you file it yourself or with help, make sure the foundation under the filing is solid.

Visit donleylawfirm.com to talk through your LLC before or after you file.

08/25/2026

Legal Tip Tuesday: Life events that mean it is time to update your will:

A will is not a document you sign once and forget. Florida law changes how some provisions work after major life events.

Divorce, for example, generally voids what your will leaves to a former spouse, but it does not rewrite the rest of the document to match your new life. Marriage, a new child or grandchild, a move to Florida from another state, or the death of someone you named are all signals that a review is due.

Even without a major event, reading your will every three to five years keeps it aligned with what you own and who matters. An outdated will can be almost as disruptive as no will at all.

Call our office to schedule a review of your will and estate plan.

08/20/2026

Why an arrest is not a conviction and what to do first

An arrest is the beginning of a process, not the end of the story. Every person charged with a crime is presumed innocent, and the decisions made in the first days can shape everything that follows.

Early legal representation means someone is examining how evidence was gathered, whether rights were respected, and what alternatives, such as diversion programs, may be available. No lawyer can promise an outcome, but no one should navigate a criminal charge alone.

Donley Law Firm defends clients across Duval and Clay County with preparation and discretion.

Call 904-265-5422 for a confidential consultation.

08/19/2026

Ask a Lawyer: What actually counts as a breach of contract in Florida?

Not every disappointment in a business relationship is a breach of contract. In Florida, a breach generally means one side failed to do something the agreement actually required, and that failure was significant enough to matter.

Late delivery, partial payment, or work that does not match what was promised can all qualify, but the contract's own language usually decides the answer.

Before assuming the worst, read what the agreement says about deadlines, notice, and how disputes are handled, because many contracts require written notice and a chance to correct the problem first.

Knowing where you stand early tends to cost far less than reacting after the fact.

Visit donleylawfirm.com if you are working through a contract question with a client or vendor.

08/18/2026

Legal Tip Tuesday: What parents should cover before a teen starts driving

A first license is a big milestone, and Florida puts real limits around it. A 16 year old may not drive between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m., and a 17 year old between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m., unless accompanied by a licensed driver 21 or older or driving to or from work.

Texting behind the wheel is a primary offense, meaning it alone is reason for a stop. Make sure your teen knows what to do if they are pulled over: stay calm, keep hands visible, and be respectful.

And remember that when you sign for a minor's license, you share legal responsibility for what happens behind the wheel.

Call our office with questions about a teen driving matter in Duval or Clay County.

08/13/2026

When a school incident becomes a juvenile court matter

When something happens at school, many parents assume the consequences end with the principal's office. Depending on the incident, that is not always true.

Matters involving fights, threats, or items found in a backpack can be referred beyond the school, and a school resource officer's involvement can mean a juvenile case alongside the suspension.

Parents have the right to be involved, to understand what their child is being asked to sign or say, and to seek legal guidance before statements are made. Handling the school side and the legal side together, early, gives your child the strongest path back to normal.

Call 904-265-5422 if a school incident has become a legal matter.

08/12/2026

Ask a Lawyer : What happens if you die without a will in Florida

If you pass away without a will in Florida, state law, not your family, decides who inherits. The intestacy statutes set out a fixed order, starting with your spouse and children, and the results can surprise people, especially in blended families where a spouse and children from a prior relationship may divide the estate.

The court also chooses who administers your estate, and if you have minor children, a judge selects their guardian without your input.

A will replaces that default plan with your own choices. It is one of the simplest documents in an estate plan, and it is the difference between the state's plan and yours.

Visit donleylawfirm.com to start a will that reflects your wishes.

08/11/2026

Legal Tip Tuesday: Four contract clauses to read before signing any business agreement

Most business disputes are written into the contract long before anyone breaks it. Before you sign, read the payment terms and deadlines closely, understand how the agreement ends or renews, and look carefully for a personal guarantee, which puts your own assets behind the deal.

Check where and how disputes must be resolved, because a venue clause can send you to a courtroom hundreds of miles away. These clauses are negotiable before signing and very hard to change after.

If an agreement matters to your business, an hour of review now is far cheaper than a dispute later.

Call our office to have a contract reviewed before you sign it.

08/06/2026

Most families do not think about legal authority until the day they need it.

An adult child cannot automatically pay a parent's bills, talk to their doctor, or manage their accounts, no matter how close they are or how much they are already helping.

Three documents prevent that gap: a durable power of attorney for financial matters, a health care surrogate designation for medical decisions, and a HIPAA release so doctors can actually speak with the family. Put in place while a parent is still able to make their own choices, they keep decisions inside the family and out of a courtroom.

The hardest part is starting the conversation, and the best time is well before anything is wrong. We're here to help if your family is ready to put these documents in place.

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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