S.Thomas Peavey Hoffer achieves AV Preeminent Rating

Matthews & Jones, LLP is pleased to announce that S. Thomas Peavey Hoffer, managing partner of the firm’s Litigation Group, has achieved the rating of AV Preeminent® from Martindale-Hubbell®. The AV Preeminent® rating is the highest possible rating given by Martindale-Hubbell®. Only approximately 10% of all lawyers achieve the AV Preeminent® rating, and such rating…

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Transactional Attorney Wanted for our Destin Office

Matthews & Jones, LLP, a well-established law firm with offices in Destin, Niceville, and Santa Rosa Beach (30A), is seeking a bright and creative transactional associate.  You should have a minimum of three-to-seven years of commercial transactional law firm (or in-house) experience with at least moderate experience handling real estate closings and commercial transactions. We…

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Job Posting – Title Closing Agent

Destin Offiice Location has a position open for a Title Closing Agent. compensation: 35 – 40K plus benefits employment type: full-time Experienced Closing Officer to start immediately. Candidate must have a minimum of 5 years experience in pre-closing, closing, and post-closing. Candidate must be detail orientated and have the ability to work independently and in…

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Changes to vacation rental regulation backed

The News Service of Florida A Senate committee Thursday approved legislation that would let the state regulate vacation rental properties and eliminate local regulations passed in recent years. In a 9-1 vote, the Regulated Industries Committee endorsed legislation (SB 1400) sponsored by Sen. Greg Steube, R-Sarasota, that was combined with another measure (SB 1640) sponsored…

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Miami-based Key International buys Hampton Inn in Destin

Key International bought a Hampton Inn & Suites hotel in the Florida Panhandle for $31.5 million. The Miami-based real estate investment and development firm paid McNeill Hotel Co. about $242,000 per room for the 130-room hotel in Destin. McNeill will continue to manage the hotel, located along the Gulf of Mexico at 1625 Highway 98…

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A Proactive Approach – Elder Law

Elder law attorney helps clients prepare for the future. As people age, medical issues eventually and inevitably present themselves, but can be hard to precisely anticipate. Legal issues, too, invariably emerge, but what makes them different is their relative predictability. Elder law is among Andrew Wheeler’s areas of practice. An attorney with Matthews & Jones,…

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Matthews & Jones, LLP is certified as an Authorized Service Provider for Alliant National Title Insurance Company

Matthews & Jones, LLP has been certified as an Authorized Service provider for Alliant National Title Insurance Company for the 4th year in a row. To earn Alliant National’s certification, Matthews & Jones, LLP demonstrated a track record of complying with Alliant National’s control standards, which includes extensive review under Alliant National’s Quality Management System (…

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Recent Ruling Allows VRBO Rentals In Neighborhood Prohibiting “Business Use” Of The Property

Do your neighborhood or condominium Conditions, Covenants and Restrictions (CCRs) prohibit short-term rentals through AirBnB or Vacation Rental By Owner (VRBO)?  If the governing documents only contain a prohibition against “business use” as opposed to an explicit restriction against short-term rentals, the answer is probably “no.” In a recent decision from Florida’s First District Court…

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Wire Fraud

To help raise awareness about wire fraud, ALTA created this video that provides four tips on how consumers can protect their money and offers advice on what to do if they have been targeted by a scam. Use This Video to Warn Consumers About Wire Fraud

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Coastal Seniors of South Walton

What an informative meeting of Coastal Seniors of South Walton!  Andrew Wheeler, attorney with Matthews & Jones LLP, educated the group on the importance of preparing legal and financial tools for seniors.  Many insights were offered.

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Gaining insights through experience

A picture of Dana Matthews and Michael Jones.

When Dana Matthews hung out a shingle in Destin in 1983, there was no Emerald Coast Parkway, no Mid-Bay Bridge. There was one bank and only three other attorneys in town. He had graduated from the law school at Florida State University, and did trial work for 2½ years in Tallahassee before moving back to…

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2017 Leadership Okaloosa Graduates 42 Community Leaders

An image of the 2017 Matthews and Jones staff.

The Costa Leadership Institute at Northwest Florida State College, in partnership with the Crestview, Destin, Niceville Valparaiso and the Fort Walton Beach Chambers of Commerce, honored 42 Okaloosa County business professionals during a graduation celebration on May 11 at the Emerald Grande to celebrate their completion of the 2016-2017 Leadership Okaloosa program.  Our congratulations to…

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