Estate planning, probate & elder law in Fort Lauderdale
Estate planning, probate & elder law in Fort Lauderdale
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Business lawRunning a business in South Florida means decisions that carry real weight. John Clarke is the steady counsel behind the formation, contracts, and succession choices that keep your company protected and pointed in the right direction.
Most business problems are far cheaper to prevent than to fix. John gets the foundation right early, the entity, the agreements, the contracts, so your business is built to last and to weather a dispute.
Three steps, from first formation to long-term succession, with one attorney who knows your business throughout.
What you do, who you work with, and where the risk really sits. Good counsel starts with understanding how your company actually runs.
The right entity, clear operating agreements, and contracts that hold up. The groundwork that keeps small disagreements from becoming lawsuits.
As the business changes, John is there for new contracts, partner changes, disputes, and eventually a clean succession or sale.
John Clarke has helped numerous clients achieve success and preserve their assets through tailored business planning and protective structures. Here is how we can help.
Schedule a free consultationWe help you choose the most appropriate legal structure (a limited liability company, S corporation, C corporation, or limited partnership) based on your goals, tax situation, and liability concerns. Choosing the right entity for your situation is one of the most important factors in a business's success. The formation, management, and third-party liability of these entities are governed by the Florida statutes, including Chapter 605 (Limited Liability Company Act), Chapter 607 (Business Corporation Act), and Chapter 620 (partnership laws).
John Clarke has helped dozens of clients structure their businesses for maximum efficiency, profit, and protection from liability. Learn more about John, or schedule a consultation to talk through your business.
Rated 5.0 across 63 verified reviews on Avvo, Google & Thumbtack
“We just completed our revocable trust, living wills and powers of attorney with John Clarke. He made the entire experience so simple; he is very patient, responsive and took the time to answer our questions, and we had so many of them. We had put off creating our trust and will because we thought it would be complicated and expensive. John made it easy to understand and his charges are very reasonable.”
Kenny Luc
Revocable trust, living wills & powers of attorney · via Google
Oct 2026
“I rolled the dice on John Clarke and won. He cares about his clients, gets back in a timely manner and anticipates your needs. Highly recommended for probate actions.”
Ron Kanterman
Probate · via Google
Sep 2026
“I highly recommend this elder law attorney. He was knowledgeable, compassionate, and professional throughout the entire process. He took the time to explain every step clearly, answered all of my questions with patience, and made what could have been a very stressful situation much easier to navigate. His expertise in elder law, Medicaid planning, and estate matters gave my family confidence that we were making the right decisions.”
Nancy Serbellon
Elder law & Medicaid · via Google
Jul 2026
Practical answers for business owners.
Small and mid-size Florida businesses, owners, and professionals. If you run the company or own a piece of it, John can be the lawyer in your corner.
It depends on your goals, your taxes, and your risk. John explains the trade-offs in plain language and helps you pick the structure that actually fits your business.
Yes, and it is usually money well spent. A short review now can save you from a clause that costs you dearly later. John drafts contracts too.
It is the agreement that decides what happens to an owner's share if they leave, die, or want out. If you have a partner, you want one in place before you ever need it.
Yes. When a deal or a partnership goes sideways, John works toward a practical resolution and protects your interests, in or out of court.
Yes. You work with John himself, not a call center or a junior associate, from the first call onward.
Florida's new Digital Bill of Rights, effective July 1, 2024, expands data privacy protections and requires businesses to implement privacy policies.
Read articleComparing C corporations, S corporations, LLCs, and limited partnerships in Florida on liability protection, taxation, management, and administrative requirements.
Read articleA dementia diagnosis does not, by itself, mean a parent can no longer sign a power of attorney, a trust or a will. The goal is to preserve the parent's choices, put the right documents in place while the parent can still sign them, and avoid a costly court guardianship when a sound plan will do the job.
Read articleSummary administration can be an efficient way to transfer a parent's Florida probate assets, but it is not simply a cheaper form of formal probate. The right choice depends on the assets, the creditor picture, family agreement, and whether anyone needs the authority of a personal representative.
Read articleA Florida probate has two price categories: out-of-pocket case costs and professional fees. For a straightforward South Florida formal administration, a practical planning range is often about $4,500 to $13,500 before any personal-representative commission. There is no mandatory 3% fee; the statutory schedule is a negotiable presumption.
Read articleFor many Florida homeowners, a Lady Bird deed is the simpler way to pass a homestead without probate. A revocable living trust earns its place when the estate is more complicated: several properties, incapacity planning, minor or disabled beneficiaries, or out-of-state property. Some plans use both.
Read articleBrowse all business law articlesTalk to John about your entity, your contracts, or a deal on the table. The first consultation is free, with straight answers and no runaround.
✓ Free, no-obligation consultation
No call center and no junior associate. You reach John directly. The first consultation is free, and there is no obligation.
Serving clients across Broward, Miami-Dade, and Palm Beach counties.
