Rebecca Frances Emmons
Top rated Real Estate attorney in Vero Beach, Florida
Lowndes Drosdick Doster Kantor & Reed, PA
Practice areas: Real Estate, Business & Corporate; view more
Licensed in Florida since: 2000
Education: Cleveland State University Cleveland-Marshall College of Law
Selected to Super Lawyers: 2024 - 2026 Call today:
772-202-5212
Lowndes Drosdick Doster Kantor & Reed, PA
2101 Indian River DriveSuite 200
Vero Beach, FL 32960 Visit website
Working with Rossway Swan for more than eight years now, Rebecca Frances Emmons functions as a partner working out of their office in Vero Beach, Florida. Licensed in Florida since 2000, she concentrates her practice on:
· Commercial real estate
· Business and transactional matters
· Entity formation and organizational representation
· Mergers and acquisitions
· Condominium, cooperative and Homeowners Association law
· Residential real estate
In 1996, Ms. Emmons completed her Bachelor of Arts degree in social science with honors from the PennWest Clarion University of Pennsylvania. Following this, she enrolled in the Cleveland Marshall College of Law to obtain her Juris Doctor cum laude in 1999. Her exceptional advocacy skills were recognized when she was awarded the Prestigious Hinshaw & Culbertson Best Brief Award at the National Finals of the American Bar Association’s National Appellate Advocacy Competition.
In her real estate practice, Ms. Emmons represents clients in a wide range of transactions, including the purchase and sale of real estate, and provides ongoing representation to condominium and homeowners’ associations, catering to residential and commercial clients. In addition, her business law practice involves:
· General contract preparation and review
· Formation of new entities
· Preparation of stockholder agreements, acquisitions and dispositions of businesses
· Providing ongoing advice to business owners
Beyond her legal practice, Ms. Emmons is actively involved in her community, particularly in philanthropic endeavors. She is a respected member of various professional associations, including the Indian River County Bar Association, the American Bar Association, the Ohio State Bar Association and The Florida Bar. She has received numerous awards and honors throughout her career, including being recognized as Top 40 Under 40 by Vero Life Magazine. She has also been rated “Excellent” on Avvo.
Practice areas
Real Estate: Consumer, Business/Corporate, Real Estate: BusinessFocus areas
Business Formation and Planning, Business Organizations, Condominiums & Cooperatives, Contracts, Landlord/Tenant, Limited Liability Companies, Mortgage & Refinance, Partnership, Sub-chapter S Corporations
- 60% Real Estate: Consumer
- 20% Business/Corporate
- 20% Real Estate: Business
First Admitted: 1999, Ohio
Bar / Professional Activity
- Member of The Florida Bar Clients' Security Fund Committee, 2025
- Indian River Real Property Council Board of Directors (2012-current), 2025
- Chairperson, Nineteenth Judicial Circuit Grievance Committee , 2022
- Florida, 2000
- Ohio, 1999
- Nineteenth Judicial Circuit Grievance Committee Member (2019-2022), 2019
- President, Indian River County Bar (2012-2013), 2012
- Indian River County Bar Association, Board of Directors (2008-2013), 2008
Transactions
- Negotiations on behalf of Cooperative Association client for construction of a seawall for underlying beachfront real property that is subject to long term land lease with lessor, 2023
- Representation of a client who was the victim of elder abuse in a financial arrangement with general contractor; representation included sales negotiations of subject property, negotiations for mortgage relief with lender and negotiations with contractor to effectuate sale, 2023
- Represented Buyer in $11.5 residential real estate transaction; representation included contract negotiations, title review, post closing architect contractual review and ad valorem tax advice, 2023
- Represented foreign seller of US based real estate; representation included application for FIRPTA Withholding Certificate Application, 2023
- Representation of cooperative association mobile home park in negotiations with Florida Department of Environmental Protection for construction of dock and pier via riparian easement, 2020
Pro bono / Community Service
- Member of the Brevard Zoo's Our Legacy Campaign Cabinet (2023-present) a committee tasked with raising funds to build the future aquarium and conservation center on Florida's east coast., 2023
- Quail Valley Charities Committee Member since 2023 - Quail Valley Charities is a 501(c)(3). Since its inception in 2001, Quail Valley Charities has dedicated their funding to selected non-profit organizations and programs in Indian River County, which focuses solely on children and their education. , 2022
- Indian River Community Foundation, Inc., Chairman of the Board (2019-2021), 2019
- Indian River Community Foundation, Inc., Board of Directors (2013-2022). Indian River Community Foundation was established in 2008 with a mission of building a better community through donor-driven philanthropy. With assets of $72 million in 175 charitable giving accounts, the Community Foundation and its clients have awarded more than $70 million in grants, mostly to nonprofit charitable organizations located in Indian River County, Florida., 2013
- Indian River Impact 100, President (2015-2016), 2015
- Indian River Impact 100, President-elect (2014-2015), 2014
- Indian River Impact 100, Board of Directors (2009-2017), 2009
- Indian River Impact 100, Member (2009 - present) Indian River Impact 100 is a membership organization of over 400 women committed to improving Indian River County, Florida in significant and meaningful ways. Each member makes a $1,000 annual contribution and 100% of dues raised go directly to high impact grants. The goal is to offer women an opportunity to participate in high impact grant making, rather than traditional, transactional charitable giving. By pooling resources together we are able to provide four $100,000 grants to local non-profits each year., 2009
Educational Background
- Clarion University of Pennsylvania, B.A., cum laude, 1992-1996
Scholarly Lectures / Writings
- TRIM Notices will be out soon. These are important to everyone but especially to new homeowner's or to those recently claiming an exemption. If you thinking your assessment is too high or you are missing your exemption, pay close attention to the response deadlines., TRIM Notices Will be out Soon, Real Estate, 2020
- Florida Statute Section 193.155 provides that if the just value of the new homestead is less than the just value of the immediate prior homestead, the assessed value of the new homestead shall be equal to the just value of the new homestead divided by the just value of the immediate prior homestead and multiplied by the assessed value of the immediate prior homestead., Downsizing?? What Happens to your Ad Valorem Tax Savings?, Real Estate, 2016
- In Florida, the Save Our Homes Amendment to the Florida Constitution prevents the assessed value of homestead property from increasing more than 3% per year, or the percent change in the Consumer Price Index, whichever is lower. This provision is very helpful and has saved long term homeowners considerable tax dollars. , Florida Homestead Portability, Real Estate, 2015
- It is common to use business entities to effectuate some of your estate planning goals. For example, creating an LLC and gifting yearly membership interest to your children can be effective. However, if you are contemplating moving to Florida, you should know that this tool should not be used if you wish to benefit from Florida's Homestead Tax benefits. , FL Homestead & Business Entities: Like Oil & Water, They Don't Mix, Real Estate, Corporations, 2016
- Hurricanes are devastating and recovery takes time. However, if you have sustained property damage, there are steps that you can take after the storm passes to make your insurance claims process smoother., What To Do After a Hurricane Hits, Real Estate, Insurance, 2017
- A company is said to be "doing business as" when the name they use to operate their business is different from their legal, registered name. In Florida, if you want to operate your business under a name other than your own (for example, Susan Smith doing business as "Susie's Seashell Shop"), you must register with the Division of Corporations of the Florida Department of State in accordance with Florida’s Fictitious Name Act (Act), Sec. 865.09, F.S., and advertise the intent to use the fictitious name in a newspaper where your principal place of business is located., Fictitious Names (a.k.a, DBAs) Can Be a Titleholder of Real Estate, Real Estate, Corporations, 2016
- The Foreign Investment in Real Property Tax Act (“FIRPTA”) authorizes the U.S. to tax foreign persons on the sale of U.S. owned real estate. A foreign seller can obtain a Withholding Certificate from the IRS evidencing that the seller is entitled to a reduced (or zero) withholding amount., Foreign Buyers of US Property - Your FIRPTA Compliance Documents Are Important!, 2017
- On June 14, 2017, Governor Scott signed Senate Bill 398 into law which has been of great interest to many of us "dirt lawyers" and anyone in the residential real estate industry. The law places new requirements on condominium, cooperative and homeowners associations with respect to estoppel certificates. , New Estoppel Law Effective 7/1/17, Real Estate, Condominium And Homeowner's Associations, 2017
Honors
- Florida Super Lawyer , Florida Super Lawyer, Super Lawyer, 2024
Office location for Rebecca Frances Emmons
2101 Indian River Drive
Suite 200
Vero Beach, FL 32960
Phone: 772-202-5212
Selections
- Super Lawyers: 2024 - 2026
