“I thought the fine was settled. She showed me the hearing was mine to ask for, and I went with my photos in a folder.”
Ottis R.Homeowner
HOA and condominium law in Gilbert
Your association wrote. You get to answer.
Say which kind of letter it is, and see where to start: what the dates mean, what the governing documents allow and what a reply could cost. Briseida Carrow helps homeowners, and small boards, across Gilbert and the East Valley.
Which one is yours?
- A fine, a lien or a violation noticeWhat the hearing is for, and which date to watch.
- My request was turned downA driveway, solar panels, paint, a fence or a shade sail.
- I serve on a boardDocuments, hearings, collections and meetings, for volunteers.
- I can’t tell what this isSend the letter along and we’ll say what kind it is.
What we handle
Most of the work is reading
The declaration, the rules, the letter and its dates, set side by side, and then a straight answer about what they add up to.
Fines, liens and violation notices
A notice, a hearing date, a fine that keeps growing, a lien on your title. The order these come in, and where a reply helps most.
Fines and liens
Requests the board turned down
A longer driveway, solar panels, new paint, artificial turf. How to read the denial, and whether to resubmit, appeal or ask for a variance.
Architectural review
Counsel for small boards
Governing documents, hearing procedures, collection policies and meeting rules, for associations without a manager’s lawyer on call.
Board counsel
The first meeting
We start with paper, not blame
Bring the notice, any earlier letters, and the declaration and rules if you have them. If you can’t find them, we’ll help you ask for copies.
Briseida reads them against one another and tells you, in writing, what each one means for you.
A plain-language read of the notice and the documents
The dates that matter, in the order they fall
A written fee before any work begins
Neighbors who wrote back
“The denial said “does not conform.” Briseida found the paragraph it meant, and what the committee owed us in reply.”
Nuala P.Homeowner
“We are five volunteers. She gave us a hearing script we could follow, and our meetings got shorter.”
Jorunn T.Board treasurer
Each client’s case is different. These comments are samples and say nothing certain about the outcome of yours.
What owners wonder before they call
Should I pay the fine to make it go away?
Sometimes paying is the sensible choice. Make it a choice: know what the notice says, and whether you can still ask for a hearing, before the money leaves your account.
How soon do I need to answer?
Look for a date in the letter. Hearing and appeal windows are often short, so a call in the week the letter arrives leaves you the most choices.
Can the association put a lien on my home?
Many can, for unpaid assessments and sometimes for fines. What is allowed, and what must happen first, depends on your documents and your state’s law, and that is what the review is for.
Do you work for associations too?
Yes, for small boards. The office never acts for a homeowner against an association it advises, or for an association against a homeowner it has advised.
What does it cost to have my letter read?
You get the fee in writing before any work starts, and it says whether the work is a set price or by the hour.
Will the association know I called?
Not from this office. Calls are confidential, and we write to the association only when you ask us to.
If the letter has a date on it, call before the date
A short call is enough to learn which date matters. Bring the letter if you have it.
Please don’t send confidential details by form or email before the office has agreed to act for you.