Snowbird Legal Help: Massachusetts and Florida

Thousands of New Englanders spend the winter in Florida. When something goes wrong, whether an injury, a car accident, a condo assessment, or a tenant problem back home, the matter often involves two states, two sets of laws, and two sets of deadlines. Muggeo & Associates has offices in Salem, Massachusetts and Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and our attorneys are admitted in both states.

How We Help Snowbird Clients

• Injured in Florida While Wintering There: falls, accidents, and other injuries, under Florida’s shorter deadlines
• Florida Car Accidents for Massachusetts Drivers: insurance, no-fault benefits, and rental cars
• Injuries at Florida Condos, HOAs and Seasonal Rentals: pools, walkways, elevators, and stairs
• Florida Condo and HOA Disputes for Seasonal Owners: assessments, milestone inspections, reserves, liens, and records
• Your Massachusetts Home While You Are in Florida: tenants, rentals, and property problems while you are away
• Florida Communities We Serve: from Palm Beach to Naples
• Snowbird Checklist: Before You Head North

Why Two-State Experience Matters

• Different deadlines. Florida generally gives two years to file a negligence lawsuit for claims arising after March 24, 2023; Massachusetts generally gives three years.
• Different fault rules. Since 2023, Florida bars recovery if the injured person is more than 50 percent at fault; Massachusetts bars recovery if the injured person’s fault is greater than the defendants’ combined fault.
• Different insurance systems. Both states have no-fault auto insurance, but the benefits, thresholds, and rules differ.
• Different condominium laws. Florida’s post-Surfside condominium laws impose inspection and reserve requirements that Massachusetts does not.
• Different courts. We appear in state and federal courts in both states. See Courts We Serve.

Working With Us From Either Home

Snowbird clients move twice a year. We set up phone and video meetings, electronic signatures, and secure document exchange so your matter keeps moving whether you are in Salem, Swampscott, Sarasota, or Naples. We can also coordinate with your doctors, insurers, property managers, and accountants in both states.

Muggeo & Associates has offices at 133 Washington Street, Salem, Massachusetts, and 160 SE 9th Street, Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Our attorneys are admitted in Massachusetts and Florida, as well as New Hampshire, New York, and Rhode Island, so one firm can follow your matter between your two homes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can one law firm handle a matter in both Massachusetts and Florida?

Our attorneys are admitted in both Massachusetts and Florida, and the firm has offices in Salem and Fort Lauderdale. That lets us handle many matters in either state and coordinate when a problem touches both.

Do I have to stay in Florida for my case?

Usually not. Much of a case can be handled by phone, video, email, and electronic signature. Depositions, mediations, and some hearings can often be scheduled around your travel or held remotely.

Which state’s law applies if I live in Massachusetts but was hurt in Florida?

Often Florida law applies to an injury that happened in Florida, but it depends on the type of claim, the parties, and where the case is filed. Florida’s shorter deadlines can apply even after you return north.

Do you help with problems back home while I am away?

Yes. We help Massachusetts owners with rental properties, tenants, condominium associations, and contractor disputes while they are in Florida, and Florida owners with condo and HOA issues while they are in New England.

Talk With Us in Massachusetts or Florida

If you have a legal question that involves Massachusetts and Florida, call Muggeo & Associates at (978) 741-1177, text the same number, or request a consultation online. We answer calls 24/7 and can meet by phone or video wherever you are spending the season. Email: jared@ljmassoc.com.

This page provides general information, not legal advice. Laws in Massachusetts and Florida change, and every situation is different. Contacting the firm does not create an attorney-client relationship. Prior results do not guarantee future outcomes. Last reviewed November 2026.