Landlord-tenant attorneys
Heist, Weisse & Wolk
The Law Offices of Heist, Weisse & Wolk, PLLC is a Florida law firm that concentrates solely on representing property management companies, apartment communities, and investors in property management law. It has worked with property managers since 1989 and says it has represented thousands of clients and filed tens of thousands of tenant evictions in most Florida counties, with 85 years of combined legal experience across three attorneys and a full-time support staff.
The core service is residential eviction filing for nonpayment of rent, non-renewals, and lease violations, with statewide coverage, filing of most evictions within 24 hours, written status updates, court file tracking, and bankruptcy court appearances to lift stays. Around that sit security deposit dispute assistance, review of documents and correspondence, preparation of releases and agreements, vendor dispute help, and general property management litigation. For single-family and small residential managers the firm prepares custom leases; for apartment communities it does not draft leases, but reviews clauses and assists with addenda.
The firm puts weight on education and early intervention. Phone, office, and email consultations for clients are free, as are its seven-day notice wording service, over 200 legal forms and notices, over 200 legal articles, legal newsletters, and in-house seminars. It participates in apartment associations, sponsors education speakers across Florida, and takes part in legislative activity in Tallahassee.
The main office is at 5246 Clayton Court in Fort Myers, with satellite offices in Clearwater and downtown Orlando available by appointment. Phones are answered by staff from 9:00am to 5:00pm Monday to Friday.
Best for
Florida apartment communities, property management companies, and investor landlords that file evictions regularly and want flat-fee filing plus unlimited phone and email advice. The firm represents landlords only.
What they do
- Residential eviction filing statewide
- Non-renewal and lease violation evictions
- Security deposit dispute assistance
- Custom lease preparation for single-family and small residential managers
- Lease clause review and addenda for apartment communities
- Bankruptcy stay relief appearances
- Seven-day notice wording service
- Property management litigation
- Landlord-tenant seminars and training
Details
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1989 |
| Team size | 11-50 employees |
| Other offices | Clearwater, FL, Orlando, FL |
| How they charge | Flat attorney's fee for residential nonpayment evictions, from filing through removal by the sheriff's deputy; county filing and service costs are additional. |
What stands out
- Has filed tens of thousands of tenant evictions in most Florida counties since 1989.
- Files most evictions within 24 hours and provides written status updates.
- Publishes over 200 legal forms and notices and over 200 legal articles for clients at no charge.
- Attorneys report 85 years of combined legal experience.
- Main office in Fort Myers, with satellite offices in Clearwater and downtown Orlando by appointment.
Common questions
- What reasons are needed to file an eviction in Florida?
- An eviction can be filed if a tenant refuses to vacate the premises after a proper notice has been served. Whether a notice is proper is determined by law and by the lease, and different types of notices are required depending on the reason for termination — a notice for nonpayment of rent differs from one based on criminal activity, for example.
- How does the firm charge for an eviction?
- The firm charges a flat attorney's fee for residential nonpayment-of-rent evictions, covering the whole process from filing through removal by the sheriff's deputy, with no extra charge for postage or copies. Costs are additional and vary by county: filing fees, service of the summons and complaint, and any sheriff's removal costs. Fees may increase if the case is contested or the tenant files a counterclaim, and a routine court appearance occasionally carries an additional appearance fee.
- Does the firm prepare leases for apartment communities?
- No. The firm does not prepare leases for apartment communities, though it will review clauses and assist with addenda. It does prepare custom leases for single-family and small residential housing clients.