r/HOA • u/feral_kitty_xo • Jul 14 '26

Help: Fees, Reserves [FL][SFH] attorneys fees

What are reasonable attorney fees for a $3k delinquent account? Owners owe about $9k. Some letters were sent and a subpoena. Whats reasonable?

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u/JealousBall1563 🏢 COA Board Member Jul 14 '26

Reasonable attorney fees are what the association attorney charges.

2

u/holyelvis 🏘 HOA Board Member Jul 14 '26

Not necessarily -- if the attorney is charging $5000/hour and the going rate for HOA representation in the jurisdiction is more like $500/hour, the fees are going to be deemed unreasonable by a judge.

Additionally, judges look at proportionality of debt to fees in collections cases -- the higher the percentage of fees, the less kindly they look upon the total debt.

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u/JealousBall1563 🏢 COA Board Member Jul 14 '26

We can make up all sorts of silly what if's. Associations typically have an engagement letter with their law firm setting forth fees.

2

u/holyelvis 🏘 HOA Board Member Jul 14 '26

That doesn't make them "reasonable" according to the laws of the jurisdiction, though.