At Portalatin Business Law Firm, we help foreign investors buy property and start businesses in Fort Lauderdale with a clear order of steps. Since April 2017, we have put legal foundations first: the right entity, clean contracts and protected brands, so a deal does not need a redo later.
Founding attorney Jessica Portalatin is a Florida Bar member in good standing and a Super Lawyers Rising Star for 2022 through 2025, a list that includes about 2.5% of Florida attorneys.
A foreign investor lawyer handles the US legal side of moving money from abroad into a Florida property or business. That includes forming an LLC to hold the asset and limit personal liability, and organizing source-of-funds records. It also means getting home-country papers translated and apostilled for official use in the US, then reviewing the purchase and closing.
We coordinate with your CPA, lender, realtor and home-country counsel, and the same team supports local companies through contracts, leases and licensing. If a visa such as the E-2 is part of the plan, eligibility depends on your nationality and facts.
Legal Work in English and Spanish
Contracts, operating agreements and closing documents are explained in the language you think in. Calls with your home-country accountant or family can happen in that language too.
Foundation First, Purchase Second
The LLC that holds your property or business, its operating agreement and its contracts are set up before the closing date. This order reduces liability and avoids the redo that a wrong first step can force.
Advice Built Around Your Business Goal
A rental condo near Las Olas and a marine-services company serving Port Everglades need different structures. Your plan matches what you are actually building.
A Legal Partner After the Closing
Leases, new contracts and protecting the name you bring to the US market stay with the same firm as you grow.
Recognized by Peers and the Florida Bar
Jessica Portalatin is a Super Lawyers Rising Star (2022 through 2025), a list that includes about the top 2.5% of Florida attorneys. She holds a 4.9/5.0 Martindale-Hubbell peer rating and is a Florida Bar member in good standing.
Check three things in order: the association’s financial and structural health, its rental rules, and the entity that will hold title. Florida tightened condo safety laws after 2021, and older buildings can carry large surprise costs.
Request these documents before your deposit becomes non-refundable:
Next, decide who owns the condo. A Florida LLC limits liability and usually passes income through to you. A foreign-owned single-member LLC must file IRS Form 5472 each year. A C corporation pays tax at the company level.
According to the Florida Department of Revenue, Florida’s corporate income tax rate for C corporations is 5.5%, on top of the 21% federal corporate rate. Non-US residents cannot own an S corporation.
If a marine or service business is part of your plan, forming a separate company keeps business risk away from the property. Withholding and treaty treatment depend on your nationality and facts, so confirm the final structure with your CPA.
Yes. You can form a Florida LLC while living outside the United States without a U.S. visa, Social Security Number (SSN), or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN). Florida does not require LLC owners to be U.S. citizens or residents.
You will need to appoint a registered agent with a physical address in Florida and file Articles of Organization with the Florida Division of Corporations. Your LLC can also obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the IRS without an SSN or ITIN.
However, forming an LLC does not grant you permission to live or work in the United States. Depending on your business structure and activities, additional federal tax filings and compliance requirements may apply.
Portalatin Business Law Firm is a Florida business law firm founded in April 2017 and led by attorney Jessica Portalatin, a member of The Florida Bar in good standing. Our approach is proactive: build a strong legal foundation first, with the right entity, clear contracts and protected brands, to reduce liability before problems start.
That foundation-first work supports business owners at every stage, whether they are launching a startup, expanding into the US market or protecting an established brand.
1. First Meeting
We meet by video or phone to find out what is most urgent and your biggest concerns. We review your property or business deal, closing date and goals, then map the order of steps.
2. Goals and investment profile
We gather your source-of-funds records and flag documents that need an apostille, the international certificate that lets foreign records be used in Florida. Any visa goal, such as E-2, depends on your nationality and facts.
3. Structure recommendation
You get a clear structure, such as a Florida LLC or C corporation. We coordinate with your CPA and home-country counsel on FIRPTA and non-resident tax.
4. Entity formation and filings
We file with Sunbiz, Florida’s business registry, obtain your EIN (federal tax ID), and set up a registered agent. These documents support your US bank account application.
5. Contracts and closing support
We draft your operating agreement and review purchase agreements and condo association rules before you sign. Remote signing and power of attorney let you close without flying in.
6. Compliance and ongoing check-ins
We set up recurring duties like Florida’s annual report, due by May 1. As your investment grows, we check in before problems start.
Banks must confirm who owns the company and where the money came from. Expect to provide your passport, EIN letter, articles of organization, operating agreement and source-of-funds records.
An LLC can separate liability, but it changes financing, insurance and tax filings, so your CPA should weigh in. Before signing, check the condo association’s rental rules and any special assessments.
Generally yes.
FIRPTA, a federal law on foreign sellers of US real estate, generally requires the buyer to withhold 15% of the gross sale price at closing.
A first conversation with Portalatin Business Law Firm tells you exactly where your business stands, what needs attention now, and what it will cost to handle, with fees explained before any work begins.
Call us or send a message through the contact form to schedule your consultation.
