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Condo and HOA

Top-Ranked Condo and HOA Lawyers in Stuart, Florida

Updated Methodology LexRank v1.27 lawyers rankedReviewed by LexRanked editorial team

Summary

As of November 1, 2026, the top-ranked condo and HOA lawyers in Stuart, Florida are Elizabeth Pogge Bonan (LexRank 84.00), Jane Louise Cornett (84.00) and Deborah Lynn Ross (84.00).

This ranking lists 7 condo and HOA lawyers in Stuart, Florida, in order of their LexRank score, calculated from their Florida Bar records and other cited sources. All 7 lawyers in this ranking are Board Certified in Condominium and Planned Development Law by The Florida Bar, a credential held by 4.9% of Florida lawyers in any field. Their experience ranges from 17 to 44 years in practice.

Lawyers ranked
7
Fully verified
7 of 7

The ranking

Ordered by organic LexRank score; paid placements are labelled and never affect a position. How we rank

  1. No change

    Elizabeth Pogge Bonan

    Ross Earle Bonan Ensor & Carrigan, P.A. · Stuart, FL

    Verified
    • 42 years experience
    • Condo and HOA
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #1?

    Ranks #1 with 84.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (4/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 26.7)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.4)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4)
  2. No change

    Jane Louise Cornett

    Independent practice · Stuart, FL

    Verified
    • 44 years experience
    • Condo and HOA
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #2?

    Ranks #2 with 84.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (4/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 26.7)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.4)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4)
  3. No change

    Deborah Lynn Ross

    Ross Earle Bonan Ensor & Carrigan, P.A. · Stuart, FL

    Verified
    • 33 years experience
    • Condo and HOA
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #3?

    Ranks #3 with 84.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (4/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 26.7)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.4)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4)
  4. No change

    J. Henry Cartwright

    Fox McCluskey , PLLC · Stuart, FL

    Verified
    • 26 years experience
    • Condo and HOA
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #4?

    Ranks #4 with 82.60: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Professional credentials (15/15); held back by Reputation (4/20). 1.40 points behind #3, mostly data quality.

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 26.7)
    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 15)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4)

    1.40 points behind #3 (Deborah Lynn Ross): Data quality −1.4.

    Not on record (scores 0, never estimated): website.

  5. No change

    Jacob Ensor

    Ross Earle Bonan Ensor & Carrigan, P.A. · Stuart, FL

    Verified
    • 20 years experience
    • Condo and HOA
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #5?

    Ranks #5 with 76.60: strongest in Professional credentials (15/15); held back by Reputation (4/20). 6.00 points behind #4, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 15)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4)

    6.00 points behind #4 (J. Henry Cartwright): Experience −6.

    Not on record (scores 0, never estimated): website.

  6. No change

    Joseph Arena

    Independent practice · Stuart, FL

    Verified
    • 19 years experience
    • Condo and HOA
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #6?

    Ranks #6 with 75.40: strongest in Professional credentials (15/15); held back by Reputation (4/20). 1.20 points behind #5, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 15)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4)

    1.20 points behind #5 (Jacob Ensor): Experience −1.2.

    Not on record (scores 0, never estimated): website.

  7. No change

    John Patrick Carrigan

    Ross Earle Bonan Ensor & Carrigan, P.A. · Stuart, FL

    Verified
    • 17 years experience
    • Condo and HOA
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #7?

    Ranks #7 with 74.40: strongest in Data quality (10/10) and Professional credentials (15/15); held back by Reputation (4/20) and Experience (20.4/30). 1.00 points behind #6, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.4)
    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 15)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4)
    • Experience 20.4/30 (ranking avg 26.7)

    1.00 points behind #6 (Joseph Arena): Experience −2.4.

Data sources behind the scores

Every score on this page is calculated from facts backed by these sources. Each profile shows which source supports which fact and when it was last checked.

  • floridabar.org · Official / regulatory · 7 profile pages74 facts for 7 lawyers

Condo and HOA market in Stuart

LexRanked tracks 7 lawyers and 2 law firms in condo and HOA law in Stuart, Florida. 7 of the lawyers have verified professional data. Data verified October 16, 2026.

Lawyers
7
Law firms
2
Verified professional data
7 of 7
Average rating
Withheldtoo few sourced ratings
Median review count
Withheldtoo few sourced counts
Median experience
26 years7 lawyers

Calculated by LexRanked from its own records on ; data verified . Ratings and review counts count only when backed by a source; figures from fewer than three profiles are withheld. All lawyers in Stuart

What sets these Stuart lawyers apart

All 7 lawyers in this ranking are Board Certified in Condominium and Planned Development Law by The Florida Bar, which only about one in twenty Florida lawyers achieves in any field. Florida Bar board certification requires at least five years of practice, substantial involvement in the field, peer review by other lawyers and judges, continuing legal education and a written exam, and it must be renewed every five years. The figures below come from each lawyer's Florida Bar profile.

Fact about the 7 ranked lawyers Figure
Board Certified in Condominium and Planned Development Law 7 of 7
Years in practice 17 to 44 (median 26)
License status with The Florida Bar Eligible to practice, verified for every lawyer
Most common law school University of Florida, Fredric G. Levin College of Law (2 lawyers)

Who is included in this ranking?

Lawyers eligible to practice in Florida, with a Stuart office address and condo and HOA as a practice area on record. It compares 7 condo and HOA lawyers, using only facts with a cited source. How we rank.

Florida rules to know

Florida condominiums are governed by chapter 718 and homeowners' associations by chapter 720, and many disputes must go to arbitration or mediation before a lawsuit.

Rule What it means
Access to records The association must make official records available within 10 working days (condo) or 10 business days (HOA) of a written request (Fla. Stat. §§ 718.111(12), 720.303(5))
Fines At most $100 per violation and $1,000 in total, after 14 days' notice and a hearing before a committee of owners (§§ 718.303(3), 720.305(2))
Before suing Many condo disputes go to nonbinding arbitration with the state (§ 718.1255); many HOA disputes require presuit mediation (§ 720.311)
Milestone inspections Condo buildings three stories or taller need a structural inspection by December 31 of the year they turn 30, then every 10 years (§ 553.899)
Reserve studies Condo associations must complete a structural integrity reserve study at least every 10 years for buildings three stories or taller (§ 718.112(2)(g))
Court Where cases are heard
State court circuit Martin County is in Florida's Nineteenth Judicial Circuit

How to choose among these lawyers

Confirm the license, ask who will handle your matter, and get the fee terms in writing before you sign.

  1. Look up the lawyer in The Florida Bar's directory and check the bar number shown on their LexRanked profile.
  2. Ask whether the lawyer you meet will handle your matter personally, and how many matters like yours they have handled recently.
  3. Ask how they charge and what costs are extra, and get the agreement in writing.

Further reading

Sources for the rules above

Frequently asked questions

How much can a Florida HOA or condo association fine me?

Up to $100 per violation and $1,000 in total for a continuing violation, unless an HOA's governing documents allow more, and only after 14 days' written notice and a hearing before a committee of at least three owners.

Do I have to go to arbitration or mediation before suing my association?

Often, yes. Many condominium disputes go first to nonbinding arbitration with the Division of Florida Condominiums, Timeshares and Mobile Homes, and many HOA disputes require a demand for presuit mediation.

When does a Florida condo building need a milestone inspection?

Buildings three habitable stories or taller need one by December 31 of the year the building reaches 30 years of age, and every 10 years after that. Local officials can require it at 25 years near salt water.

Who certifies condominium lawyers in Florida?

The Florida Bar certifies lawyers in Condominium and Planned Development Law after at least five years of practice, peer review and a written exam.

What does Board Certified in Condominium and Planned Development Law mean?

It is a credential from The Florida Bar for lawyers with substantial experience in the field who have passed peer review and a written exam. 7 of the 7 lawyers in this ranking hold it; 4.9% of Florida lawyers hold a board certification in any field.

Which court handles cases in Stuart?

State court cases in Martin County are heard in Florida's Nineteenth Judicial Circuit.

How is this ranking ordered?

By the LexRank score, calculated only from facts with a cited source: experience, practice-area relevance, awards on record such as board certification, professional credentials, data quality and location. Client reviews do not affect the LexRank score: neither star ratings nor the number of reviews is scored. Payment never changes a position.

Do client reviews affect the LexRank score?

Client reviews do not affect the LexRank score: neither star ratings nor the number of reviews is scored. Reviews are shown on profiles for information only, and Reputation counts only awards on record, such as board certification. How we rank

Which lawyers are verified?

7 of the 7 ranked lawyers have fully verified profiles: Elizabeth Pogge Bonan, Jane Louise Cornett, Deborah Lynn Ross, J. Henry Cartwright and Jacob Ensor and others.

About this ranking

Last updated
Methodology
LexRank v1.2 - deterministic, reproducible scoring
Editorial review
LexRanked editorial team,
Independence
Positions are never sold. Paid placements, if any, are labelled and do not affect scores.

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