Effective Use of an Attorney by HOA Boards

The board of directors of a homeowners association is responsible for properly managing the association’s business. In the real world, the people who are vested with the responsibility for making the decisions on behalf of a homeowners association are a diversified group of people with vastly different backgrounds and levels of experience which may or may not be beneficial to their job as a director. Those who volunteer their time as directors are often placed in a position where they need input from professionals such as property managers, accountants, and lawyers. Frequently, in an effort to keep costs down, board members will avoid incurring the expense that is associated with consulting a professional and they will make short-sighted decisions that end up costing the association far more money than the fees that would have been incurred for the consultation that never took place. Good business judgment (a requirement for all board members) necessitates knowing when to reach out to an attorney for advice.