How To Form a Florida Nonprofit Corporation (Free Book)

There are over a hundred thousand nonprofit corporations in Florida and many of them were formed without adopting bylaws or following the basics of nonprofit corporation law. St. Petersburg nonprofit lawyer and Adjunct Professor of Law James W. Martin wrote this 227 page book “How To Form a Florida Nonprofit Corporation” as a guide to provide a step-by-step process with legal forms and checklists for forming and maintaining Florida nonprofit corporations. You can view and download the book here:

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James W. Martin is a Florida attorney who practices Florida nonprofit corporation law, is an Adjunct Professor of Law at Stetson University College of Law, and is the author of two volumes of nonprofit corporation legal forms books. He is also Board Certified in Real Estate Law by The Florida Bar Board of Legal Specialization and Education.

For almost twenty years, James W. Martin authored the nonprofit corporations volume of a national legal forms publication, which included legal forms for forming nonprofit corporations in every state.

He has seen many nonprofit corporations improperly formed and maintained. Some failed to file for tax-exempt status after incorporation; some failed to hold annual meetings and file annual reports; some failed to prepare meeting minutes and maintain records; and some failed to follow statutory procedures. Failure to comply with the basics of nonprofit corporation law can result in real estate title problems, litigation, taxes, penalties, and potential personal liability.

This book provides a step-by-step process with legal forms and checklists for forming and maintaining a Florida nonprofit corporation to avoid these problems. It is primarily directed to attorneys because Florida nonprofit corporations are legal entities created under the Florida Not For Profit Corporation Act, so having a law degree really should be a prerequisite to forming and maintaining a nonprofit corporation.

However, St. Petersburg nonprofit attorney James W. Martin realizes that we live in an age where nonlawyers freely access these materials on the Internet, so he has written this book in plain language that does not require a law degree to understand. But his message for nonlawyers reading this book is to be sure to engage a Florida-licensed nonprofit lawyer on their behalf to review any document before it is signed or filed.

St. Petersburg nonprofit attorney James W. Martin has also written the legal forms book How To Form a Florida Business Corporation: A Guide for Lawyers as well as legal forms books regarding Florida real estate sales contracts and lease agreements and forming Florida LLC limited liability companies.

This book was created for general background and educational purposes, is not legal advice, and does not create an attorney-client relationship.

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This page relates to one of the practice areas of St. Petersburg, Pinellas County, Florida lawyer James W. Martin. For other practice areas, click here.

Contact

If you have the need for a Florida real estate, corporation, and probate attorney, you may use the contact form below or call James W. Martin directly at 727-821-0904 or email him at jim@jamesmartinpa.com .

This page was last updated by St. Petersburg nonprofit lawyer James W. Martin on July 27, 2025.

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