Matthew John Monaghan

Matthew is a native of Florida and Brevard County and was raised locally in Merritt Island. Matthew has an extensive and diverse education which includes a bachelor’s degree in accounting, a master’s degree in taxation, and a law degree. Prior to practicing law Matthew acquired his Certified Public Accountant (CPA) license and worked in public and private accounting for several years before entering law school. Matthew’s unique background in law, accounting, and taxation provide a unique perspective that is unmatched by most attorneys.
Matthew has been located in the same office in Cocoa for the past 15 years practicing business law, wills, trusts, probate, real estate, and asset protection for the local residents of Brevard County and surrounding areas.
As a business attorney Matthew’s business law experience includes structuring and negotiating commercial contracts, mergers, asset and business acquisitions, entity selection and formation for new and start-up businesses, shareholder agreements, employment agreements, non-compete agreements, license agreements, equity and capital transactions, stock options, loans, debt instruments, franchise acquisitions, capital and equipment leases, stock warrants, stock redemptions, stock subscriptions, shareholder buyouts, partnership divisions, business “divorces”, shareholder and partner disputes and resolution, partnership agreements, limited liability company regulations and operating agreements, non-registered nonpublic private security offerings, line of credit agreements, stock pledge agreements, UCC-1 secured transactions, liens, Federal and State income tax analysis and advice, analysis and advice on State and local tax issues. Matthew also serves as general corporate counsel for a multitude of local businesses who need legal advice regarding complex transactions or who just want to call Matthew from time to time to answer their legal questions.
As an estate planning attorney Matthew represents many local families as their trusted family lawyer. Matthew’s estate planning experience includes advising clients and preparing revocable living trusts, wills, powers of attorney, living wills, health care surrogates, advance directives, health care powers of attorney, five wishes, irrevocable trusts, special needs trusts, charitable remainder trusts, foundations, irrevocable life insurance trusts, prenuptial agreements and post marital agreements. Matthew draws upon his background in accounting and taxation to represent wealthy clients in complex estate planning order to reduce or eliminate Federal Estate Taxes. Matthew is always available to the families he represents to be their first point of contact for any type of family legal emergency or issue. Matthew is also frequent speaker in local seminars on various topics in estate planning and asset protection.
As a real estate attorney Matthew represents business and individuals in residential and commercial real estate purchases & sales, commercial and residential leases, contract drafting and negotiations, landlord-tenant disputes, evictions, deeds, mortgages, foreclosures, loan modifications, deed in lieu of foreclosure, short sales, contracts for deeds, lease with purchase option, long term land leases, homeowners’ associations, declarations of covenants and restrictions, easements, rights of way, liens, taxation, boundary disputes, real estate development, platting, subdivision, commercial and residential condominium declarations and documentation, Section 1031 Tax Free exchanges, real estate holding companies, real estate partnerships, lady bird deeds, joint ownership deeds, and planning for the transfer of real estate to heirs at death.
Finally, as an asset protection attorney Matthew has extensive experience developing and implementing strategies which fully utilize the protections provided by the laws of Florida, such strategies have included limited partnerships, irrevocable trusts, series limited liability companies, constitutional homestead provisions, certain types of retirement accounts and investment contracts, and joint asset ownership.

• Credit Cards Accepted

Florida

Since 1998

Attorney

Cantwell & Goldman, P.A.

1998 - Current

Florida State University College of Law

J.D.

1995 - 1998

Honors: Cum Laude; Honors graduate

University of Central Florida

M.S. | Taxation

1992 - 1994

University of Central Florida

B.S. | Accounting

1987 - 1992

Honors: Dean's List

Florida Board of Accountancy

CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANT

Current

Activities: License Inactive

Real Property, Probate & Trust Law Section of Florida Bar

Member

Current

National Business Institute

Featured Speaker For Estate Planning Seminars

2014 - Current

Activities: Trusts 101- Grantor Truts

Florida State Bar  # 144649

Member

1998 - Current

WMEL AM Radio

Featured Legal Expert

2014 - 2014

Activities: Featured Legal Expert on WMEL AM Radio News Talk

Asset Protection For Physicians

Featured Speaker

Trusts 101 Grantor Trusts

National Business Institute

November 17, 2014

Trusts 101: Grantor Trusts, Continuing Education Seminar

National Business Institute

Estate Planning Wills & Trusts, Heritage Isle Estate and Financial Planning Seminar

Asset Protection For Physicians, Spring Meeting

APPNA Florida Chapter

Special Guest Legal Expert, WMEL AM Radio Talk Show