Ducharme Law, P.L.L.C.

Guiding Boards and Solving Problems Since 2000

If you are looking for a full-service condominium law firm, one that will help you as a Board to run your association smoothly, interpret provisions of your documents, solve problems in the association, guide you in the application of your documents, draft budgets, collect delinquencies, draft rules and regulations, and explain how annual meetings and Board meetings should run, then you have found the right law firm and the right attorney.

Biography

Experienced and skilled attorney.

Attorney Robert E. Ducharme is a Seacoast resident whose civil law practice is limited to Condominium Law.

Attorney Ducharme has owned and lived in a residential condominium, owns commercial condominiums, has worked as a condominium property manager, and has practiced condominium law since 2000.

He has developed condominiums for himself, co-investors, as well as developers; creating documents from scratch and seeing projects through from the initial idea to the handing over of the association from the developer to the first Board of Directors.

The New Hampshire Supreme Court has made it clear that condominium boards are, by and large, filled with volunteers whose expertise lies other than in the management and operation of a condominium association. Unfortunately, there is no primer course for operating a condominium association.

Attorney Ducharme brings a unique skill set to the practice of condominium law as he has a property management background.

As such, he has the legal experience to help craft and update condominium documents to help address current issues, such as how to have meetings in the digital age, and how to craft them to withstand challenges from those who should not be living in condominiums. Additionally, in light of his early training as a prosecutor Attorney Ducharme has had in excess of 500 trials from the small (parking tickets) to the large (attempted murder and multiple rape and child molestation cases); and thousands of court hearings. His comfort in the courtroom, familiarity with the Rules of Evidence, and skill in the arts of direct and cross-examination have served his clients well from many years in condominium matters ranging from collection cases to the enforcement of condominium documents.

But most such issues are not court issues. Rather, in light of his property management background, and focus on mediation, Attorney Ducharme can work with you to effectively resolve your issues, whether your condominium association is a small four unit or large with over 50 units.

He has appeared in court innumerable times on behalf of associations, and in doing so has guided courts to properly interpret and enforce condominium instruments on behalf of the associations he represents.

Associations Represented

Over one hundred eighty associations represented.

In short, if your Association needs guidance in anything related to condominium law, including collections, how to deal with noisy unit owners, how to create and manage a reserve fund, how to budget for and implement maintenance projects, let Attorney Ducharme help guide and solve as he has been doing since 2000.

Represents over one hundred eighty (180) Associations in Rockingham and Strafford counties, including the municipalities of Brentwood, Danville, Derry, Dover, Exeter, Hampton, Newmarket, Londonderry, Portsmouth, Rochester, Rollinsford, and Stratham.

Individuals Represented

Appeal to Supreme Court

Although he primarily represents condominium associations, Attorney Ducharme helped Gary and Katherine Keer, post-trial, by filing an Appeal of a Rockingham County Superior Court case in which the Association converted common area into limited common area giving additional parking to some, but not the Keers, and converting a walkway into limited common area barring the Keers from walking to a neighbors’ over what had been common area, and converting common area in the back of two units (in a four unit condominium association) into limited common area so as to allow certain unit owners to put decks on what was common area.

In a unanimous opinion, the Supreme Court sided with the Keers and ruled all the actions of the Association were illegal takings, noting that unless at the time of the creation of the association, a Declarant specifically reserves parts of common area as areas that may later be converted into limited common area, it may not be done without all affected owners agreeing, which the Keers were not.

Read the opinion here: Keers Supreme Court Opinion, January 13, 2015.

Home Security Consulting

Argent Security Consulting will work with you to determine a security plan for your association or home.

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