Community Matters – Fall 2026
In this edition, our lead article explores strategies for resolving community association disputes without the financial and emotional strain of trial. Recognizing that up to 97% of civil lawsuits end in compromise, the piece outlines steps associations can take—such as establishing clear litigation goals, exchanging information early during discovery, and carefully weighing costs and risks—to achieve favorable settlements while preserving community harmony, by Brittany R. Brock, Esq.
The second article addresses how boards should respond when members attempt to involve the association in neighbor-to-neighbor conflicts. It emphasizes that associations are not mediators for private disputes and should only intervene if there is objective evidence of a governing document violation. Boards must enforce rules consistently without engaging in selective enforcement, and matters involving safety risks or harassment should be directed to law enforcement rather than handled by the board, by Elizabeth Modzeleski, Esq.
Our final article breaks down upcoming changes under the Georgia Property Owners’ Bill of Rights Act, effective January 1, 2027, which eliminates acceleration of assessments for delinquent accounts. Stephen explains how this shift impacts collection litigation and discusses practical adjustments boards can make—such as setting annual assessments due at the start of the year while offering voluntary payment plans—to maintain steady cash flow and protect association finances, by Stephen A. Finamore, Esq.
Community Matters is published on our website on a quarterly basis, and if you would like hard copies, we can make those available for you as well. Thank you!