The Villages Probate Lawyers

The firm works with Asset Protection, Estate Planning, Wills, & Trusts, Probate, Elder Law, Guardianship, Gun Trust, NFA Firearms, NFA Trust, Gun rights, Probate, Probate Litigation, Trusts, and Trust Litigation. Licensed in Texas and Florida

I was born and raised in Jacksonville, Florida, where I continue to live and work. My journey in law began after completing my education at Riverside Presbyterian Day School and The Bolles School. I pursued higher education at Emory University, where I obtained a Bachelor of Arts in 1998. I furthered my studies at Stetson University, earning both a Juris Doctorate and an M.B.A. in 2001 from the College of Law and School of Business Administration, respectively. I am married to Cameron Naugle, who runs Naugle Funeral Home, and we are blessed with two children, Abigail and Logan. My family is...

Jason E. Havens is a Partner at Holland & Knight LLP, practicing in its Jacksonville (also serving Ponte Vedra Beach) and Tallahassee (also serving Destin, Santa Rosa Beach, and Rosemary Beach) locations. He specializes in complex estate and charitable gift planning (domestic and international), probate/trust administration, and probate/trust litigation for affluent individuals and families and on behalf of charitable organizations. He is admitted to practice law in Florida and Tennessee. Mr. Havens received his LL.M. in International Taxation from Regent University, his LL.M. in Estate Planning from the University of Miami, his J.D. from the University of...

Markus A. Sermons, Esquire is a litigation attorney focusing in the areas of Probate, Guardianships, Divorce, and other Family Law issues, along with Trust Litigation, and general Civil Litigation. Prior to starting Sermons Law, PLLC, he spent several years in the Office of the Public Defender litigating criminal matters in the Juvenile and Felony divisions, but began his law career with the Office of the State Attorney as a Legal Trainee. With countless hearings and many jury and bench trials to his credit, Mr. Sermons has extensive courtroom experience.

Additionally, Mr. Sermons has also worked with...

In 2016, Carla Trinca-Conley joined Berg Bryant Elder Law Group, PLLC, where she specializes in assisting elderly individuals and their families. Carla is passionate about getting to know each client's unique story and tailoring her legal services to their needs. She is a Board-Certified Elder Law attorney by the Florida Bar. At Berg Bryant, Carla is the lead attorney for guardianship cases, including guardianships over incapacitated adults, guardian advocacy proceedings for developmentally disabled individuals over 18, and guardianship proceedings for minors with funds from personal injury actions or inheritance. Carla is committed to helping her clients navigate the requirements of...

Judy-Ann Smith, BSN, MS, JD My passion as an attorney is being able to help people. Resolving someone’s legal issues is the most rewarding aspect of the work I do. I am an empathetic and compassionate lawyer, willing to listen to my clients’ issues, to get a deeper understanding of what they would like to achieve and accomplish. Most importantly, I am an assertive advocate for all my clients and I will fight for what is fair and just according to the laws of the land. My practice areas range from family law to estate planning and probate. I have extensive success...

We assist families avoid impoverishment from long term care and nursing home expense by qualifying their loved ones for Medicaid and VA benefits. We prepare Wills, Trusts and Durable Powers of Attorney and settle Estates and Trusts. We seek maximum recovery when loved ones are abused or neglected in a Nursing Home or ALF. Ted moved to Florida in 1960 from Michigan and began his firm in 1990. Over the 32 years that he has been in practice, Ted has helped many hundreds of families qualify for Medicaid and protect the assets that they have worked a lifetime to...

Attorney Joy Owenby serves clients throughout Florida with aggressive and relentless representation for a wide-range of practice areas. While her knowledge and experience are extensive, Attorney Owenby particularly handles matters involving divorce, adoption, trusts / wills, probate, criminal defense, child support, and family law. Over the course of the years, she has obtained much recognition and has become an accomplished lawyer with an Avvo Rating. Prior to the founding of Owenby Law, P.A., Attorney Owenby serves as legal counsel for Florida’s Guardian ad Litem Program. During this time, she explored the intricacies of family law which have allowed her...

Attorney McCabe G. Harrison is a knowledgeable and compassionate Estate Planning and Probate attorney with a special understanding of the financial and tax side of your final affairs. With an advanced degree (L.L.M.) in taxation, and deep connections to Florida, McCabe balances love and logic in helping his clients create and execute their estate plans. Attorney Harrison is part of a closely connected family, so he knows how important it is for you to protect your loved ones after something happens to you. He works closely with each of his clients to identify their families’ financial, emotional, and health needs, and...

A Queens, New York native graduating from the State University of New York (SUNY) Albany in Political Science, History and a minor in Criminal Justice in 2010. Ms. Whitfield graduated Ave Maria School of Law, in Naples, FL in 2013 and became a member of the Florida Bar in 2015. She has established a practice in the Tampa Bay area where she lives and works. Having established several areas of practice including Estate Planning, Probate, Immigration, Criminal Defense, and Business Law matters. Her passion is to help those in her community through the court system with their legal issues and...

Matthew C. Shapiro is a seasoned attorney concentrating in wills, trusts, estates, and civil litigation. Mr. Shapiro graduated with honors from Florida International University, ranking in the top ten of his class. His distinguished academic background laid a strong foundation for his legal career, where he has consistently demonstrated expertise and excellence. During his career, Mr. Shapiro has provided comprehensive estate planning services to thousands of clients, expertly drafting crucial documents such as revocable living trusts of varying complexities, wills, powers of attorney, health care surrogates, living wills, enhanced life estate deeds, trust amendments, and codicils. Having served as the lead or...

John M. Hemenway is a founding partner of Bivins & Hemenway, P.A. John serves as a trusted legal advisor to business owners, real estate investors, and families seeking to preserve and pass down their wealth and values. His practice focuses on estate planning and probate, small and closely held businesses, and real estate, combining experience in each of these areas to provide a comprehensive approach to transactions and planning.

John earned his law degree, cum laude, from the University of Florida. John regularly presents at legal education seminars on both probate and estate planning topics, and is published on estate planning...

Attorney Aaron W. Saoud is the owner of the AWS Law Firm, which practices Probate, Estate Planning, Guardianships, and other related areas of law in Florida. The AWS Law Firm is based out of Tampa, Florida, and serves the majority of the state, from Jacksonville down to Miami, including Orlando, St. Petersburg, and Sarasota. The AWS Law Firm currently is comprised of eight upstanding professionals: four lawyers and four support staff to assist them. Attorney Saoud is a graduate of the University of Michigan and the Stetson College of Law, and is licensed to practice law in Florida, Michigan, and Illinois...

Walt Shurden is a Florida Board Certifed Elder Law Attorney and a former Georgia CPA who used to audit nursing homes and hopitals for a Medicare contractor. Now he represents families who seek Medicaid and VA eligibility because they need help paying for the high cost of long term care. He devises estate plans and asset protection plans for his clients. He also serves as fiduciary, and represents other fiduciaries in probate and trust administration proceedings. All four staff members are experienced and have been with the firm for over 10 years.

Attorney Cheryl Ward will meet your legal needs and exceed your expectations. Mrs. Ward is a Florida Bar licensed attorney practicing throughout the state of Florida. It is her mantra that client satisfaction comes first.

Attorney Sabina Tomshinsky has been practicing law since 2005 and is committed to finding effective resolutions to each client's unique legal needs. Ms. Tomshinsky is the owner of Home Town Law, P.A., where she provides knowledgeable, responsive client service in a broad spectrum of legal areas, including family law, estate planning, probate, landlord-tenant law and corporate law. She has dedicated her career to protecting the interests of individuals, families and businesses in North Central Florida. As a Gainesville, Florida resident for more than a decade, she is proud to address your legal issues and concerns in a creative...

Dina Arvanitakis graduated from the University of Chicago and completed her Juris Doctorate & Master of Laws degree in International Business and Trade Law at the John Marshal Law School in 1999. Dina is licensed to practice law in Florida, Illinois and Washington D.C. Dina is a member of the Florida Board of Realtors and is a licensed real estate consultant with Real Net Brokerage. Bilingual: English / Greek

Sean Lopez founded Lopez Law Group Accident Injury Attorneys to provide client-centered legal representation to all accident victims. Mr. Lopez is an experienced St. Petersburg personal injury lawyer serving clients throughout South Florida. Mr. Lopez represents victims in all types of personal injury cases involving injuries resulting from the negligent or intentional actions of other parties. He handles claims involving car accidents, product liability, slip & fall accidents, and more. Over his career, he has secured millions of dollars in injury compensation for hundreds of accident victims. Mr. Lopez and Lopez Law Group often accept clients who get turned down by other...

John Richert is a Managing Attorney at Richert Quarles, P.A. He received his Juris Doctor from Stetson University College of Law in Gulfport, Florida and a Master’s in Business Administration from Stetson University in Deland, Florida in May 2013. While at Stetson, John participated in Stetson’s pro bono program and was a member of the Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity. Before attending Stetson, John attended the College of William and Mary located in Williamsburg, Virginia and received a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration majoring in Finance. John was admitted to the Florida Bar in September 2013. John’s practice is focused...

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...

Lyudmyla is passionate about representing each client to achieve the best possible outcome though numerous methodologies in resolving disputes including negotiation, pre-litigation mediation, litigation, and trial or arbitration. Her practice areas include: construction-related disputes, construction defect litigation, business disputes, including breach of contract and trade secrets claims, trusts and estates contests, protection of beneficiaries' interests in probate litigation. flbridgetrust.com

Chase earned his J.D. and M.B.A. degrees at Stetson University College of Law in 2021, where he graduated Valedictorian of his class, with Magna Cum Laude honors. Chase also earned his Business Law Concentration and was a Senior Associate of Stetson Law Review. While in law school Chase earned a 4.0 high grade distinction in the following courses: Property Law, Business Entities, Federal Income Taxation I, Administrative Law, Sales and Leases, and Products Liability. During law school, Chase was a Judicial Intern to the Honorable Edward C. LaRose of the Florida Second District Court of Appeal and clerked with Fisher...

Attorney Rachel Drude-Tomori is the Founding Partner of Drude Tomori Law, PA, a St. Petersburg law firm dedicated to providing estate planning legal services to individuals and families in St. Petersburg and surrounding areas. Rachel’s primary areas of focus include Estate Planning and Deferred Sales Trusts, and she frequently assists individuals and business owners in protecting their legacies from government and creditor interference. With over 15 years of legal experience, Rachel has developed estate plans for business owners, corporate executives, wealthy individuals, and professionals and their families with a wide range of estate planning objectives. She also develops estate plans...

Gregory J. Lesak, Jr., places great emphasis on attaining a profound comprehension of his clients' underlying businesses and their specific needs. While being results-driven and assertive, Mr. Lesak consistently prioritizes cost-effectiveness in all his endeavors. With extensive experience as a transactional attorney and litigation attorney, he has cultivated a unique perspective in assisting clients. His dual role as both client and attorney equips him with a comprehensive understanding of clients' business requirements and enables him to solve problems effectively. As a solution-oriented lawyer with a strong foundation in business knowledge, Mr. Lesak views problem-solving as the core responsibility of legal...

JEFFREY S. GOETHE is a partner with Barnes Walker, Goethe, Perron, Shea, & Robinson, PLLC. The firm's main office is in Bradenton, with appointments available in the firm's Anna Maria Island, Lakewood Ranch and Parrish offices. Mr. Goethe is a graduate of Maryville College and the University of Tennessee College of Law and was admitted to The Florida Bar in 1990. He is board certified by the Florida Bar as a specialist in wills, trusts and estates law and a Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel. Mr. Goethe is a member of the Florida Bar’s Real...

Marcus Thompson attended the University of Georgia, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in Journalism/Advertising. During his senior year, Marcus studied international media and history at Oxford University. He attained his Juris Doctor from Stetson University College of Law in Gulfport, Florida. During law school, Marcus clerked at a St. Petersburg law firm and gained a wide variety of experience handling cases in the areas of personal injury, criminal defense, business litigation, family law, and civil litigation. After law school and his admission to the Florida Bar, Marcus returned to his hometown of St. Augustine to build his...

Howard Rosenblatt is an Estate Planning and Probate attorney. He is based out of Gainesville and is versed in all matters of Estate Planning, including Wills and Trusts.

Mr. Rosenblatt graduated with his law degree from the University of Florida, Fredric G. Levin College of Law in 1981, and has been recipient of numerous legal and community-based awards and honors, including The Florida Bar Pro Bono Award (2019). NAIFA-Florida's Advisor of The Year Award (2018), Florida Jaycees speaker of the year award (1984). He is a Life member of the Million Dollar Round Table, a Fellow of The Florida...

A. Leigh Cangelosi is an attorney with the Gainesville, Florida law firm, Bogin, Munns & Munns. Ms. Cangelosi's areas of practice include Estate Planning, Probate, Guardianship, Business Law, and Real Estate. She received her B.S. in Business Administration from the University of Florida - Warrington College of Business in 1995, and her J.D from University of Florida, Fredric G. Levin College of Law in 2000.

Legal Practice Areas: Family Law Business Law Estate Planning Probate Civil Appeals (Appellate Law) Intellectual Property Trademarks Pet Trust Guardianships Bar Admissions: Florida, 1974 Education: University of Florida College of Law Gainesville, Florida J.D. – 1974 University of Florida Gainesville, Florida B.A. – 1971 St Petersburg Junior College Clearwater, Florida A.A. – 1969 Representative Clients: SunTrust Bank Honors and...

Timothy C. Martin is licensed to practice law in the state of Florida. As the owner/attorney of Martin Law Office, P.A., he serves the Tampa Bay and Central Florida areas and beyond in matters relating to animal law, estate planning and probate, real estate/real property including landlord/tenant matters, corporate law, business organizations and transactions, LGBT issues, and limited family law matters.

Lauren Richardson moved to Gainesville in 1993 to complete an LLM in Taxation at UF Law. Since then, she has focused her practice on protecting families and property through estate planning, guardianship, probate, special needs, and elder law. She also serves as co-counsel on wrongful death, personal injury and probate and trust litigation cases. Lauren's probate practice is Statewide. All other areas are throughout North Florida. Free phone consult. Reasonable fees.

Jerrold E. Slutzky, J.D., CFP® is a Florida-licensed Attorney at Law and owner of The Slutzky Law Firm, which focuses primarily on Estate Planning Services ( wills, trusts, durable powers of attorney, health care surrogate designations, living wills, probate, guardianships, etc.) and Small Business Legal Services (start-ups, buy-sell agreements, drafting of legal documents, contract negotiations, succession planning, and general business law, counseling, and advice. Bachelor of Science Degree in Finance from the University of Illinois ( Champaign -Urbana ), and a Juris Doctor Degree in Law from the John Marshall Law School in Chicago, Illinois

Attorney Casey C. Harrison is a sympathetic and savvy probate attorney with nearly a decade of experience first working within, and later arguing in front of, Florida’s circuit and appellate courts. He applies this versatile background and inside-out understanding of Florida litigation to assist you with your most complicated probate matters in a comprehensive fashion. Attorney Harrison joined his brother Attorney McCabe Harrison in the family practice in 2020. Before that, he spent seven years working for a litigation firm in Clearwater, Florida, honing his ability to take cases to court and win arguments before judges. He has a range of...

David S. Toback is a Tampa-area lawyer with offices in Tampa and St. Petersburg who concentrates his practice in the areas of estate planning and probate, with an emphasis on tax planning, asset protection and business succession planning. Mr. Toback also helps his clients with business entity formation and commercial transactions, tax preparation matters and the resolution of tax controversies. His entire legal career has been focused on estate planning and tax matters for individuals and businesses. David Toback obtained his Bachelor’s degree in Accounting from the University of South Florida in 1994, graduating magna cum laude. He then earned his...

Army Veteran and former Law Enforcement Officer, Sean decided to continue to serve his community by becoming an Attorney. Sean has a mission to protect the people and started Panther Law, P.A. to do just that. He offers legal help in Litigation, Estate Planning, Probate, Bankruptcy, and Special Needs Law.

Mr. Zoecklein currently focuses his practice on Plaintiff's Civil Litigation. His team is currently litigating cases throughout the State of Florida in the practice areas of probate administration, estate litigation, insurance claims, family law and business law. Brice Zoecklein grew up in Blacksburg Virginia and attended Virginia Tech where he graduated cum laude and obtained a degree in business management. While at Virginia Tech Mr. Zoecklein ran several successful franchises throughout Virginia and North Carolina. Mr. Zoecklein then obtained his juris doctorate degree cum luade and a Masters in Business Administration from Stetson University College of Law....

Representing clients with compassion and professionalism. We handle cases worldwide for greencards, naturalization, asylum, removal, deportation, family based petitions, fiancé visas, VAWA visas and more. We assist clients with estate planning; estate and trust administration; probate litigation; and guardianship matters in the State of Florida. At the Law Office of Cynthia I. Waisman, P.A. we devote our practice to immigration, estates and guardianship matters. Our firm takes pride in providing quality legal services. We prioritize our clients' needs and best interests. We recognize that our clients need the best possible legal representation, provided with the right amount of comparison, creativity and...

Attorney Stephen Lacey is a Estate Planning and Probate Attorney in Melbourne, Florida. His practice areas focus on Estate Planning, Elder Law, Probate, Wills, Trust Administration and Wealth & Asset Protection. With over 20 years of experience, Attorney Lacey has handled various Estate Planning cases in the State of Florida.