Alachua County Estate Planning Lawyers

Wendy A. Mara attended Stetson University and graduated Magna Cum Laude in 1993
Ms. Mara taught language arts in high school for 13 years. While teaching full time, she earned her MBA degree from the University of Central Florida in 2006. Deciding to pursue a legal career, she entered law school at Florida Coastal School of Law where she graduated in the top 10 percent of her class. While in law school, she was a teaching and research assistant, earned the Dean’s Certificate for Pro Bono Work and became an award winning oralist for the Jessup International Moot Court Competition....

Peggy is a founding partner of The Law Offices of Hoyt & Bryan, a family wealth and legacy planning law firm specializing in wills, trusts and estates and elder law. She is a three-time Stetson University graduate receiving her B.B.A., cum laude, in 1981, her M.B.A. in 1982 and her J.D., cum laude, in 1993. Her passion is her pets - all of them - including 4 horses, 6 dogs and 2 cats! She enjoys long distance trail riding on Heaven and Vogue. Peggy practices in the areas of family wealth and legacy counselling, including trust and estate planning...

Katherine is a native of Jacksonville, Florida. She is the immediate Past-President of the Jacksonville Women Lawyers Association. She is a member of the Jacksonville Chapter, D.A.R.. She attended Riverside Presbyterian Day School and is a graduate of The Bolles School. She is happily married to Cameron Naugle, owner of Naugle Funeral Home and has two small children, Abigail and Logan, who are the light of her life. Katherine graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from Emory University in 1998. She then graduated with a Juris Doctorate from Stetson University College of Law in 2001, and an M.B.A. from...

Monica Balyasny is a licensed attorney in the States of Florida and New York. She is fluent in both English and Russian.

Mrs. Balyasny graduated from John Jay College with a Bachelors in Science in Criminal Justice in 2012. After graduation, she moved to South Florida to attend Nova Southeastern University, Shepard Broad College of Law, where she obtained her Juris Doctor in 2018. While in law school, Mrs. Balyasny received her concentration in Health Law while actively participating in extracurricular activities at Nova. She was a representative for the Jewish Law Society Association and a member of the “Pulse” Health...

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, bankruptcy, 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...

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...

RISE UP LEGAL | Cain & Cain Wills & Trusts | Probate & Trust Administration | Business & Bankruptcy We help families with their estate planning, from basic Wills & Trusts to complex Private Family Foundations. Execute or update your Revocable Living Trust, Last Will & Testament, Durable Power of Attorney, HIPAA waiver, and nominate a Healthcare Surrogate. We also handle Florida Probate and Trust Administration matters. We generally represent Successor Trustees or Personal Representatives in this regard, helping them through the process of tracking, managing, and distributing estate assets. Finally, our firm offers business planning and asset protection. ...

Katherine Barski is an associate attorney with the Central Florida law firm of Bogin, Munns & Munns. Her primary areas of practice are Estate planning, Probate, Litigation, Elder Law, and Real Estate. She received her M.B.A. from Nova Southeastern University (1993) and her J.D. from Loyola University New Orleans School of Law (1996). Ms. Barski has held the distinction of SuperLawyer since 2016.

Jason Mark Ranew is a litigation and corporate attorney for the Central Florida full service law firm of Bogin, Munns & Munns. Mr. Ranew practices Corporate Law, Commercial Litigation, Employment Law, Estate Planning, and Probate. He received his B.A. in Finance from Hillsdale College in 1998 and his J.D. from University of Akron in 2002.

Aubrey Harry Ducker Jr. is a who has had years of accomplishments in the legal field. He has taken an interest in elder law after caring for his own grandmother and parents-in-law. Mr. Ducker has the first-hand experience in dealing with the stresses and anxieties that accompany deciding how to live the rest of one’s “golden years”. Attorney Aubrey Harry Ducker Jr. knows that adult children have to deal with this rite of passage. This involves specific stresses when making decisions for a parent or parents incapacitated by serious illnesses.

As a Family Law Attorney, Aubrey Harry Ducker Jr. takes...

Theodore W. Small Jr. ("Ted Small") has over 30 years of legal experience, formerly with the large law firm of Holland & Knight LLP in its Tampa, Washington DC, and Orlando offices and currently as a small firm practitioner in Volusia County, Florida. Attorney Small brings the training and experience from his large firm experience to a small firm setting with the goal of pursuing cost-effective solutions for businesses, employers and elder law clients. Attorney Small also has experience as a mediator and NAM arbitrator and is available to serve as a professional neutral to resolve commercial and...

Florida Bar Board Certified Elder Law Attorney focused on providing custom solutions and personalized legal and asset protection planning for caregivers and families in Northeast Florida. Offices located in Jacksonville, FL and Orange Park, FL. Kellen is a partner and co-founder of Berg Bryant Elder Law Group after having spent 7 years building his own practice from scratch. Kellen started his solo practice at 26 years old during the 2009 recession, with no contacts and no prior legal experience in elder law. Kellen has since built a practice that has served over 1500 families and supports a full office staff to...

Providing expectional service to discerning clients in Central Florida for over 25 years in probate and estate planning matters, Astrid de Parry has extensive civil trial practice experience representing a broad range of interests. Upon graduating from Cornell University Law School in 1977, Ms. de Parry served as Assistant University Counsel for Cornell University from 1977 to 1980. Thereafter, she served as General Counsel for the University of Alaska Statewide System of Higher Education from 1980 to 1985. After moving to Florida in 1985, Astrid de Parry went to work for a large law firm in Orlando, focusing on...

You might find it helpful when selecting a lawyer to know a bit about them. You probably know all lawyers have to graduate from law school, but beyond the basics, who are they? As for me, you should know that I'm married to my wife Joan, and I have five children. They are all hard working, and each had their turn cleaning my Orlando office growing up. They are and will remain the most important part of my life. They are the lights of my life.

I met my wife Joan at a Methodist church picnic. We were married in...

A native of Ormond Beach, Mr. Shapiro is a proud graduate of Seabreeze High School. Mr. Shapiro received his Juris Doctor, cum laude, from Florida International University where he finished ranked in the top ten in his class. As a law student, he was an associate member of his school’s law review and had the honor of having his comment selected for publication. He also served as a teaching assistant for his law school’s legal research and writing program; was an intern at the Fifth District Court of Appeal; and was the recipient of book awards in Legal Research and...

Attorney John Morey is a native of Tampa, Florida. After moving to New York he attended the State University of New York College at Brockport where he earned a Bachelor of Sciences in Psychology. Mr. Morey earned his Juris Doctorate from the Barry University Dwayne O. Andreas School of Law where he graduated in the top 25% percentile of his class.



Mr. Morey has been dedicated to being a zealous advocate for his clients since the first time he stepped into a courtroom as a certified legal intern for the Seminole County Legal Aid Society, Inc. The experience he gained...

Client's love Attorney Romaine Brown, because she is warm, listens, cares, and is aggressive when needed to and she gives tremendous effort to each case. Attorney Brown will personally talk to you about the needs and wishes of your case and comes up with the best strategy to win your case. She handles a variety of cases which has given her unique experiences when resolving cases. Clients are often concerned about trusting their attorney with their cases, and because she has years of experience and a background of representing clients in a variety of cases, she understands how clearly defining...

The Coleman Law Firm combines 30+ years of experience, concern for the individual client, responsiveness to clients needs, reasonable fees, a focus on the client's objectives by listening carefully to the client's wants and needs, and a commitment to excellence, compassion and sensitivity for family dynamics and relationships.

C. Randolph Coleman, entered private law practice in 1978, after six years as a Certified Public Accountant. His practice is limited to estate planning, Elder law, asset protection planning, probate and trust administration. He is a member of The Florida Bar (Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section, Elder Law Section....

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

Before becoming an attorney, I spent 7 years in the insurance and financial services industry. I became frustrated with the fact my “client” was not the person I was selling insurance or financial services to but was instead the company for which I worked. I decided to become a lawyer because the client – the person I represent – is the one to whom I owe my loyalty. From the moment I entered law school I knew I wanted to practice estate planning and related areas of law because they were directly related to my prior work experience;...

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...

Attorney L. Reed Bloodworth, Founder and CEO of Bloodworth Law, PLLC, is a Florida U.S. News & World Report Best Lawyer® in Commercial Litigation Award 2019-22; in Trusts & Estates Litigation 2022; and in Real Estate Litigation 2022. Bloodworth Law is a U.S. News & World Report "Best Law Firm" 2020-22 and has established itself with an office in Orlando and one in Winter Haven. Reed, a 2019-22 Super Lawyer, was named a Florida Trend’s Magazine Florida Legal Elite™ in Civil, Commercial Litigation 2017-19, 2021, a group of less than 1.3% of Florida's attorneys. Reed has been an attorney since 2004...

Attorney Richard A. Heller has been serving the residents of Central Florida since 1988. In that time, he has helped countless individuals to resolve complex legal matters related to bankruptcy, family law, estate planning and criminal defense, earning him and his firm an A+ accreditation from the Better Business Bureau. For this reason, if you are searching for high quality legal representation in Orlando, FL, you needn’t look any further than The Law Offices of Richard A. Heller, P.A.

Attorney Kristine L. Tucker began her legal career in 2004 as a probate and estates paralegal shortly after moving to the Central Florida Area. The ability to comfort and assist people during some of their most difficult times, such as during the death or incapacity of a loved one, has always been of the utmost importance to her. In 2011, she began attended Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, College of Law, with the hope of receiving her law degree and continuing on in the area of trusts and estates.

Elan is a graduate of NYU School of Law (Masters in Tax Law), Emory University School of Law (Juris Doctorate), and Florida State University. Elan has devoted her practice (over 16 years) to estate planning, estate administration, tax and business law. She is respected by her peers and loved by her clients for her compassionate, knowledgeable approach to each matter she handles.

Nikie Popovich, Esquire is dedicated to providing affordable and outstanding legal services. To that end, Ms. Popovich always endeavors to provide each client with the best representation and necessary personal attention for his or her legal matter. Ms. Popovich is the managing attorney of Popovich Law Firm, P.A., which concentrates its practice in the following areas: * Civil Appeals * Criminal Appeals * Administrative Appeals * Petitions for Writ * Petitions to Seal or Expunge Record * Post-Conviction Relief Proceedings * Business Law (articles, bylaws, operating agreements, etc.) * Education Law (student disciplinary actions) *...

Nishad Khan, Esq. is a Florida Bar Board Certified Specialist in Real Estate Law.

Nishad focuses his practice on all aspects of real estate law, including commercial development, landlord tenant, residential sales and purchases, distressed properties, loan workouts, title issues and financing. Nishad also devotes a significant portion of his time to estate and business planning, wills & trusts, probate, wealth preservation, business law and commercial agreements.

After working at a few key Orlando firms, Nishad opened his own practice in 2007. His legal experience includes a judicial externship in which he gained valuable experience researching substantive and procedural issues for complex...

WaveCrest Legal, P.A. was established to provide efficient, effective, and intelligent legal services to the greater Jacksonville Beaches area by incorporating business acumen with legal expertise. Our commitment is simple: compassionate client service and integrity in everything we do. Some of our areas of legal expertise are estate planning, probate administration, trust administration, guardianship, and business law.

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...

Heather Quick is the founder and CEO of the Florida Women's Law Group located in Jacksonville, Florida. By offering family and marital law services specifically for women, Florida Women's Law Group works in a consistent and reliable way to advocate for women in the divorce process. The firm educates and empowers women on their rights and the law, so they can find the strength to endure the process and end up better financially and emotionally. The firm has been recognized as the Best Gender-Focused Family Law Boutique - Southern USA by Acquisition International and is ranked number 45...

Chuck strongly believes in providing clients peace of mind through planning. His broad values based estate planning, probate and trust administration practice has served several thousand clients over the last 29 years. His extensive qualifications include being Board Certified in Wills, Trusts and Estates by The Florida Bar. He graduated with a B.S. from the University of South Florida. He earned his J.D. (Cum Laude) from Nova Southeastern University and a Master of Laws (LL.M ) in Taxation from the University of Florida. He has been awarded the highest rating (AV) given by the Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory Chuck specializes in personal...

Veronica Anderson, Esq. is the founding shareholder of Anderson and Associates, P.A.. She started the firm in 2000, after serving 12 years in the government at the local and state levels. Schedule your consultation with Mrs. Anderson today!

As an entrepreneurial lawyer, I understand the challenges that small business owners face each day. We deal with vendors, customers, employees, taxes, and regulations all the time. Each one of these relationships creates legal risks that you must address in a cost-effective manner, before trouble strikes. Relying on my experience in trying business law cases, I have developed a three-step legal strategy that every small business owner should implement. In its most basic form, this strategy employs contracts, insurance coverage, and an operating company-management company-holding company format for the organization, to help control the common risks that can tank...

Matt DeBoard is a Senior Partner with Barrister Law Firm. Raised in the Orlando area, Mr. DeBoard earned his high school degree from Oak Ridge High School and later went on to American University in Washington, D.C. where he completed a double-major curriculum in both Physics and Communications. Mr. DeBoard earned his law degree from Florida A&M University College of Law in Orlando, where he achieved the highest grade of anyone in his class in both his Constitutional Law II and Trademark Seminar law classes.

Mr. DeBoard has decades of experience in both the real estate and mortgage businesses. Prior to...

Mr. Hancock is the Managing Partner at Hancock & Associates, P.A. He graduated from undergraduate school at the University of Central Florida in 2003, where he received his Bachelors of Science in Psychology. He attended and graduated from Florida A&M College of Law, in Orlando, FL, and received his Juris Doctor in 2010. He has been a member of the Florida Bar and a practicing attorney since September, 2010. During law school, he was a summer associate at McCreary & Hancock, P.A., in Orlando, Florida, and later was a clerk for the Judge of Compensation Claims in Orlando, FL....