Merritt Island Probate Lawyers

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...

Handles cases involving Divorce, Child Support, Time-Sharing, Modifications, Alimony and Relocation in the Family Law field, since 1995. Also counsel with clients for Estate Planning, including Wills, Trusts, Power of Attorney, and Health Care Documents, since 1996. Handles Probate of Estates since 1996. Handle both Chapter 7 and 13 Bankruptcy cases, and other debt assistance. Am admitted to Florida Bar as required of all Florida attorneys, Orange County Bar Association, Brevard County Bar Association, US District Court for Middle District of Florida and since 2012 United State Supreme Court. Represent children in dependency court in...

Robin Petersen is the Founder and Managing Partner of the Estate Planning & Elder Law Center of Brevard, which has been serving Brevard County since 1991. The practice focuses exclusively in the areas of Estate Planning and Elder Law, Wills and Trusts, Probate and Trust Administration (representing the executor or trustee, as well as serving as the executor or trustee of the estate), Guardianship, planning for long term care costs through asset protection, the use of VA Aid & Attendance, and Medicaid benefit options. Because he has dedicated over 25 years of practice to these types of law, Robin understands...

Cassidy V. Petersen initially joined the firm in 2011 and has held various positions over the years – beginning as a receptionist, next as an estate planning paralegal, then as our firm administrator, and now as an attorney. Ms. Petersen focuses her practice in estate planning, business succession planning, probate, trust administration, Medicaid planning, VA planning, guardianship, and special needs planning.

Ms. Petersen, a Melbourne native, graduated from Melbourne High School in 2011. She earned her Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Business Management, graduating cum laude, from Florida Gulf Coast University in 2014. Ms. Petersen received her Juris Doctor (J.D.), cum...

William "Bill" Wieland is an attorney for the Central Florida law firm of Bogin, Munns & Munns. He operates out of the firm's Melbourne and Orlando locations.

He graduated Pre-Med from Wake Forest University in 1973, and received his J.D. from the Cumberland School of Law of Samford University in 1984. Mr. Wieland has over 30 years' experience and practices in a wide array of fields.

He began his focus in Personal Injury, Wrongful Death, Products Liability, Insurance Defense, and Medical Malpractice. In 2004 he became a title insurance agent, expanding his practice areas even further to include Real...

Karen Harkness Houser is an attorney with the Central Florida law firm of Bogin, Munns & Munns, operating out of the firm's Melbourne office. She specializes in Commercial & Residential Real Estate, Corporate Law, Estate Planning, and Elder Law.

She graduated from Virginia Tech with her B.S. in 1981 and received her J.D. from the St. Thomas University School of Law in 1991. In 1992, Ms. Houser earned her LL.M in Taxation from the esteemed College of William and Mary.

She has handled numerous cases including Office, Warehouse, Shopping Center & Hotel Projects, Acquisition & Disposition of Raw Land, Construction...

Attorney Ruth Rhodes is the owner of Rhodes Law, P.A., a Helping Seniors of Brevard Board Member, and a resident business at One Senior Place. Ruth C. Rhodes and Rhodes Law, P.A. help individuals and families with all areas of Elder Law, which includes, but not limited to, Estate Planning, Wills and Trusts, Powers of Attorney, Guardianship, Probate and Trust Administration, and Medicaid Planning.

She graduated Valedictorian from the College of Law at Florida A&M University, and has more than 20 years of experience working in the legal field with more than 12 years as a practicing attorney.

Ms. Rhodes understands...

Jessica practices as an attorney in the areas of Estate Planning, Trust Administration, Probate Administration and Elder Law. In addition, Jessica is also a Florida Supreme Court Certified County Mediator. Prior to starting her own firm, Law Office of Jessica Lynn Silva, PLLC, Jessica was an Associate Attorney with Panouses Law Group.

Before practicing law, Jessica garnered legal experience through her previous roles as Judicial Assistant to Brevard County Judge David E. Silverman for four years, and as a Civil Litigation Paralegal, Real Estate Paralegal, Certified Notary Signing Agent, Real Estate Agent, Florida Mortgage Broker, Real Estate...

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.

I’m a forward-thinking attorney with a passion for resolving complex legal matters and developing lasting strategies for clients. I love a challenge and I am known for being proactive, attentive, and responsive. I became a lawyer because I could never find an attorney who genuinely cared about me or my businesses. As an entrepreneur who has started, developed, managed, sold, and participated in just about every aspect of operating a business, I understand what an exceptional attorney should be. As your attorney, it’s my responsibility to be more than just a legal advocate or advisor of the law. I am a champion...

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.

Amy B. Van Fossen established The Law Office of Amy B. Van Fossen P.A. (formerly The Law Office of Amy B. Jackson P.A.) in 2004. Amy was born and raised in southeastern Ohio and has two daughters, Katie and Savannah, who both share her passion for our elder community. Savannah provides medical care to the elder community as an RN. Katie is a second-generation attorney, chairing the Probate, Medicaid & VA departments at the Law Office of Amy B. Van Fossen, P.A. Ms. Van Fossen received her undergraduate degree in Organizational Behavior from Rollins College and earned her JD from Barry...

Tyler Puttick joined the law firm of Rossway Swan in 2018 and practices in the areas of real estate law, probate and trust administration, estate planning and general corporate law. Prior to joining the Firm, Mr. Puttick served as a Law Clerk for the Firm in 2013 and later practiced at a boutique firm serving clients on the Treasure and Space Coasts.

Mr. Puttick earned his Juris Doctor degree from Stetson University College of Law, where he was a member of the selective Elder Law Concentration Program and the Elder Law Society. He received a Certificate of Concentration in Elder Law...

Jason Turchin, Esq. is an Attorney, Author, Media Correspondent, Producer and Entrepreneur who has handled more than 6,500 Personal Injury, Accident, Product Liability, Life Insurance, and Wrongful Death Claims. Jason has appeared throughout the national and international news on various legal topics, including car accidents, wrongful death, product liability, Takata airbag shrapnel claims, exploding pressure cooker claims, life insurance, personal injury and more. Several major media outlets have turned to Jason for legal opinions or stories on his cases, including CBS Evening News, Wall Street Journal, Miami Herald, Bloomberg News, CBS Miami, Orlando Sentinel, Sun Sentinel, Telemundo, The New...

Raised in his hometown of Port St. Lucie, attorney Jamy Barreau has experience handling all aspects of issues surrounding preserving generational wealth including matters associated with trusts and estates as well as business planning. A first-generation Haitian American, he has dedicated his life to the practice of law. He graduated with high honors from St. Lucie West Centennial High School in 2009 where he had the privilege of being part of the school’s Criminal Justice Academy, serving as an advocate for the 19th Judicial Circuit’s Teen Court program. After graduation from Centennial, Jamy earned his B.S. in Legal Studies from the University...

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...

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...

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...

David Pilcher is an attorney for the Central Florida law firm of Bogin, Munns & Munns. He specializes in Estate Planning, Probate & Trust Administration, Guardianship, Business Entity Formation, Business Law, Commercial Litigation, and Civil Litigation.

He is a native to Florida, born in Orlando and raised in Sanford. He attended Brigham Young University on a full academic scholarship, receiving his B.S degree in Computer Science.

He worked for large companies including IBM before deciding on a career in law. David Pilcher returned to Brigham Young University (once again on scholarship) to its J. Reuben Clark Law School...

Keith Patrick Arago is a litigation attorney with the Central Florida full service law firm of Bogin, Munns & Munns. He practices Commercial Litigation, Real Estate Litigation, Consumer Litigation, Probate Litigation, Defamation (Slander/Libel) Litigation. Mr. Arago attended Franciscan University of Steubenville for his undergraduate studies. He received his Bachelor of Arts in History in 2008. He earned his Juris Doctor degree from the University of Notre Dame Law School in 2011. He is a member of the Christian Legal Society, Catholic Lawyers Guild, and Osceola County Bar Association. He has received numerous awards, including the Francis Parkman...

John W. Zielinski attended the University of Illinois, earning his bachelor's degree in 1983 and his Juris doctorate in 1986. Mr. Zielinski has more than 25 years of civil litigation experience, practicing in several jurisdictions, including Florida (2001) and Illinois (1986). He litigates disputes in both state and federal courts, including the United States District Courts for the Northern District of Illinois and the United States District Courts for the Middle District of Florida. He routinely and successfully litigates civil disputes, including commercial contract disputes, real estate contracts, commercial and residential landlord/tenant disagreements, mortgage foreclosure cases, and contested wills. In...

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...

ADMITTED -Florida and U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida, 1974 EDUCATION -Florida State University -B.S., 1972 -J.D., with Honors, 1974 -Law Clerk to the Industrial Relations Commission, 1973 PUBLICATIONS AND SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS -Author: “Evaluating Job Searches and Earnings in a Self-Employment Setting,” News and 440 Report (Summer 1988) -“Wage Loss Under the New Worker’s Compensation Statute,” 63 Florida Bar Journal 10 (November 1989) -Guest Speaker, “The 1989 Legislative Changes Concerning Workers’ Compensation,” South Florida Risk and Insurance Management Society (February 1990) -Instructor, State of Florida approved for Adjuster Continuing Legal Education, 1991 MEMBERSHIPS -Orange County Bar Association -American Bar Association -The Florida Bar -Member, Worker’s Compensation Section -The Association of Trial Lawyers of America -Board Certified Workers’...

S.I. "Sandy" Valbh is an Of Counsel attorney for the Central Florida law firm of Bogin, Munns & Munns. He practices Business Law, Estate Planning & Probate Law, Tax Law, Civil Litigation, and Commercial Litigation.

He received his B.S. from Florida State University, double-majoring in Finance and Accounting (1994). He earned his J.D. from Drake University College of Law (graduating With Honors in 1997) and his LL.M. from the Georgetown University Law Center (graduating With Distinction in 1998).

Mr. Valbh assists with Estate and Trust Administration, Business and Commercial Transactions, Corporate and Partnership Tax Planning, and representation before the Internal...

Andrea Anderson is an Of Counsel attorney for the Central Florida full service law firm of Bogin, Munns & Munns. Ms. Anderson is a graduate of Touro College, having received her J.D. in 1998. Since then, she has become licensed to practice law in Connecticut, New York, and Florida. Ms. Anderson practices a wide variety of areas, including Family Law, Probate, and Personal Injury. Her focus is in Bankruptcy and Criminal Law.

Hello. My name is Francis M. Boyer, Esq., and I would like to take a quick second to thank you for visiting my profile. My main office is located in Jacksonville, Florida, but our firm has two other offices located in Orlando and Miami. I regularly travel to these offices in order to better serve our clients who reside there. I am licensed to practice law throughout the entire state of Florida, as well as in the state of New York. My practice areas include business law, immigration, real estate, debt collection, civil litigation, and international law. I invite you to contact...

Justin Brick is an estate planning & probate attorney with the Central Florida full service law firm, Bogin, Munns & Munns. He serves the Orlando, Kissimmee, and Clermont areas. His areas of practice include Estate Planning, Probate, Trust Administration, Real Estate Transactions, and Landlord/Tenant matters. Justin received his undergraduate degree in Geoscience from Pennsylvania State University and his law degree from Barry University School of Law located in Orlando, Florida. While at Barry, Justin earned the highest grade (the book award) in Construction Law; Criminal Procedure; Animal Rights Law; Copyright Law; and Legal Research and Writing II. He...

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.

Clay was born and raised in Orlando, Florida. He received his Bachelor of Science from Florida State University in Tallahassee, Florida in 2010. He then worked in the Orlando area and began law school the next year at Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University in Orlando where he received his Juris Doctorate degree in 2014. He enjoys learning about the world around him and spending time doing outdoor activities. Coming from a large family, he is very passionate about helping others through his legal services.

I began my legal career in 1986 when I was in High School. I started as a receptionist and worked my way to becoming a legal secretary in a busy New York law firm. In 1990, I relocated back to Florida, working full time as a paralegal in Brevard County. I have personally worked on hundreds if not thousands of cases and even assisted in the courtroom during trials. But that wasn't enough--my passion for helping people became so overwhelming that I became an attorney. I obtained my undergraduate degrees with top honors and summa cum laude, and graduated...