Hastings 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....

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...

I am a graduate of Palatka High School and the seventh generation of a Putnam County family. After graduating as Palatka’s first National Merit Scholar, I attended St. Johns River Community College and obtained my B.A. with honors and J.D. from the University of Florida. I was admitted to the Florida Bar in 1979.

I am passionate about equal access to the court system; and served indigent clients in South Florida through the Public Defender’s Office and Florida Rural Legal Services. I have been of-counsel to the Guardian ad Litem program, and also served for five years as a guardian...

Attorney Charlie Douglas represents clients across the state of Florida for legal matters in many different areas. He has extensive experience in Family Law, Estate Planning, Probate, Business Matters, and Personal Injury. Charlie also owns Douglas Law Firm, which is a full-service firm dedicated to serving communities across Florida. The firm is equipped with a team of attorneys who bring years of knowledge and experience in many legal matters including Family and Divorce law, Criminal Defense, Business Law, Guardianships, and more. Prior to Charlie opening Douglas Law Firm, he gained national recognition for his fight to free a Texas man,...

Grady H. Williams, Jr. is the managing attorney of Grady H. Williams, Jr., LL.M., Attorneys at Law, P.A. Mr. Williams started his career as a real estate, corporate, and finance attorney in Texas, but for more than 30 years has focused his practice on senior adult services, including elder law, estate planning, state and federal benefits eligibility planning, tax planning, special needs planning, and probate and trust administration in Florida. He also serves as general counsel for local businesses, government entities, and elected officials. Mr. Williams is a two-time past president of the Clay County Bar Association, and served...

Anish K. Patel became intrigued by the law through the experience of his background in the hospitality industry. The legal needs required for businesses to succeed range from Real Estate to Business matters and has led Mr. Patel to open Old City Law, PLLC to provide services to clients in need.

Mr. Patel has grown up in the hospitality industry and has experienced the various facets of the industry. His “Modern Approach To An Old Practice,” provides a superior advantage in efficiently obtaining the results required to be a successful company in the hospitality industry as well as other...

Experience matters! With over two decades of experience in all phases of law, Attorney Tim Goan offers comprehensive, results-oriented legal representation to business, individual, and family clients throughout Florida, including Flagler Beach, Bunnell, St. Augustine, Palatka, and Flagler County, Volusia County, Putnam County, St. Johns County, and beyond. Born in Detroit, Michigan, Tim Goan spent his formative years exposed to the metal of “Motor City” and the music of “Motown.” But his heart was set on Florida and a career in law, so he headed to Gainesville, where he earned dual degrees at the University of Florida in Law and...

Following his graduation from the Washington College of Law at American University, John returned to his home-state of Florida. Prior to obtaining his law degree, John received a B.A. in Legal Studies from the University of Central Florida and studied Finance and Accounting at the London School of Economics, giving John unique insight into financial and business matters. As an attorney for Ginn & Patrou, John implements his business knowledge and estate planning experience to ensure the best possible results for his clients. John is an active member in his community and is involved in several community...

Jackson Law Group is a local St. Augustine law firm located on Anastasia Island. The law firm is led by Andrew Jackson, Esq., a lawyer and legal expert specializing in in tax law, IRS problems, estate planning, probate, and trust administration. Attorney Andrew Jackson, Esq. holds an LL.M. (Master of Laws) degree in Taxation, a post-doctoral advanced law degree. This qualification empowers us to advise clients on tax implications associated with estate planning and inheritance as well as resolve tax audits and disputes with the IRS or Florida Department of Revenue. With a firm history dating back to 2007, Andrew Jackson,...

Jeff focuses his practice on matters involving real property, small businesses, and community associations. He has extensive experience handling real estate and business transactions and has appeared in court throughout Northeast and Central Florida representing clients in legal disputes. Jeff has been Certified by the Florida Supreme Court as a Circuit Court Mediator.

Paul J. Cappiello, Esq. provides estate planning legal services which include but are not limited to Wills, Trusts, Powers of Attorney, Living Wills, Health Care Surrogates, and other estate planning documents. Mr. Cappiello also provides advice and guidance regarding estate planning strategies to best serve your personalized goals. In addition, Mr. Cappiello also provides other general legal services. Mr. Cappiello is the owner of his own law firm, Paul J. Cappiello, P.A., and has experience practicing in many different areas of law during his over 20 years of legal practice. In addition to his wide spectrum of...

Dallas Hedstrom is a proud Palatka native who earned her Bachelor of Arts in English Literature from The University of Central Florida in 2007. From there, she went on to the Florida Coastal School of Law, graduating with her Juris Doctor in 2010. For two years following law school, she worked as an associate attorney at a Jacksonville general practice law firm handling cases related to estate planning, family law, criminal defense, contracts, and landlord-tenant actions. She now focuses mainly on probate and estate planning and works to provide clients with thorough, knowledgeable representation. Call Hedstrom and Harris today to...

For as long as I can remember, I’ve been drawn to the idea of creating lasting legacies. There’s something profoundly meaningful in knowing that what you’ve built—your business, your portfolio, your family’s security—can endure and flourish for generations to come. Growing up, I saw firsthand the anxiety and uncertainty that can accompany the transfer of wealth. My family faced difficult decisions when it came to ensuring that what they’d worked so hard to achieve would be protected, preserved, and passed on to those they loved most. Through those experiences, I realized that skilled guidance, delivered with genuine care, makes all...

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...

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...

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...

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...