Orange County Probate Lawyers

Since 2000, I have helped business owners, professionals, and other people understand how the law affects them, their businesses, and their families, I have helped them deal with problems, and I have helped them realize opportunities. I've helped people with a wide range of legal matters including business ownership, mergers and acquisitions, private placements, commercial transactions, joint ventures, business succession planning, wills, trusts and estate planning, estate tax planning, asset protection planning, trust administration, probate administration, and federal and state taxation.

Trusted business and tax advisor to entrepreneurs, closely held family businesses, and startups. Florida Bar Board Certified Tax Attorney serving clients across various industries including finance, hospitality, technology, real estate, healthcare, manufacturing, and entertainment. As both a business-tax attorney and CPA, many clients hone this as the best of both worlds. Having over a decade of experience representing taxpayers against the Tax Division of the U.S. Department of Justice, the Internal Revenue Service, and state and local taxing authorities, I devote a a significant part of my practice to helping taxpayers both domestically and internationally navigate all aspects of federal and...

Don Harvey was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He attended high school in Winter Park at Trinity Preparatory School. After graduating, he earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics with a double minor in Russian and Political Science from Louisiana State University in 1991. Upon graduating, he was named a Regents Scholar by the Louisiana Board of Regents for his academic and non-academic achievements while at LSU, including walking on to the LSU football team. While at LSU, he was also a member of the Phi Kappa Psi Fraternity and Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society.

He then...

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...

Paul's practice is focused on providing his clients with "good judgment" and Paul prides himself on working hard to see that his clients move towards fixing problems and preparing for a better future. Paul concentrates on matters involving business law, entertainment law, replevin law, real estate, landlord-tenant, probate, wills, estates, and trust law. Paul has been appointed several times by Florida Courts as personal representative and attorney ad litem in complex and sensitive litigation matters involving probate and wrongful death, as well as in representing unknown parties and historic landmarks in real estate foreclosure and eminent domain...

Stephanie Vollrath attended Barry University School of Law, graduating as valedictorian, acting as senior editor of Barry Law Review, and booking seven classes. After graduating, Stephanie had the honor of being hired as a judicial clerk for the Fifth District Court of Appeal in Daytona Beach, Florida. While there, she researched and drafted legal memoranda on many areas of Florida Law. Stephanie was also an adjunct professor at Barry University School of Law. Following her time at the Fifth District Court of Appeal, she opened Vollrath Law, PA in 2013, where she focuses her practice on Estate Planning...

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...

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....

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.

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...

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...

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.

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...

Andrew “Andy” Pascale. Andrew is a South Florida native. He attended the University of Central Florida where he achieved a B.S. degree in Business Management. He then went on to attend and graduate from Nova Southeastern University Shepard Broad Law School. Andrew prides himself on excellent client commutation, as well as strong legal research, writing and advocacy skills.

I am a Board Certified Elder Law attorney practicing primarily in the areas of Estate Planning, Medicaid Asset Protection, Probate, Guardianship, Family Law, and Bankruptcy. These are all areas which affect senior citizens. I have 3 locations to best serve my clients: The Villages, Orlando, and Volusia County, FL

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...

Professional: Admitted to The Florida Bar on September 17, 2002 (Bar Number 0568831); licensed as a Florida Certified Public Accountant (License Number AC34985) on June 11, 2002; admitted to the Federal Bar, United States District Court, Middle District of Florida, on November 13, 2002; United States Tax Court. on July 29, 2008. Personal: Born Lakeland, Florida, on February 8, 1967. Married to Melody A. Shipley nee Cottingham of New Port Richey, Florida on January 29, 1994. Three sons and two daughters. Education: B.S. in Management, The Florida State University, 1994 B.S. in Accounting, The...

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...

Florida Probate Litigation and Estate Planning Attorney Thomas Upchurch grew up in Daytona Beach. Prior to returning to the Daytona Beach area to join the law firm of Every, Stack & Upchurch, he was an Assistant State Attorney in Pinellas County. Mr. Upchurch is an experienced Florida Probate Litigation and Estate Planning attorney who dedicates his practice to ensuring his clients receive competent advice and assistance in dealing with their legal matters. As a Florida Probate Litigation law firm, Every, Stack & Upchurch is qualified to handle your probate litigation case, whether it be a will contest, undue influence, fraud or...

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...

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...

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.

Experienced, wise, and compassionate.  From thirty plus years of being a circuit court judge and an attorney, Linda is not your ordinary attorney. She uses common sense and practical advice for you to resolve legal problems as quickly, saving relationships, money and time.

Her law practice caters to individuals with legal issues related to life transitions and caters to individuals who understand how important it is to resolve legal issues that threaten the security of their family, home, and business. Her knowledge and experience from serving as both judge and attorney gives her a unique perspective that enables her to project...