Auburndale Elder Law Lawyers

Cynthia Rayhorn is a probate and adult guardianship attorney. My firm is Benkert Law, PLLC. I serve Hillsborough, Pasco, and Pinellas Counties. If a loved one dies, I help the personal representative or executor by navigating the Probate process. I establish guardianships for people with developmental disabilities and incapacitated adults.

Many people ask me why I wanted to be an Attorney. It is a simple answer - It is what I always wanted to do. Everyone deserves a voice in a matter. That voice should be compassionate and realistic. That voice should explain to you what is going on in plain English. I went back to school later in life. I graduated with Honors, but the most important part of my journey was being a research assistant. Part of my job was to keep the first year students on track to succeed in Law School. I...

Anamaria Taitt earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Central Florida and her law degree from Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University. She lives in Central Florida and serves clients from throughout the Orlando area and the state of Florida.

She decided to specialize in Estate Planning and Family Law because it was an area of practice where she could help families across a wide range of legal needs.

“I saw a substantial need for these services in the Central Florida area,” Ana says. “Florida is already one of the most highly populated states in the nation, and because we’re growing so...

Wendy began practicing law in 1997 and opened the lawfirm of Cohen & DePaul, PA along with her business partner in 2004. Wendy has also been a Certified Public Accountant since 1995. Her main areas of practice at Bankruptcy, foreclosure defense, elder law, and family law. Wendy also currently serves on the board of directors of Bay Area Legal Services and on the Hillsborough County Animal Advisory Committee

I've been in practice for more than 33 years. My areas of practice are Divorce, Paternity, Child-Custody, Guardianship, and I am also a Supreme Court State Certified Family Law Mediator.

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....

Adam S. Towers is a shareholder with the Central Florida law firm of Bogin, Munns & Munns. In 2007, he was the founding attorney at the firm's Gainesville office.

Adam S. Towers specializes in Business Law, Commercial Litigation, Real Estate, Civil Litigation, and Estate Planning & Probate. Since 2001, he has handled a wide variety of cases such as insurance claims, eminent domain, contract disputes, code enforcement, and residential evictions & foreclosures.

He belongs to both the Florida and the California bars, and received his J.D. from California's University of the Pacific. He is on the Board of Directors...

For the past four (4) decades I have been providing legal services to individuals in the areas of Estate Planning, Elder Law, Asset Protection, Probate & Trust Administration and Litigation, and Probate Avoidance. I have also represented Florida corporate entities, shareholders, LLC members, and partners in business transactions, contract drafting, succession planning, mergers & acquisitions, and business disputes. My clients include opposite-sex and same-sex couples, business owners, individuals looking to protect their assets from creditor claims, retirees, family members needing guidance in the administration of a Florida probate estate or an inheritance dispute, and relatives of individuals who need to...

Samantha’s primary practice includes Estate Planning, Probate, Guardianship, and Elder Law. Her clients range from young individuals to seniors and their caregivers. She represents individuals in all forms of Probate and Guardianship proceedings and has drafted hundreds of documents to meet her client’s estate planning goals. Additionally, Samantha works one on one with clients to plan for and defray the cost of long term care. Samantha was born and raised in Ocala, Florida. She attended Florida State University then attended Florida Coastal School of Law from which she obtained her Juris Doctorate. Samantha is active in the...

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.

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...

Social Security Disability and Retirement, Estate Planning, Elder Law, Veterans Benefits. Krista L. Rush is a seasoned attorney representing clients for over twenty years in Brevard County, including Melbourne, Palm Bay, Rockledge and Titusville. We love helping individuals and families of all ages and all backgrounds. Come see why working with an attorney one on one makes a difference!

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...

Rachel Drude-Tomori is a named partner with the firm specializing in the areas of Estate Planning, Probate & Elder Law. She consistently has been named as a Super Lawyers Rising Star in Estate Planning by Super Lawyers Magazine, a distinction received by only 2.5% of attorneys in Florida. Among numerous honors, Rachel has served as Chair for the Probate Section for the St. Petersburg Bar Association and was awarded the 2019 Rockin’ Chair award for her leadership and fundraising achievements. Recently, she was appointed to the Executive Committee for the St. Petersburg Bar Association.

Rachel frequently assists individuals and business owners...

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;...

Anne grew up in Manatee County, Florida and has always served those in her community. She has witnessed the devastation caused by failure of families to plan for long term care, disabilities and end of life. Her goal is to make these life challenges easier to negotiate for the Senior as well as for the Senior’s family. Having practiced law here since 1977, she practices Elder Law which includes probate and estates, estate planning, guardianships, wills, trusts, durable powers of attorney, advance directives, Medicaid planning and Special Needs Trusts. In addition to her professional associations, Anne...

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...

Daniel H. Smith is an elder law and estate planning attorney at Advocates in Aging, Law Office of Wiesner Smith PLLC in Sarasota, Florida, focusing on Elder Law, Medicaid Planning, Veterans Benefits, Wills, Trusts, and Estate Planning, Special Needs Planning, Probate and Trust Administration, Guardianship, and Assisted Living/Nursing Home Issues. Daniel is licensed to practice law in Florida and Virginia. Daniel is also a VA Accredited Attorney, and represents veterans and their families with benefits claims and appeals of VA Benefits decisions. Daniel received his law degree with honors from the George Mason University School of Law in Arlington,...

John R. Frazier J.D., LL.M., MBA is an experienced Medicaid planning attorney who has helped well over 3,000 clients qualify for nursing home or assisted living coverage with Medicaid. People just like you. He understands the problems facing seniors today and he knows how to use the current laws to help solve your Elder Law issues. Attorney Frazier also can help with Veterans Benefits for Aid & Attendance. Based in Largo, Florida, Attorney Frazier can help anyone in the state of Florida with no in-person office visit required. Attorney Frazier has free audios, videos, eBooks, etc. on...

The Law Office of Adam B. Portnow, P.L. is an Intellectual Property & General Law practice providing competent, cost-effective representation for clients throughout the State of Florida. Adam Portnow is a graduate of St. Thomas University School of Law in Miami, Florida. Prior to completing law school, he received his Bachelor of Science degree in Digital Arts and Sciences from the University of Florida College of Computer Information Sciences and Engineering.

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...

* Admitted to: Florida Bar, 1993; Tennessee Bar, 2007; U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida, 2000; U.S. Supreme Court, 2006. * Primary practice areas: Estate Planning (wills, trusts, Probate), Elder Law, Medicaid Planning, Real Estate (commercial and residential title closings), transactions, and Business Entities. * A featured speaker for the 2007 Financial Professionals Expo, Tampa, Florida, and the 2000 Money Sense Live personal-finance seminar sponsored by the Tampa Tribune and the Financial Planning Association of Tampa Bay. Frequent seminar speaker on the topic of estate planning. Several appearances on local television shows, including FLA Law (cable), Eight on...

Steven W. Ledbetter works from his Venice, Florida, office on matters involving estate planning and administration, business transactions and corporate law, real estate, construction law, contract, and title insurance matters. Steven W. Ledbetter has been practicing law since 2002. His practice has included work in a wide range of subject areas while representing a wide range of clients including the federal government, corporations, financial institutions, and individuals. His practice has taken him from the mountains and rain of Portland, OR, to the shops and great restaurants of Dallas, TX, and finally back to his home state of Florida...

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

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...

Amanda O. Singleton is an AV-Preeminent rated attorney who focuses her practice on estate planning, probate, guardianship, and caregiver advocacy. She writes and speaks nationally as an AARP Family Caregiving Expert. Amanda serves clients in Tampa Bay and throughout the state of Florida.