My practice is devoted to estate planning, estate, gift, and generation-skipping transfer tax planning, the administration of trusts and probate estates, and closely held businesses. Protecting and efficiently transmitting clients’ assets to loved ones and, if desired, charities, is my primary focus.

I received a Law Degree (J.D.), with honors, from the University of Florida College of Law and a Master of Laws (LL.M.) in Taxation, with honors, with a Concentration in Estate Planning, from Boston University School of Law. The LL.M. in Taxation with a Concentration in Estate Planning provides me with the in-depth knowledge necessary to advise individuals, families, and business owners regarding the obligations and opportunities under the federal tax laws in connection with their estate plans.

A well-structured and implemented estate plan that provides flexibility to address changes in a client’s life and family circumstances over time is invaluable. I work one-on-one with individuals, families, and business owners, including those with young children, blended families, and grandchildren, to create estate plans that are unique to their circumstances.

Well-structured estate plans often involve a combination of strategies necessary to properly care for the personal and financial well-being of individuals, families, and business owners. In addition to customized estate planning documents, such as last will and testaments, revocable trusts, durable powers of attorney, living wills and health care surrogate designations, clients often benefit from the use of more complex planning strategies. These may include wealth preservation, lifetime gifting, charitable gifting, succession planning for closely held businesses, trusts for minors, lifetime trusts for children and grandchildren, life insurance trusts, and a variety of other complex irrevocable planning trusts.

The manner in which a client owns an asset, whether it be a Florida homestead, secondary residence, rental property, investment asset, or closely held business, is an important part of an estate plan. I advise clients regarding the advantages and disadvantages of the different options for owning assets to align with the clients’ objectives.

In addition to planning, I help families and fiduciaries navigate the probate and trust administration processes. I work with family members, beneficiaries and fiduciaries, such as trustees, attorneys-in-fact, health care surrogates, and personal representatives, regarding their rights and duties in a broad range of estate, probate, and trust administration matters, including post-mortem tax issues.

I have practiced exclusively in the area of estate planning for almost twenty years, in both urban and rural communities, in both large and small law firms. These experiences provide me with the ability to appreciate the needs of clients with differing backgrounds and life experiences. I understand and value that not all clients or their communities are alike.

Prior to attending law school, I worked in both the financial services and consulting industries, which enriched my understanding of the relationships clients develop with their service providers. I welcome a team approach of working together with clients and their accountants, financial advisors, and other service providers to implement estate plans that meet the clients’ goals.

I am a member of the Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section of the Hillsborough County and Florida Bar Associations. My community involvement includes the South Tampa Chamber of Commerce, Hillsborough Association for Women Lawyers, The Junior League of Tampa, H.B. Plant High School PTSA and Academic Foundation, and End 68 Hours of Hunger. In December 2024, I was selected to serve on the South Tampa Chamber of Commerce’s Executive Committee as its Consulting Attorney.