Griffin & Van Pelt, P.A.
Elder Law | Serving Clearwater, FL
727-449-9800Connect with a local Clearwater, Florida firm for experienced Elder legal representation.
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Working For You!
Our goals have always been to educate and help you navigate through complex estate planning issues, Florida probate, trust administration issues and Federal tax laws. If we do not provide those services, then we have not met our goals. You have more important goals, strengths and opportunities on which to focus than to worry about the details of planning and administrating your legacy plan. Let us worry about the details of planning and administering your trust or estate. Our firm thrives on details.
Contact us today if you need legal assistance with any of the following:
Estate Planning
- Last Will & Testament (including Codicils)
- Advanced Directives
- Durable Power of Attorney
- Designation of Health Care Surrogate
- Living Will
- Pre-Need Guardian
- Trusts
- Revocable Trusts (including Amendments / Amendments & Restatements)
- Special Needs Trusts
- Irrevocable Gifting Trusts
- Life Insurance Trusts
- Grantor Trusts
- Charitable Trusts
- Joint Trusts
- Advanced Planning
- Gifting of LLC Interests and FLP Interests
- Dynasty Trusts
- Intentionally Defective Grantor Trusts (“IDGT”)
Probate & Trust Administration
- Probate Administration
- Formal
- Summary
- Trust Administration
Tax Matters
- Estate Tax Planning
- Post Mortem Tax Planning
- Disclaimers
- Private Letter Ruling (PLR)
- Consultations with Litigation Attorneys for review of Settlement Agreements
- Estate Tax Returns
- Election of Portability
- Filings for Taxable Estates
Call 727-449-9800 today to arrange your free initial consultation.
Attorney Linda Suzzanne Griffin
Bar Admissions:
- Florida, 1983
- U.S. Federal Courts, 1985
- U.S. Tax Court, 1985
- U.S. District Court Middle District of Florida
- United States Supreme Court
Education:
- University of Florida College of Law, Gainesville, Florida, 1984
- LL.M.
- Honors: Top 10%
- Major: Taxation
- University of Florida College of Law, Gainesville, Florida, 1983
- J.D.
- Honors: Top 10%
- Honors: Order of the Coif
- Honors: With Honors
- Law Review: University of Florida Law Review, Senior Tax Editor
- University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, 1976
- B.S.
Professional Memberships and Achievements:
- Fellow - American College of Trust and Estate Counsel
- Florida Super Lawyers, 2011-2013 - Super Lawyers
- Top 50 Woman Super Lawyers, 2011-2013 - Super Lawyers
- Gulfcoast Executive Women, National Association of Executive Women, 1990 - Present (Past President)
- Clearwater Bar Association, 1989 - 1990 (Former chairperson of Federal Tax Committee, Member Real Property Probate & Trust Law Committee, Former Member Board of Directors, Former Member Young Lawyers Board of Directors)
- Florida Bar Association, Member, Grievance Committee, 6th Cir.,, 1990 - 1993 (Probate Committee, Internet Committee)
- Girls Clubs of Pinellas County, 1980 - 1990
- Clearwater Bar Association, 1988 - 1990 (Young Lawyers)
- Pinellas County Estate Planning Council (Vice President-1997, President-Elect 1998)
- Ruth Eckerd Performing Arts Center (Leading Ladies-Parliamentarian)
- Pinellas County Estate Planning Council (Former Member Board of Directors, Former President, Secretary and Vice President)
- Florida Bar (Member Real Property Probate & Trust Law Section, Trust & Estate Tax Planning Committee, IRA Committee- co-Chair 2010-2013; Vice-Chair 2005-2010, Executive Council)
- Florida Bar (Served 4 terms on 6th Judicial Circuit Grievance Committee and Chair of the Committee from 2005-2006 and 2012-2013)
Attorney Kit Van Pelt
Bar Admissions:
- Florida, 2013
Education:
- Nova Southeastern University Shepard Broad Law Center, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, 2013
- Honors: magna cum laude
- Honors: Dean's List
- Honors: Moot Court Honor Society: Executive Justice of Travel Teams, Chairperson of Finance, Justice of Teams
- Honors: Moot Court Honor Society American Bar Association Travel Team Member: Winner of Best Brief Award,
- Winner of Best Oralist
- Honors: Law Student Advisor
- Honors: Student Animal Legal Defense Fund, Treasurer
- Honors: LAMBDA United, Treasurer
- Honors: Real Property, Probate & Trust Law Group Member
- St. Petersburg College, 2009
- Bachelor’s Degree – Paralegal Studies
Professional Memberships and Achievements:
- The Florida Bar Wm. Reese Smith, Jr. Leadership Member Fellow (2016)
- Florida Bar, 2013 - Present (Member Real Property, Probate & Trust Law Section)
- Florida Bar, 2013 - Present (Member Tax Section)
- Clearwater Bar (Probate Section (2014 to present), Board of Directors (2018 to present), Young Lawyers Section Board Member (2014 to 2017))
- Pinellas County Estate Planning Council Board Member (President (2019-2020); Vice President (2018-2019); Secretary (2014 to 2018))
- SPCA of Tampa Bay (Provisional Advisory Committee – Co-Chair of Membership (2014 to 2016))
- Graduate of the Florida Fellows Institute of the American College of Trust & Estate Counsel (ACTEC), 2017 - Present
Since 1997, the "Lead Counsel Verified" status has been granted to attorneys who possess:
- The Right Professional Experience
- A Spotless Record
The following attorneys at this firm are Lead Counsel Verified:
Linda S. Griffin
This attorney practices in Florida and is Lead Counsel Verified in the following practice areas:
| Practice Area | Year |
|---|---|
| Estate Planning | Since 2023 |
| Probate | Since 2023 |
Kit Van Pelt
This attorney practices in Florida and is Lead Counsel Verified in the following practice areas:
| Practice Area | Year |
|---|---|
| Estate Planning | Since 2023 |
| Probate | Since 2023 |