C. Randolph Coleman

The Coleman Law Firm combines 30+ years of experience, concern for the individual client, responsiveness to clients needs, reasonable fees, a focus on the client's objectives by listening carefully to the client's wants and needs, and a commitment to excellence, compassion and sensitivity for family dynamics and relationships.

C. Randolph Coleman, entered private law practice in 1978, after six years as a Certified Public Accountant. His practice is limited to estate planning, Elder law, asset protection planning, probate and trust administration. He is a member of The Florida Bar (Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section, Elder Law Section.

Mr. Coleman is a frequent lecturer and speaker on estate planning and asset protection planning. He co-authored "Asset Protection Techniques in Florida," National Business Institute (2004); and authored Family Limited Partnerships in Florida (Chapter: “The Use of Family Limited Partnerships in Estate Planning”), National Business Institute (2002); "Key Issues in Estate Planning and Probate in Florida" (Chapter: “Protecting the Passage of Wealth”), National Business Institute (1997); "Advanced Estate Planning Techniques in Florida" (Chapter: “The Use of Family Limited Partnerships in Estate Planning”) National Business Institute (1995).

Mr. Coleman is a graduate of the University of Florida (BSBA ‘72) and the University of Florida College of Law (JD, with honors ‘78).

Mr. Coleman and The Coleman Law Firm are listed in the Martindale-Hubbell® Bar Register of Pre-Eminent Lawyers, which lists only those select lawyers who have earned the A-V® Rating in the Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory and have therefore been designated by their colleagues as pre-eminent in their field. He also has been designated one of the Best Lawyers in America - Trusts and Estates, by Best Lawyers, reflecting his peers reviews that he is in the top 5% of private practice lawyers.

University of Florida

J.D.

1976 - 1978

Honors: JD with Honors, Phi Kappa Phi, Florida Blue Key, Omicron Delta Kappa, AmJur Awards for Excellence: Corporations; Commercial Paper

University of Florida

B.S. | Accounting/Economics

1968 - 1972

Honors: Beta Alpha Psi

Managing Attorney

The Coleman Law Firm, PLLC

1985 - Current

Estate planning, asset protection, wills, trusts and estates, probate, elder law, Medicaid planning, guardianship, and small business law.

Partner

Finley, Kumble, Wagner, Heine, Underberg, Manley and Case

1983 - 1985

Partner-commercial litigation, securities litigation, trademark litigation, estates and trusts litigation.

Associate Attorney

Mershon, Sawyer, Johnston, Dunwody & Cole

1978 - 1983

Associate attorney in litigation department: commercial litigation, securities litigation, antitrust litigation, banking litigation, estates and trusts litigation.

Estate Planning and Long Term Care Planning, Pre-Retirement Counseling, Jacksonville, Florida

June 4, 2019

US Army Corps of Engineers

Estate Planning and Long Term Care Planning, Pre-Retirement Counseling, Jacksonville, Florida

May 16, 2019

US Army Corps of Engineers

Estate Planning and Long Term Care Planning, Pre-Retirement Counseling, Jacksonville, Florida

May 1, 2019

US Army Corps of Engineers

Advanced Estate Planning Techniques in Florida, Key Issues in Estate Planning and Probate in Florida - Continuing Legal Education Seminar, Jacksonville, Florida

July 18, 1995

National Business Institute

Key Issues in Estate Planning and Probate in Florida, Key Issues in Estate Planning and Probate in Florida - Continuing Legal Education Seminar, Jacksonville, Florida

October 28, 1997

National Business Institute

Best Lawyer - Trusts and Estates

Best Lawyers in America

2020

This award reflects a rank amont the top 5 percent of private practice attorneys nationwide as determined purely by peer evaluation. Inclusion in Best Lawyers is based on a rigorous peer-review survey comprising more than 8.2 million confidential evaluations by top attorneys.

Lead Counsel Designation

Lead Counsel

2019

When you see the Lead Counsel Rating, you can be assured an attorney meets objectively strict quality assurance standards, and is worthy of your trust and confidence.

AV Peer Review Rating

Martindale-Hubbell

2019

Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Ratings™ recognize lawyers for their strong legal ability and high ethical standards. Individuals seeking legal counsel, as well as attorneys looking to refer a colleague, use these ratings to identify, evaluate and select the most appropriate lawyer. An elite group of approximately 10 percent of all attorneys holds an AV Preeminent Rating, a designation trusted worldwide by buyers and referrers of legal services.

AV Peer Review Rating

Martindale-Hubbell

2018

ElderCounsel, LLC

Member

2008 - Current

Academy of Flroida Elder Law Attorneys

Member

2008 - Current

National Association of Elder Law Attorneys

Member

2005 - Current

WealthCounsel, LLC

Member

2000 - Current

Florida State Bar  # 261912

Member

1978 - Current

Florida

Since 1978

• Credit Cards Accepted

Estate Planning

Guardianship & Conservatorship Estate Administration, Health Care Directives, Trusts, Wills

Probate

Probate Administration, Probate Litigation, Will Contests

Elder Law

Business Law

Business Contracts, Business Dissolution, Business Finance, Business Formation, Business Litigation, Franchising, Mergers & Acquisitions, Partnership & Shareholder Disputes

Q. Can a homemade Florida Will be notarized by a notary instead of witnessed by two witnesses?

June 18, 2020

A: A Florida will must be witnessed by two witnesses, or it is not a valid will in Florida. To admit a will to probate, the probate court must determine that it is a valid will.

Upon the filing of a petition for probate, the will must contain a "self-proof" affidavit or a commissioner must be appointed by the probate court to locate one of the witnesses to the will. The commissioner must take an oath from at least one of the witnesses attesting that both of the witnesses actually observed the person making the will sign the will.

A self-proof affidavit is an affidavit signed at the same time the will is signed and both witnesses to the will must acknowledge that they and the person making the will all witnessed each other sign the will. The acknowledgment must be in the presence of a notary public.

If you do not have a self-proof affidavit prepared at the time the will is signed, and you cannot find a witness to the will, then you cannot prove that the will is valid. If the will is not valid then the estate must be probated as an intestate estate, and the assets of the estate will be distributed according to the Florida intestacy statute.

In most cases, it is important that the will have the self-proof affidavit so that it is not necessary to locate one of the witnesses, often many years after the will was signed.

I hope this helps you with regard to the proper signing of a will. ... Read More

Q. My aunt just passed away recently. In her Will she's left me her condominium, her vehicle, life insurance policy,..

March 6, 2020

A: I agree with Mr. Duong. You need to consult with an experienced probate attorney. You will need to probate your aunt’s estate and you will need a probate lawyer to accomplish that result.

Q. 2 sisters inherit a house from their father, it goes through probate court and both sisters names are on the deed.

October 6, 2019

A: If the deed provides that the sisters own the house as "joint tenants with right of survivorship" or "JTWROS", then the deceased sister's share automatically, by operation of law, transferred to the surviving sister at the death of the deceased sister. Otherwise, the deceased sister's share must be probated pursuant to the Florida Intestacy Statute since there was no will. If there was a will, then the deceased sister's share would transfer as provided in the will.