C. Randolph Coleman

C. Randolph Coleman

The Coleman Law Firm, PLLC
  • Estate Planning, Probate, Elder Law ...
  • Florida
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Biography

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.

Education
University of Florida
J.D.
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Honors: JD with Honors, Phi Kappa Phi, Florida Blue Key, Omicron Delta Kappa, AmJur Awards for Excellence: Corporations; Commercial Paper
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University of Florida
B.S. | Accounting/Economics
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Honors: Beta Alpha Psi
University of Florida Logo
Professional Experience
Managing Attorney
The Coleman Law Firm, PLLC
- 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
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Partner-commercial litigation, securities litigation, trademark litigation, estates and trusts litigation.
Associate Attorney
Mershon, Sawyer, Johnston, Dunwody & Cole
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Associate attorney in litigation department: commercial litigation, securities litigation, antitrust litigation, banking litigation, estates and trusts litigation.
Speaking Engagements
Estate Planning and Long Term Care Planning, Pre-Retirement Counseling, Jacksonville, Florida
US Army Corps of Engineers
Estate Planning and Long Term Care Planning, Pre-Retirement Counseling, Jacksonville, Florida
US Army Corps of Engineers
Estate Planning and Long Term Care Planning, Pre-Retirement Counseling, Jacksonville, Florida
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
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
National Business Institute
Family Limited Partnerships in Florida, Family Limited Partnerships in Florida - Continuing Legal Education Seminar, Jacksonville, Florida
National Business Institute
Asset Protection Techniques in Florida, Asset Protection Techniques in Florida - Continuing Legal Education Seminar, Jacksonville, Florida
National Business Institute
The New Florida Trust Code, The New Florida Trust Code - Continuing Legal Education Seminar, Jacksonville, Florida
National Business Institute
Pet Trusts and Animal Law, The Florida Bar Convention, Boca Raton, Florida
The Florida Bar
Pets and Pet Trusts, The Florida Bar Convention, Orlando, Florida
The Florida Bar
Awards
Best Lawyer - Trusts and Estates
Best Lawyers in America
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.
AV Peer Review Rating
Martindale-Hubbell
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.
Lead Counsel Designation
Lead Counsel
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
Professional Associations
ElderCounsel, LLC
Member
- Current
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Academy of Flroida Elder Law Attorneys
Member
- Current
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National Association of Elder Law Attorneys
Member
- Current
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WealthCounsel, LLC
Member
- Current
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Florida State Bar  # 261912
Member
- Current
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Jurisdictions Admitted to Practice
Florida
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Fees
  • Credit Cards Accepted
Practice Areas
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
Legal Answers
Q. Can a homemade Florida Will be notarized by a notary instead of witnessed by two witnesses?
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.
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Q. My aunt just passed away recently. In her Will she's left me her condominium, her vehicle, life insurance policy,..
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.
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.
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Websites & Blogs
Website
Website
Website
Qualified Income Trusts in Florida
Blog
Florida Estate Planning and Asset Protection
Contact & Map
Main Office
10161 Centurion Parkway, N
Suite 310
Jacksonville, FL 32256
Toll-Free: (866) 510-9099
Telephone: (904) 448-1969
Fax: (904) 448-5244
The Coleman Law Firm, PLLC
329 Palm Coast Pkwy SW, Ste 4
Palm Coast, FL 32137
Toll-Free: (866) 510-9099
Telephone: (386) 585-7004
Fax: (904) 448-5244