Independent lawyer rankingsEvery fact traceable to a sourcePayment never changes a ranking

Summary

As of October 31, 2026, the top-ranked probate litigation lawyers in Boca Raton, Florida are Pamela Thea Higer Polani (LexRank 80.00), Steven B Dolchin “Steven” (80.00) and Jessica Lassman Geller (80.00).

This ranking lists 25 probate litigation lawyers in Boca Raton, Florida, in order of their LexRank score, calculated from their Florida Bar records and other cited sources. Their experience ranges from 17 to 52 years in practice.

Lawyers ranked
25
Fully verified
25 of 25

The ranking

Ordered by organic LexRank score; paid placements are labelled and never affect a position. How we rank

  1. No change

    Pamela Thea Higer Polani

    Independent practice · Boca Raton, FL

    Verified
    • 31 years experience
    • Probate Litigation
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #1?

    Ranks #1 with 80.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Practice-area relevance (20/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 20.9)
    • Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 18.8)
  2. No change

    Steven B Dolchin “Steven”

    Independent practice · Boca Raton, FL

    Verified
    • 52 years experience
    • Probate Litigation
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #2?

    Ranks #2 with 80.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Practice-area relevance (20/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 20.9)
    • Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 18.8)
  3. No change

    Jessica Lassman Geller

    Independent practice · Boca Raton, FL

    Verified
    • 29 years experience
    • Probate Litigation
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #3?

    Ranks #3 with 80.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Practice-area relevance (20/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 20.9)
    • Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 18.8)
  4. No change

    Lisa Glassman

    Independent practice · Boca Raton, FL

    Verified
    • 31 years experience
    • Probate Litigation
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #4?

    Ranks #4 with 80.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Practice-area relevance (20/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 20.9)
    • Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 18.8)
  5. No change

    Ginny L Goldman

    Independent practice · Boca Raton, FL

    Verified
    • 31 years experience
    • Probate Litigation
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #5?

    Ranks #5 with 80.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Practice-area relevance (20/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 20.9)
    • Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 18.8)
  6. No change

    Lincoln H. Jones

    Independent practice · Boca Raton, FL

    Verified
    • 27 years experience
    • Probate Litigation
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #6?

    Ranks #6 with 80.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Practice-area relevance (20/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 20.9)
    • Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 18.8)
  7. No change

    Steven Alan Lessne “Steve”

    Independent practice · Boca Raton, FL

    Verified
    • 29 years experience
    • Probate Litigation
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #7?

    Ranks #7 with 80.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Practice-area relevance (20/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 20.9)
    • Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 18.8)
  8. No change

    C. Cory Mauro

    Independent practice · Boca Raton, FL

    Verified
    • 26 years experience
    • Probate Litigation
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #8?

    Ranks #8 with 80.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Practice-area relevance (20/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 20.9)
    • Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 18.8)
  9. No change

    Jan Michael Morris

    Independent practice · Boca Raton, FL

    Verified
    • 39 years experience
    • Probate Litigation
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #9?

    Ranks #9 with 80.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Practice-area relevance (20/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 20.9)
    • Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 18.8)
  10. No change

    Mark Louis Nowak “Mark”

    Independent practice · Boca Raton, FL

    Verified
    • 39 years experience
    • Probate Litigation
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #10?

    Ranks #10 with 80.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Practice-area relevance (20/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 20.9)
    • Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 18.8)
  11. No change

    Timothy Hall Olenn “Tim”

    Independent practice · Boca Raton, FL

    Verified
    • 25 years experience
    • Probate Litigation
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #11?

    Ranks #11 with 80.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Practice-area relevance (20/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 20.9)
    • Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 18.8)
  12. No change

    Barry Douglas Siegel

    The Siegel Law Group, P.A. · Boca Raton, FL

    Verified
    • 28 years experience
    • Probate Litigation
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #12?

    Ranks #12 with 80.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Practice-area relevance (20/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 20.9)
    • Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 18.8)
  13. No change

    Todd Alan Zuckerbrod

    Independent practice · Boca Raton, FL

    Verified
    • 24 years experience
    • Probate Litigation
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #13?

    Ranks #13 with 78.80: strongest in Experience (28.8/30) and Practice-area relevance (20/20). 1.20 points behind #12, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Experience 28.8/30 (ranking avg 20.9)
    • Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 18.8)

    1.20 points behind #12 (Barry Douglas Siegel): Experience −1.2.

  14. No change

    Sheldon Lee Zipkin

    Independent practice · Boca Raton, FL

    Verified
    • 45 years experience
    • Probate Litigation
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #14?

    Ranks #14 with 78.60: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Practice-area relevance (20/20). 0.20 points behind #13, mostly data quality.

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 20.9)
    • Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 18.8)

    0.20 points behind #13 (Todd Alan Zuckerbrod): Data quality −1.4.

    Not on record (scores 0, never estimated): website.

  15. No change

    Charles John Bennardini II “Charlie”

    Independent practice · Boca Raton, FL

    Verified
    • 39 years experience
    • Probate Litigation
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #15?

    Ranks #15 with 78.60: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Practice-area relevance (20/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 20.9)
    • Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 18.8)

    Not on record (scores 0, never estimated): website.

  16. No change

    William Joseph Berger

    Independent practice · Boca Raton, FL

    Verified
    • 50 years experience
    • Probate Litigation
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #16?

    Ranks #16 with 78.60: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Practice-area relevance (20/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 20.9)
    • Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 18.8)

    Not on record (scores 0, never estimated): website.

  17. No change

    Justin Barrett Schmidt

    Independent practice · Boca Raton, FL

    Verified
    • 25 years experience
    • Probate Litigation
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #17?

    Ranks #17 with 78.60: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Practice-area relevance (20/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 20.9)
    • Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 18.8)

    Not on record (scores 0, never estimated): website.

  18. No change

    David Philip Slater “Harriet”

    Independent practice · Boca Raton, FL

    Verified
    • 25 years experience
    • Probate Litigation
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #18?

    Ranks #18 with 78.60: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Practice-area relevance (20/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 20.9)
    • Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 18.8)

    Not on record (scores 0, never estimated): website.

  19. No change

    Peter James Snyder

    Independent practice · Boca Raton, FL

    Verified
    • 45 years experience
    • Guardianship · Probate Litigation
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #19?

    Ranks #19 with 75.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10). 3.60 points behind #18, mostly practice-area relevance.

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 20.9)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.6)

    3.60 points behind #18 (David Philip Slater “Harriet”): Practice-area relevance −5.

  20. No change

    Lillie Diana Hileman “Diana”

    Independent practice · Boca Raton, FL

    Verified
    • 32 years experience
    • Guardianship · Probate Litigation
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #20?

    Ranks #20 with 75.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 20.9)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.6)
  21. No change

    Raymond Anthony Piccin

    Bakalar & Associates, P.A. · Boca Raton, FL

    Verified
    • 27 years experience
    • Guardianship · Probate Litigation
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #21?

    Ranks #21 with 75.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 20.9)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.6)
  22. No change

    Ryan Sean Ratner

    Independent practice · Boca Raton, FL

    Verified
    • 31 years experience
    • Guardianship · Probate Litigation
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #22?

    Ranks #22 with 73.60: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Professional credentials (15/15). 1.40 points behind #21, mostly data quality.

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 20.9)
    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 14.9)

    1.40 points behind #21 (Raymond Anthony Piccin): Data quality −1.4.

    Not on record (scores 0, never estimated): website.

  23. No change

    Edward Anthony Shipe

    Independent practice · Boca Raton, FL

    Verified
    • 40 years experience
    • Guardianship · Probate Litigation
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #23?

    Ranks #23 with 73.60: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Professional credentials (15/15).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 20.9)
    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 14.9)

    Not on record (scores 0, never estimated): website.

  24. No change

    Peter A Dyson

    Independent practice · Boca Raton, FL

    Verified
    • 19 years experience
    • Probate Litigation
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #24?

    Ranks #24 with 72.80: strongest in Experience (22.8/30) and Practice-area relevance (20/20). 0.80 points behind #23, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Experience 22.8/30 (ranking avg 20.9)
    • Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 18.8)

    0.80 points behind #23 (Edward Anthony Shipe): Experience −7.2.

  25. No change

    Daniela Nilgun Tolliver

    Independent practice · Boca Raton, FL

    Verified
    • 17 years experience
    • Probate Litigation
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #25?

    Ranks #25 with 70.40: strongest in Practice-area relevance (20/20) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Experience (20.4/30). 2.40 points behind #24, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 18.8)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.6)

    Held back by

    • Experience 20.4/30 (ranking avg 20.9)

    2.40 points behind #24 (Peter A Dyson): Experience −2.4.

Data sources behind the scores

Every score on this page is calculated from facts backed by these sources. Each profile shows which source supports which fact and when it was last checked.

  • floridabar.org · Official / regulatory · 25 profile pages246 facts for 25 lawyers

Probate Litigation market in Boca Raton

LexRanked tracks 47 lawyers and 8 law firms in probate litigation law in Boca Raton, Florida. 47 of the lawyers have verified professional data. Data verified October 30, 2026.

Lawyers
47
Law firms
8
Verified professional data
47 of 47
Average rating
Withheldtoo few sourced ratings
Median review count
Withheldtoo few sourced counts
Median experience
19 years47 lawyers

Calculated by LexRanked from its own records on ; data verified . Ratings and review counts count only when backed by a source; figures from fewer than three profiles are withheld. All lawyers in Boca Raton

What sets these Boca Raton lawyers apart

Every lawyer in this ranking has a The Florida Bar license verified as eligible to practice, and every fact shown links to its source. The figures below come from each lawyer's Florida Bar profile.

Fact about the 25 ranked lawyers Figure
Years in practice 17 to 52 (median 31)
Languages besides English French (1), Hebrew (1)
License status with The Florida Bar Eligible to practice, verified for every lawyer
Most common law school Nova Southeastern University - Shepard Broad College of Law (4 lawyers)

Who is included in this ranking?

Lawyers eligible to practice in Florida, with a Boca Raton office address and probate litigation as a practice area on record. It compares 25 probate litigation lawyers, using only facts with a cited source. The Florida Bar does not board-certify lawyers in probate litigation, so the practice area is the one each lawyer lists on their Florida Bar profile, which The Florida Bar does not review. How we rank.

Florida rules to know

Florida probate disputes run on short deadlines: an objection to a will is due 3 months after the notice of administration is served, creditor claims are generally due 3 months after the first notice to creditors, and most claims end 2 years after death.

Rule What it means
Will contest deadline An objection to a will's validity must be filed within 3 months after the notice of administration is served (Fla. Stat. § 733.212)
Undue influence A will, or any part of it, procured by fraud, duress, mistake or undue influence is void (§ 732.5165)
Burden of proof The will's proponent proves its execution; the contestant then proves the grounds, and a presumption of undue influence shifts the burden where it applies (§ 733.107)
Creditor claims Claims are due by the later of 3 months after first publication of the notice to creditors or 30 days after service on a creditor (§ 733.702)
Two-year bar Most claims against a decedent end 2 years after death (§ 733.710)
Trust contests A contest of a revocable trust is barred 6 months after the trustee sends the trust and the required notice, if that is earlier (§ 736.0604)
Court Where cases are heard
State court circuit Palm Beach County is in Florida's Fifteenth Judicial Circuit

How to choose among these lawyers

Confirm the license, ask who will handle your matter, and get the fee terms in writing before you sign.

  1. Look up the lawyer in The Florida Bar's directory and check the bar number shown on their LexRanked profile.
  2. Ask whether the lawyer you meet will handle your matter personally, and how many matters like yours they have handled recently.
  3. Ask how they charge and what costs are extra, and get the agreement in writing.
  4. If you prefer to work in another language, check the languages listed on each profile.

Further reading

Sources for the rules above

Frequently asked questions

How long do I have to contest a will in Florida?

An interested person served with the notice of administration must file an objection within 3 months after service, under section 733.212. The period can be extended only for a misstatement by the personal representative about the deadline.

On what grounds can a will be challenged?

A will, or any part of it, is void if procured by fraud, duress, mistake or undue influence (section 732.5165). A will is also open to challenge if the person who made it was not of sound mind (section 732.501).

How long do creditors have to file a claim against an estate?

By the later of 3 months after the first publication of the notice to creditors or 30 days after a creditor is served (section 733.702). Most claims are barred 2 years after death in any case (section 733.710).

How long do I have to contest a trust in Florida?

For a trust that was revocable at death, the earlier of the general limitations period or 6 months after the trustee sends you the trust and the notice the statute requires (section 736.0604).

Which court handles cases in Boca Raton?

State court cases in Palm Beach County are heard in Florida's Fifteenth Judicial Circuit.

How is this ranking ordered?

By the LexRank score, calculated only from facts with a cited source: experience, practice-area relevance, awards on record such as board certification, professional credentials, data quality and location. Client reviews do not affect the LexRank score: neither star ratings nor the number of reviews is scored. Payment never changes a position.

Do client reviews affect the LexRank score?

Client reviews do not affect the LexRank score: neither star ratings nor the number of reviews is scored. Reviews are shown on profiles for information only, and Reputation counts only awards on record, such as board certification. How we rank

Which lawyers are verified?

25 of the 25 ranked lawyers have fully verified profiles: Pamela Thea Higer Polani, Steven B Dolchin “Steven”, Jessica Lassman Geller, Lisa Glassman and Ginny L Goldman and others.

About this ranking

Last updated
Methodology
LexRank v1.2 - deterministic, reproducible scoring
Editorial review
LexRanked editorial team,
Independence
Positions are never sold. Paid placements, if any, are labelled and do not affect scores.