Probate Litigation
Top-Ranked Probate Litigation Lawyers in Boca Raton, Florida
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
- Rank1-No changePP
Pamela Thea Higer Polani
Independent practice · Boca Raton, FL
Verified- 31 years experience
- Probate Litigation
- ✓ Bar status verified
80.00LexRankView profileWhy #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)
- Rank2-No changeSS
Steven B Dolchin “Steven”
Independent practice · Boca Raton, FL
Verified- 52 years experience
- Probate Litigation
- ✓ Bar status verified
80.00LexRankView profileWhy #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)
- Rank3-No changeJG
Jessica Lassman Geller
Independent practice · Boca Raton, FL
Verified- 29 years experience
- Probate Litigation
- ✓ Bar status verified
80.00LexRankView profileWhy #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)
- Rank4-No changeLG
Lisa Glassman
Independent practice · Boca Raton, FL
Verified- 31 years experience
- Probate Litigation
- ✓ Bar status verified
80.00LexRankView profileWhy #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)
- Rank5-No changeGG
Ginny L Goldman
Independent practice · Boca Raton, FL
Verified- 31 years experience
- Probate Litigation
- ✓ Bar status verified
80.00LexRankView profileWhy #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)
- Rank6-No changeLJ
Lincoln H. Jones
Independent practice · Boca Raton, FL
Verified- 27 years experience
- Probate Litigation
- ✓ Bar status verified
80.00LexRankView profileWhy #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)
- Rank7-No changeSS
Steven Alan Lessne “Steve”
Independent practice · Boca Raton, FL
Verified- 29 years experience
- Probate Litigation
- ✓ Bar status verified
80.00LexRankView profileWhy #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)
- Rank8-No changeCM
C. Cory Mauro
Independent practice · Boca Raton, FL
Verified- 26 years experience
- Probate Litigation
- ✓ Bar status verified
80.00LexRankView profileWhy #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)
- Rank9-No changeJM
Jan Michael Morris
Independent practice · Boca Raton, FL
Verified- 39 years experience
- Probate Litigation
- ✓ Bar status verified
80.00LexRankView profileWhy #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)
- Rank10-No changeMM
Mark Louis Nowak “Mark”
Independent practice · Boca Raton, FL
Verified- 39 years experience
- Probate Litigation
- ✓ Bar status verified
80.00LexRankView profileWhy #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)
- Rank11-No changeTT
Timothy Hall Olenn “Tim”
Independent practice · Boca Raton, FL
Verified- 25 years experience
- Probate Litigation
- ✓ Bar status verified
80.00LexRankView profileWhy #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)
- Rank12-No changeBS
Barry Douglas Siegel
The Siegel Law Group, P.A. · Boca Raton, FL
Verified- 28 years experience
- Probate Litigation
- ✓ Bar status verified
80.00LexRankView profileWhy #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)
- Rank13-No changeTZ
Todd Alan Zuckerbrod
Independent practice · Boca Raton, FL
Verified- 24 years experience
- Probate Litigation
- ✓ Bar status verified
78.80LexRankView profileWhy #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.
- Rank14-No changeSZ
Sheldon Lee Zipkin
Independent practice · Boca Raton, FL
Verified- 45 years experience
- Probate Litigation
- ✓ Bar status verified
78.60LexRankView profileWhy #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.
- Rank15-No changeCC
Charles John Bennardini II “Charlie”
Independent practice · Boca Raton, FL
Verified- 39 years experience
- Probate Litigation
- ✓ Bar status verified
78.60LexRankView profileWhy #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.
- Rank16-No changeWB
William Joseph Berger
Independent practice · Boca Raton, FL
Verified- 50 years experience
- Probate Litigation
- ✓ Bar status verified
78.60LexRankView profileWhy #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.
- Rank17-No changeJS
Justin Barrett Schmidt
Independent practice · Boca Raton, FL
Verified- 25 years experience
- Probate Litigation
- ✓ Bar status verified
78.60LexRankView profileWhy #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.
- Rank18-No changeDH
David Philip Slater “Harriet”
Independent practice · Boca Raton, FL
Verified- 25 years experience
- Probate Litigation
- ✓ Bar status verified
78.60LexRankView profileWhy #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.
- Rank19-No changePS
Peter James Snyder
Independent practice · Boca Raton, FL
Verified- 45 years experience
- Guardianship · Probate Litigation
- ✓ Bar status verified
75.00LexRankView profileWhy #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.
- Rank20-No changeLD
Lillie Diana Hileman “Diana”
Independent practice · Boca Raton, FL
Verified- 32 years experience
- Guardianship · Probate Litigation
- ✓ Bar status verified
75.00LexRankView profileWhy #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)
- Rank21-No changeRP
Raymond Anthony Piccin
Bakalar & Associates, P.A. · Boca Raton, FL
Verified- 27 years experience
- Guardianship · Probate Litigation
- ✓ Bar status verified
75.00LexRankView profileWhy #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)
- Rank22-No changeRR
Ryan Sean Ratner
Independent practice · Boca Raton, FL
Verified- 31 years experience
- Guardianship · Probate Litigation
- ✓ Bar status verified
73.60LexRankView profileWhy #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.
- Rank23-No changeES
Edward Anthony Shipe
Independent practice · Boca Raton, FL
Verified- 40 years experience
- Guardianship · Probate Litigation
- ✓ Bar status verified
73.60LexRankView profileWhy #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.
- Rank24-No changePD
Peter A Dyson
Independent practice · Boca Raton, FL
Verified- 19 years experience
- Probate Litigation
- ✓ Bar status verified
72.80LexRankView profileWhy #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.
- Rank25-No changeDT
Daniela Nilgun Tolliver
Independent practice · Boca Raton, FL
Verified- 17 years experience
- Probate Litigation
- ✓ Bar status verified
70.40LexRankView profileWhy #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.
- Look up the lawyer in The Florida Bar's directory and check the bar number shown on their LexRanked profile.
- Ask whether the lawyer you meet will handle your matter personally, and how many matters like yours they have handled recently.
- Ask how they charge and what costs are extra, and get the agreement in writing.
- If you prefer to work in another language, check the languages listed on each profile.
Further reading
Sources for the rules above
- The Florida Bar: member directory (license, certification, languages, admission dates)
- The Florida Bar News: Board certification continues to set Florida lawyers apart (July 2026)
- Florida Statutes, section 733.212 (notice of administration; objections)
- Florida Statutes, section 732.5165 (fraud, duress, mistake and undue influence)
- Florida Statutes, section 733.107 (burden of proof in will contests)
- Florida Statutes, section 733.702 (limitations on presentation of claims)
- Florida Statutes, section 733.710 (limitations on claims against estates)
- Florida Statutes, section 736.0604 (limitation on contesting a revocable trust)
- Florida Statutes, section 732.501 (who may make a will)
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.
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