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

Probate Litigation

Top-Ranked Probate Litigation Lawyers in Brandon, Florida

Updated Methodology LexRank v1.211 lawyers rankedReviewed by LexRanked editorial team

Summary

As of November 1, 2026, the top-ranked probate litigation lawyers in Brandon, Florida are Windy L. Wilkerson (LexRank 80.00), Mary Greenwood McDermott (75.00) and Daniel Gene Drake (71.93).

This ranking lists 11 probate litigation lawyers in Brandon, Florida, in order of their LexRank score, calculated from their Florida Bar records and other cited sources. Their experience ranges from 2 to 40 years in practice. 1 of the 11 lists Spanish on their Florida Bar profile.

Lawyers ranked
11
Fully verified
11 of 11

The ranking

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

  1. No change

    Windy L. Wilkerson

    Independent practice · Brandon, FL

    Verified
    • 25 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 19.5)
    • Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 17.3)
  2. No change

    Mary Greenwood McDermott

    Independent practice · Brandon, FL

    Verified
    • 40 years experience
    • Guardianship · Probate Litigation
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #2?

    Ranks #2 with 75.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10). 5.00 points behind #1, mostly practice-area relevance.

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 19.5)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.5)

    5.00 points behind #1 (Windy L. Wilkerson): Practice-area relevance −5.

  3. No change

    Daniel Gene Drake

    Independent practice · Brandon, FL

    Verified
    • 31 years experience
    • Bankruptcy · Guardianship
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #3?

    Ranks #3 with 71.93: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Professional credentials (15/15); held back by Practice-area relevance (13.3/20). 3.07 points behind #2, mostly practice-area relevance.

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 19.5)
    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 14.7)

    Held back by

    • Practice-area relevance 13.3/20 (ranking avg 17.3)

    3.07 points behind #2 (Mary Greenwood McDermott): Practice-area relevance −1.7, Data quality −1.4.

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

  4. No change

    Hildegund Pabst Wanders “Gundi”

    Independent practice · Brandon, FL

    Verified
    • 29 years experience
    • Bankruptcy · Consumer Protection
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #4?

    Ranks #4 with 71.93: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Professional credentials (15/15); held back by Practice-area relevance (13.3/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 19.5)
    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 14.7)

    Held back by

    • Practice-area relevance 13.3/20 (ranking avg 17.3)

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

  5. No change

    Dawn M. Chapman

    Independent practice · Brandon, FL

    Verified
    • 21 years experience
    • Bankruptcy · Guardianship
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #5?

    Ranks #5 with 68.53: strongest in Experience (25.2/30) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Practice-area relevance (13.3/20). 3.40 points behind #4, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Experience 25.2/30 (ranking avg 19.5)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.5)

    Held back by

    • Practice-area relevance 13.3/20 (ranking avg 17.3)

    3.40 points behind #4 (Hildegund Pabst Wanders “Gundi”): Experience −4.8.

  6. No change

    Charles Nathan Adams

    Independent practice · Brandon, FL

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

    Ranks #6 with 64.25: strongest in Practice-area relevance (20/20) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Experience (18/30). 4.28 points behind #5, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 17.3)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.5)

    Held back by

    • Experience 18/30 (ranking avg 19.5)

    4.28 points behind #5 (Dawn M. Chapman): Experience −7.2, Professional credentials −3.8.

  7. No change

    Rachel Leigh Griffin

    Independent practice · Brandon, FL

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

    Ranks #7 with 60.80: strongest in Practice-area relevance (20/20) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Experience (10.8/30). 3.45 points behind #6, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 17.3)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.5)

    Held back by

    • Experience 10.8/30 (ranking avg 19.5)

    3.45 points behind #6 (Charles Nathan Adams): Experience −7.2.

  8. No change

    Derek T. Matthews

    Independent practice · Brandon, FL

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

    Ranks #8 with 60.80: strongest in Practice-area relevance (20/20) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Experience (10.8/30).

    Strongest

    • Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 17.3)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.5)

    Held back by

    • Experience 10.8/30 (ranking avg 19.5)
  9. No change

    Vincent T. Lyon

    Independent practice · Brandon, FL

    Verified
    • 13 years experience
    • Guardianship · Probate Litigation
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #9?

    Ranks #9 with 60.60: strongest in Data quality (10/10) and Professional credentials (15/15); held back by Experience (15.6/30). 0.20 points behind #8, mostly practice-area relevance.

    Strongest

    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.5)
    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 14.7)

    Held back by

    • Experience 15.6/30 (ranking avg 19.5)

    0.20 points behind #8 (Derek T. Matthews): Practice-area relevance −5.

  10. No change

    Ruby C. Montes “Ruby Wake”

    Independent practice · Brandon, FL

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

    Ranks #10 with 60.60: strongest in Practice-area relevance (20/20) and Professional credentials (15/15); held back by Experience (12/30). 0.00 points behind #9, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 17.3)
    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 14.7)

    Held back by

    • Experience 12/30 (ranking avg 19.5)

    0.00 points behind #9 (Vincent T. Lyon): Experience −3.6, Data quality −1.4.

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

  11. No change

    Marley Anne Dodd

    Independent practice · Brandon, FL

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

    Ranks #11 with 51.00: strongest in Practice-area relevance (20/20) and Professional credentials (15/15); held back by Experience (2.4/30). 9.60 points behind #10, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 17.3)
    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 14.7)

    Held back by

    • Experience 2.4/30 (ranking avg 19.5)

    9.60 points behind #10 (Ruby C. Montes “Ruby Wake”): Experience −9.6.

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

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 · 11 profile pages109 facts for 11 lawyers

Probate Litigation market in Brandon

LexRanked tracks 11 lawyers in probate litigation law in Brandon, Florida. 11 of the lawyers have verified professional data. Data verified October 30, 2026.

Lawyers
11
Law firms
0
Verified professional data
11 of 11
Average rating
Withheldtoo few sourced ratings
Median review count
Withheldtoo few sourced counts
Median experience
15 years11 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 Brandon

What sets these Brandon 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 11 ranked lawyers Figure
Years in practice 2 to 40 (median 15)
Languages besides English French (1), German (1), Spanish (1)
License status with The Florida Bar Eligible to practice, verified for every lawyer
Most common law school Stetson University College of Law (2 lawyers)

Who is included in this ranking?

Lawyers eligible to practice in Florida, with a Brandon office address and probate litigation as a practice area on record. It compares 11 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 Hillsborough County is in Florida's Thirteenth 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 Brandon?

State court cases in Hillsborough County are heard in Florida's Thirteenth Judicial Circuit.

Are there Spanish-speaking probate litigation lawyers in Brandon?

Yes. 1 of the 11 ranked lawyers lists Spanish on their Florida Bar profile. Each LexRanked profile shows the languages on record.

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?

11 of the 11 ranked lawyers have fully verified profiles: Windy L. Wilkerson, Mary Greenwood McDermott, Daniel Gene Drake, Hildegund Pabst Wanders “Gundi” and Dawn M. Chapman and others.

What is the difference between the top two lawyers?

Windy L. Wilkerson scores 80.00 and Mary Greenwood McDermott 75.00, a gap of 5.00 points, mostly in practice-area relevance. Compare them side by side

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.

Explore