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Probate Litigation

Top-Ranked Probate Litigation Lawyers in Clearwater, Florida

Updated Methodology LexRank v1.216 lawyers rankedReviewed by LexRanked editorial team

Summary

As of November 1, 2026, the top-ranked probate litigation lawyers in Clearwater, Florida are Anthone Raphael Damianakis (LexRank 80.00), Andrew Mark Wieczorkowski (80.00) and David Byron Smitherman (80.00).

This ranking lists 16 probate litigation lawyers in Clearwater, Florida, in order of their LexRank score, calculated from their Florida Bar records and other cited sources. Their experience ranges from 11 to 50 years in practice.

Lawyers ranked
16
Fully verified
16 of 16

The ranking

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

  1. No change

    Anthone Raphael Damianakis

    Independent practice · Clearwater, FL

    Verified
    • 29 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 24)
    • Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 18.1)
  2. No change

    Andrew Mark Wieczorkowski

    Independent practice · Clearwater, FL

    Verified
    • 36 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 24)
    • Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 18.1)
  3. No change

    David Byron Smitherman

    Independent practice · Clearwater, FL

    Verified
    • 44 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 24)
    • Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 18.1)
  4. No change

    Robert Persante

    Independent practice · Clearwater, FL

    Verified
    • 42 years experience
    • Guardianship · Probate Litigation
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #4?

    Ranks #4 with 75.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10). 5.00 points behind #3, mostly practice-area relevance.

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 24)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.7)

    5.00 points behind #3 (David Byron Smitherman): Practice-area relevance −5.

  5. No change

    Jonathan Randall Saunders “Law Offices.”

    Independent practice · Clearwater, FL

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

    Ranks #5 with 75.00: strongest in Practice-area relevance (20/20) and Experience (26.4/30). 0.00 points behind #4, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 18.1)
    • Experience 26.4/30 (ranking avg 24)

    0.00 points behind #4 (Robert Persante): Experience −3.6, Data quality −1.4.

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

  6. No change

    Michael Timothy Heider

    Independent practice · Clearwater, FL

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

    Ranks #6 with 74.00: strongest in Practice-area relevance (20/20) and Data quality (10/10). 1.00 points behind #5, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 18.1)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.7)

    1.00 points behind #5 (Jonathan Randall Saunders “Law Offices.”): Experience −2.4.

  7. No change

    Brandon D Bellew

    Independent practice · Clearwater, FL

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

    Ranks #7 with 74.00: strongest in Practice-area relevance (20/20) and Data quality (10/10).

    Strongest

    • Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 18.1)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.7)
  8. No change

    Lisa Ann Hoppe

    Independent practice · Clearwater, FL

    Verified
    • 35 years experience
    • Guardianship · Probate Litigation
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #8?

    Ranks #8 with 73.60: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Professional credentials (15/15). 0.40 points behind #7, mostly practice-area relevance.

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 24)
    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 14.8)

    0.40 points behind #7 (Brandon D Bellew): Practice-area relevance −5, Data quality −1.4.

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

  9. No change

    Christina Green Rankin

    Independent practice · Clearwater, FL

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

    Ranks #9 with 72.60: strongest in Experience (27.6/30) and Data quality (10/10). 1.00 points behind #8, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Experience 27.6/30 (ranking avg 24)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.7)

    1.00 points behind #8 (Lisa Ann Hoppe): Experience −2.4.

  10. No change

    Nicholas J Grimaudo “Nick”

    Independent practice · Clearwater, FL

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

    Ranks #10 with 70.40: strongest in Practice-area relevance (20/20) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Experience (20.4/30). 2.20 points behind #9, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 18.1)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.7)

    Held back by

    • Experience 20.4/30 (ranking avg 24)

    2.20 points behind #9 (Christina Green Rankin): Experience −7.2.

  11. No change

    Edward C Castagna Jr.

    Independent practice · Clearwater, FL

    Verified
    • 50 years experience
    • Guardianship · Probate Litigation
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #11?

    Ranks #11 with 69.85: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Local relevance (5/5). 0.55 points behind #10, mostly practice-area relevance.

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 24)
    • Local relevance 5/5 (ranking avg 5)

    0.55 points behind #10 (Nicholas J Grimaudo “Nick”): Practice-area relevance −5, Professional credentials −3.8, Data quality −1.4.

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

  12. No change

    Zackary T Zuroweste

    Persante Zuroweste · Clearwater, FL

    Verified
    • 20 years experience
    • Guardianship · Probate Litigation
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #12?

    Ranks #12 with 69.00: strongest in Data quality (10/10) and Professional credentials (15/15). 0.85 points behind #11, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.7)
    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 14.8)

    0.85 points behind #11 (Edward C Castagna Jr.): Experience −6.

  13. No change

    Patrick D. Quarles

    Independent practice · Clearwater, FL

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

    Ranks #13 with 65.60: strongest in Practice-area relevance (20/20) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Experience (15.6/30). 3.40 points behind #12, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 18.1)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.7)

    Held back by

    • Experience 15.6/30 (ranking avg 24)

    3.40 points behind #12 (Zackary T Zuroweste): Experience −8.4.

  14. No change

    Laura Ashton Hughes

    Independent practice · Clearwater, FL

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

    Ranks #14 with 63.20: strongest in Practice-area relevance (20/20) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Experience (13.2/30). 2.40 points behind #13, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 18.1)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.7)

    Held back by

    • Experience 13.2/30 (ranking avg 24)

    2.40 points behind #13 (Patrick D. Quarles): Experience −2.4.

  15. No change

    Caitlin Marie Powell

    Independent practice · Clearwater, FL

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

    Ranks #15 with 63.20: strongest in Practice-area relevance (20/20) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Experience (13.2/30).

    Strongest

    • Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 18.1)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.7)

    Held back by

    • Experience 13.2/30 (ranking avg 24)
  16. No change

    Darren Michael Stotts

    Persante Zuroweste · Clearwater, FL

    Verified
    • 13 years experience
    • Guardianship · Probate Litigation
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #16?

    Ranks #16 with 60.60: strongest in Data quality (10/10) and Professional credentials (15/15); held back by Experience (15.6/30). 2.60 points behind #15, mostly practice-area relevance.

    Strongest

    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.7)
    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 14.8)

    Held back by

    • Experience 15.6/30 (ranking avg 24)

    2.60 points behind #15 (Caitlin Marie Powell): Practice-area relevance −5.

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 · 16 profile pages162 facts for 16 lawyers

Probate Litigation market in Clearwater

LexRanked tracks 16 lawyers and 1 law firm in probate litigation law in Clearwater, Florida. 16 of the lawyers have verified professional data. Data verified October 22, 2026.

Lawyers
16
Law firms
1
Verified professional data
16 of 16
Average rating
Withheldtoo few sourced ratings
Median review count
Withheldtoo few sourced counts
Median experience
21 years16 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 Clearwater

What sets these Clearwater 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 16 ranked lawyers Figure
Years in practice 11 to 50 (median 21)
Languages besides English Polish (2), Greek (1)
License status with The Florida Bar Eligible to practice, verified for every lawyer
Most common law school Stetson University College of Law (7 lawyers)

Who is included in this ranking?

Lawyers eligible to practice in Florida, with a Clearwater office address and probate litigation as a practice area on record. It compares 16 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 Pinellas County is in Florida's Sixth 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 Clearwater?

State court cases in Pinellas County are heard in Florida's Sixth 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?

16 of the 16 ranked lawyers have fully verified profiles: Anthone Raphael Damianakis, Andrew Mark Wieczorkowski, David Byron Smitherman, Robert Persante and Jonathan Randall Saunders “Law Offices.” 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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