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Probate Litigation

Top-Ranked Probate Litigation Lawyers in Coral Gables, Florida

Updated Methodology LexRank v1.225 lawyers rankedReviewed by LexRanked editorial team

Summary

As of November 1, 2026, the top-ranked probate litigation lawyers in Coral Gables, Florida are Thomas Sheffield Donnelly (LexRank 80.00), Ernesto Martinez Jr. (80.00) and Craig Michael Dorne (80.00).

This ranking lists 25 probate litigation lawyers in Coral Gables, Florida, in order of their LexRank score, calculated from their Florida Bar records and other cited sources. Their experience ranges from 14 to 46 years in practice. 14 of the 25 list Spanish on their Florida Bar profile.

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

    Thomas Sheffield Donnelly

    Independent practice · Coral Gables, 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 18.8)
    • Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 17.9)
  2. No change

    Ernesto Martinez Jr.

    Independent practice · Coral Gables, FL

    Verified
    • 38 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 18.8)
    • Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 17.9)
  3. No change

    Craig Michael Dorne

    Independent practice · Coral Gables, FL

    Verified
    • 36 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 18.8)
    • Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 17.9)
  4. No change

    Adam Craig Schucher “Adam”

    Independent practice · Coral Gables, FL

    Verified
    • 27 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 18.8)
    • Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 17.9)
  5. No change

    Mercy B Pina-Brito “Mercy”

    Independent practice · Coral Gables, FL

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

    Ranks #5 with 78.60: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Practice-area relevance (20/20). 1.40 points behind #4, mostly data quality.

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 18.8)
    • Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 17.9)

    1.40 points behind #4 (Adam Craig Schucher “Adam”): Data quality −1.4.

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

  6. No change

    Roy Steven Elkin

    Independent practice · Coral Gables, FL

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

    Ranks #6 with 78.60: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Practice-area relevance (20/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 18.8)
    • Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 17.9)

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

  7. No change

    Anthony Thomas Golden

    Independent practice · Coral Gables, FL

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

    Ranks #7 with 78.60: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Practice-area relevance (20/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 18.8)
    • Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 17.9)

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

  8. No change

    Eduardo Gomez

    Independent practice · Coral Gables, FL

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

    Ranks #8 with 77.60: strongest in Experience (27.6/30) and Practice-area relevance (20/20). 1.00 points behind #7, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Experience 27.6/30 (ranking avg 18.8)
    • Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 17.9)

    1.00 points behind #7 (Anthony Thomas Golden): Experience −2.4.

  9. No change

    Alejandra Arroyave Lopez

    Independent practice · Coral Gables, FL

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

    Ranks #9 with 77.60: strongest in Experience (27.6/30) and Practice-area relevance (20/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 27.6/30 (ranking avg 18.8)
    • Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 17.9)
  10. No change

    Luis Enrique Barreto “Luis E Barreto”

    Luis E Barreto & Associates, P.A. · Coral Gables, FL

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

    Ranks #10 with 75.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10). 2.60 points behind #9, mostly practice-area relevance.

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 18.8)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.7)

    2.60 points behind #9 (Alejandra Arroyave Lopez): Practice-area relevance −5.

  11. No change

    Christy Lyn Hertz

    Independent practice · Coral Gables, FL

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

    Ranks #11 with 75.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 18.8)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.7)
  12. No change

    Richard Lorenzo

    Independent practice · Coral Gables, FL

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

    Ranks #12 with 75.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 18.8)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.7)
  13. No change

    Ana M Veliz

    Independent practice · Coral Gables, FL

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

    Ranks #13 with 75.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 18.8)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.7)
  14. No change

    Hung Viet Nguyen

    Independent practice · Coral Gables, FL

    Verified
    • 24 years experience
    • Guardianship · Probate Litigation
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #14?

    Ranks #14 with 73.80: strongest in Experience (28.8/30) and Data quality (10/10). 1.20 points behind #13, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Experience 28.8/30 (ranking avg 18.8)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.7)

    1.20 points behind #13 (Ana M Veliz): Experience −1.2.

  15. No change

    Sandra Hoyos “Sandra Hoyos Mejia”

    Independent practice · Coral Gables, FL

    Verified
    • 25 years experience
    • Guardianship · Probate Litigation
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #15?

    Ranks #15 with 73.60: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Professional credentials (15/15). 0.20 points behind #14, mostly data quality.

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 18.8)
    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 14.7)

    0.20 points behind #14 (Hung Viet Nguyen): Data quality −1.4.

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

  16. No change

    Michelle Marie Jorge

    Independent practice · Coral Gables, FL

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

    Ranks #16 with 73.60: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Professional credentials (15/15).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 18.8)
    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 14.7)

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

  17. No change

    Jeffrey Ramsey Lam

    Independent practice · Coral Gables, FL

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

    Ranks #17 with 72.80: strongest in Experience (22.8/30) and Practice-area relevance (20/20). 0.80 points behind #16, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Experience 22.8/30 (ranking avg 18.8)
    • Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 17.9)

    0.80 points behind #16 (Michelle Marie Jorge): Experience −7.2.

  18. No change

    Lisa Daniels Landy

    Landy Rodriguez, LLP · Coral Gables, FL

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

    Ranks #18 with 72.80: strongest in Experience (22.8/30) and Practice-area relevance (20/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 22.8/30 (ranking avg 18.8)
    • Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 17.9)
  19. No change

    Senen Daniel Garcia II

    Saltiel Law Group · Coral Gables, FL

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

    Ranks #19 with 71.60: strongest in Practice-area relevance (20/20) and Experience (21.6/30). 1.20 points behind #18, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 17.9)
    • Experience 21.6/30 (ranking avg 18.8)

    1.20 points behind #18 (Lisa Daniels Landy): Experience −1.2.

  20. No change

    Haydee Stephanie Sera

    Weiss Serota Helfman Cole & Bierman · Coral Gables, FL

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

    Ranks #20 with 70.40: strongest in Practice-area relevance (20/20) and Experience (20.4/30). 1.20 points behind #19, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 17.9)
    • Experience 20.4/30 (ranking avg 18.8)

    1.20 points behind #19 (Senen Daniel Garcia II): Experience −1.2.

  21. No change

    Deborah L Schwartz

    Independent practice · Coral Gables, FL

    Verified
    • 16 years experience
    • Probate Litigation
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #21?

    Ranks #21 with 69.20: strongest in Practice-area relevance (20/20) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Experience (19.2/30). 1.20 points behind #20, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 17.9)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.7)

    Held back by

    • Experience 19.2/30 (ranking avg 18.8)

    1.20 points behind #20 (Haydee Stephanie Sera): Experience −1.2.

  22. No change

    Javier Alejandro Gonzalez “Javi”

    Independent practice · Coral Gables, FL

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

    Ranks #22 with 68.00: strongest in Practice-area relevance (20/20) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Experience (18/30). 1.20 points behind #21, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 17.9)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.7)

    Held back by

    • Experience 18/30 (ranking avg 18.8)

    1.20 points behind #21 (Deborah L Schwartz): Experience −1.2.

  23. No change

    Andrew Babnik Jr.

    Independent practice · Coral Gables, FL

    Verified
    • 15 years experience
    • Probate Litigation
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #23?

    Ranks #23 with 68.00: strongest in Practice-area relevance (20/20) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Experience (18/30).

    Strongest

    • Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 17.9)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.7)

    Held back by

    • Experience 18/30 (ranking avg 18.8)
  24. No change

    Clara Delgado Rossell

    Independent practice · Coral Gables, FL

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

    Ranks #24 with 66.80: strongest in Practice-area relevance (20/20) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Experience (16.8/30). 1.20 points behind #23, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 17.9)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.7)

    Held back by

    • Experience 16.8/30 (ranking avg 18.8)

    1.20 points behind #23 (Andrew Babnik Jr.): Experience −1.2.

  25. No change

    Aislynn Thomas-McDonald “aislynn”

    Independent practice · Coral Gables, FL

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

    Ranks #25 with 66.80: strongest in Practice-area relevance (20/20) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Experience (16.8/30).

    Strongest

    • Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 17.9)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.7)

    Held back by

    • Experience 16.8/30 (ranking avg 18.8)

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 pages263 facts for 25 lawyers

Probate Litigation market in Coral Gables

LexRanked tracks 46 lawyers and 6 law firms in probate litigation law in Coral Gables, Florida. 46 of the lawyers have verified professional data. Data verified October 22, 2026.

Lawyers
46
Law firms
6
Verified professional data
46 of 46
Average rating
Withheldtoo few sourced ratings
Median review count
Withheldtoo few sourced counts
Median experience
15 years46 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 Coral Gables

What sets these Coral Gables 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 14 to 46 (median 25)
Languages besides English Spanish (14), French (2), German (2), Vietnamese (1)
License status with The Florida Bar Eligible to practice, verified for every lawyer
Most common law school University of Miami School of Law (11 lawyers)

Who is included in this ranking?

Lawyers eligible to practice in Florida, with a Coral Gables 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 Miami-Dade County is in Florida's Eleventh 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 Coral Gables?

State court cases in Miami-Dade County are heard in Florida's Eleventh Judicial Circuit.

Are there Spanish-speaking probate litigation lawyers in Coral Gables?

Yes. 14 of the 25 ranked lawyers list 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?

25 of the 25 ranked lawyers have fully verified profiles: Thomas Sheffield Donnelly, Ernesto Martinez Jr., Craig Michael Dorne, Adam Craig Schucher “Adam” and Mercy B Pina-Brito “Mercy” and others.

Which lawyers speak Spanish?

26 of the 46 lawyers in this ranking have it on record, 26 confirmed by a verified fact or an official record. They are ranked separately by the same LexRank score. Top-Ranked Spanish-Speaking Probate Litigation Lawyers in Coral Gables, Florida

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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