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Probate Litigation

Top-Ranked Probate Litigation Lawyers in Naples, 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 Naples, Florida are Jason Hunter Korn (LexRank 84.00), Jacob Edwin Colgrove (80.00) and James Anthony Bonaquist Jr. (80.00).

This ranking lists 25 probate litigation lawyers in Naples, Florida, in order of their LexRank score, calculated from their Florida Bar records and other cited sources. Their experience ranges from 6 to 50 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

    Jason Hunter Korn

    Dentons Cohen & Grigsby P.C. · Naples, FL

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

    Ranks #1 with 84.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Reputation (4/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 22.2)
    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 0.3)
  2. No change

    Jacob Edwin Colgrove

    Independent practice · Naples, FL

    Verified
    • 45 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); held back by Reputation (0/20). 4.00 points behind #1, mostly reputation.

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 22.2)
    • Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 19.1)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.3)

    4.00 points behind #1 (Jason Hunter Korn): Reputation −4.

  3. No change

    James Anthony Bonaquist Jr.

    Independent practice · Naples, FL

    Verified
    • 39 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); held back by Reputation (0/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 22.2)
    • Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 19.1)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.3)
  4. No change

    Alyssa Julie Keogh

    Independent practice · Naples, FL

    Verified
    • 25 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); held back by Reputation (0/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 22.2)
    • Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 19.1)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.3)
  5. No change

    Christopher Edward Mast

    Independent practice · Naples, FL

    Verified
    • 36 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); held back by Reputation (0/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 22.2)
    • Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 19.1)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.3)
  6. No change

    Marc Francis Oates

    Independent practice · Naples, 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); held back by Reputation (0/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 22.2)
    • Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 19.1)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.3)
  7. No change

    Jill Jacob Burzynski

    Independent practice · Naples, FL

    Verified
    • 38 years experience
    • Guardianship · Probate Litigation
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #7?

    Ranks #7 with 79.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Reputation (4/20). 1.00 points behind #6, mostly practice-area relevance.

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 22.2)
    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 0.3)

    1.00 points behind #6 (Marc Francis Oates): Practice-area relevance −5.

  8. No change

    Richard Steven Annunziata

    Independent practice · Naples, FL

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

    Ranks #8 with 78.60: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Practice-area relevance (20/20); held back by Reputation (0/20). 0.40 points behind #7, mostly reputation.

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 22.2)
    • Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 19.1)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.3)

    0.40 points behind #7 (Jill Jacob Burzynski): Reputation −4, Data quality −1.4.

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

  9. No change

    Raymond Leon Bass Jr.

    Independent practice · Naples, FL

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

    Ranks #9 with 78.60: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Practice-area relevance (20/20); held back by Reputation (0/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 22.2)
    • Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 19.1)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.3)

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

  10. No change

    Michael Forast Beal

    Independent practice · Naples, FL

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

    Ranks #10 with 78.60: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Practice-area relevance (20/20); held back by Reputation (0/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 22.2)
    • Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 19.1)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.3)

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

  11. No change

    Joe Bruce Cox

    Independent practice · Naples, FL

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

    Ranks #11 with 78.60: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Practice-area relevance (20/20); held back by Reputation (0/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 22.2)
    • Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 19.1)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.3)

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

  12. No change

    Deborah Pantano Stewart

    Independent practice · Naples, FL

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

    Ranks #12 with 78.60: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Practice-area relevance (20/20); held back by Reputation (0/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 22.2)
    • Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 19.1)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.3)

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

  13. No change

    Douglas L Rankin “Doug”

    Independent practice · Naples, FL

    Verified
    • 43 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); held back by Reputation (0/20). 3.60 points behind #12, mostly practice-area relevance.

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 22.2)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.6)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.3)

    3.60 points behind #12 (Deborah Pantano Stewart): Practice-area relevance −5.

  14. No change

    Michael Travis Hayes “Travis”

    Independent practice · Naples, FL

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

    Ranks #14 with 74.00: strongest in Experience (24/30) and Practice-area relevance (20/20); held back by Reputation (0/20). 1.00 points behind #13, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Experience 24/30 (ranking avg 22.2)
    • Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 19.1)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.3)

    1.00 points behind #13 (Douglas L Rankin “Doug”): Experience −6.

  15. No change

    Jamie Beth Schwinghamer

    FisherBroyles LLP · Naples, FL

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

    Ranks #15 with 74.00: strongest in Experience (24/30) and Practice-area relevance (20/20); held back by Reputation (0/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 24/30 (ranking avg 22.2)
    • Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 19.1)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.3)
  16. No change

    Christyna Michelle Torrez

    Independent practice · Naples, FL

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

    Ranks #16 with 72.80: strongest in Practice-area relevance (20/20) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (0/20). 1.20 points behind #15, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 19.1)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.6)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.3)

    1.20 points behind #15 (Jamie Beth Schwinghamer): Experience −1.2.

  17. No change

    Rachel Anne Kerlek

    Independent practice · Naples, FL

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

    Ranks #17 with 71.60: strongest in Practice-area relevance (20/20) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (0/20) and Experience (21.6/30). 1.20 points behind #16, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 19.1)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.6)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.3)
    • Experience 21.6/30 (ranking avg 22.2)

    1.20 points behind #16 (Christyna Michelle Torrez): Experience −1.2.

  18. No change

    Eric D Correira

    Independent practice · Naples, FL

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

    Ranks #18 with 69.20: strongest in Practice-area relevance (20/20) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (0/20) and Experience (19.2/30). 2.40 points behind #17, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 19.1)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.6)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.3)
    • Experience 19.2/30 (ranking avg 22.2)

    2.40 points behind #17 (Rachel Anne Kerlek): Experience −2.4.

  19. No change

    Renee E Nesbit

    Independent practice · Naples, FL

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

    Ranks #19 with 69.20: strongest in Practice-area relevance (20/20) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (0/20) and Experience (19.2/30).

    Strongest

    • Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 19.1)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.6)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.3)
    • Experience 19.2/30 (ranking avg 22.2)
  20. No change

    Brandon Robert Bytnar

    Independent practice · Naples, FL

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

    Ranks #20 with 65.40: strongest in Data quality (10/10) and Local relevance (5/5); held back by Reputation (0/20) and Experience (20.4/30). 3.80 points behind #19, mostly practice-area relevance.

    Strongest

    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.6)
    • Local relevance 5/5 (ranking avg 5)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.3)
    • Experience 20.4/30 (ranking avg 22.2)

    3.80 points behind #19 (Renee E Nesbit): Practice-area relevance −5.

  21. No change

    Braxton Linton Bowen

    Galbraith Weatherbie Law · Naples, FL

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

    Ranks #21 with 63.20: strongest in Practice-area relevance (20/20) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (0/20) and Experience (13.2/30). 2.20 points behind #20, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 19.1)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.6)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.3)
    • Experience 13.2/30 (ranking avg 22.2)

    2.20 points behind #20 (Brandon Robert Bytnar): Experience −7.2.

  22. No change

    Barton C. Mercer

    Independent practice · Naples, FL

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

    Ranks #22 with 63.00: strongest in Practice-area relevance (20/20) and Local relevance (5/5); held back by Reputation (0/20) and Experience (14.4/30). 0.20 points behind #21, mostly data quality.

    Strongest

    • Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 19.1)
    • Local relevance 5/5 (ranking avg 5)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.3)
    • Experience 14.4/30 (ranking avg 22.2)

    0.20 points behind #21 (Braxton Linton Bowen): Data quality −1.4.

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

  23. No change

    C. Christopher Muth

    Independent practice · Naples, FL

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

    Ranks #23 with 60.80: strongest in Practice-area relevance (20/20) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (0/20) and Experience (10.8/30). 2.20 points behind #22, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 19.1)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.6)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.3)
    • Experience 10.8/30 (ranking avg 22.2)

    2.20 points behind #22 (Barton C. Mercer): Experience −3.6.

  24. No change

    John Paul Bratcher “J.P.”

    Independent practice · Naples, FL

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

    Ranks #24 with 60.60: strongest in Data quality (10/10) and Local relevance (5/5); held back by Reputation (0/20) and Experience (15.6/30). 0.20 points behind #23, mostly practice-area relevance.

    Strongest

    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.6)
    • Local relevance 5/5 (ranking avg 5)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.3)
    • Experience 15.6/30 (ranking avg 22.2)

    0.20 points behind #23 (C. Christopher Muth): Practice-area relevance −5.

  25. No change

    Herman Joseph Marino Jr.

    Independent practice · Naples, FL

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

    Ranks #25 with 55.80: strongest in Practice-area relevance (20/20) and Local relevance (5/5); held back by Reputation (0/20) and Experience (7.2/30). 4.80 points behind #24, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 19.1)
    • Local relevance 5/5 (ranking avg 5)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.3)
    • Experience 7.2/30 (ranking avg 22.2)

    4.80 points behind #24 (John Paul Bratcher “J.P.”): Experience −8.4, Data quality −1.4.

    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 · 25 profile pages249 facts for 25 lawyers

Probate Litigation market in Naples

LexRanked tracks 28 lawyers and 5 law firms in probate litigation law in Naples, Florida. 28 of the lawyers have verified professional data. Data verified October 22, 2026.

Lawyers
28
Law firms
5
Verified professional data
28 of 28
Average rating
Withheldtoo few sourced ratings
Median review count
Withheldtoo few sourced counts
Median experience
20 years28 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 Naples

What sets these Naples 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 6 to 50 (median 25)
License status with The Florida Bar Eligible to practice, verified for every lawyer
Most common law school University of Florida, Fredric G. Levin College of Law (5 lawyers)

Who is included in this ranking?

Lawyers eligible to practice in Florida, with a Naples 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 Collier County is in Florida's Twentieth 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.

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 Naples?

State court cases in Collier County are heard in Florida's Twentieth 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: Jason Hunter Korn, Jacob Edwin Colgrove, James Anthony Bonaquist Jr., Alyssa Julie Keogh and Christopher Edward Mast and others.

What is the difference between the top two lawyers?

Jason Hunter Korn scores 84.00 and Jacob Edwin Colgrove 80.00, a gap of 4.00 points, mostly in reputation. 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.

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