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Probate Litigation

Top-Ranked Probate Litigation Lawyers in Panama City, Florida

Updated Methodology LexRank v1.28 lawyers rankedReviewed by LexRanked editorial team

Summary

As of November 1, 2026, the top-ranked probate litigation lawyers in Panama City, Florida are John Joseph Maceluch Jr. (LexRank 80.00), Julie Ann Sombathy (80.00) and Joy A. Marler (76.40).

This ranking lists 8 probate litigation lawyers in Panama City, Florida, in order of their LexRank score, calculated from their Florida Bar records and other cited sources. Their experience ranges from 6 to 32 years in practice. 1 of the 8 lists Spanish on their Florida Bar profile.

Lawyers ranked
8
Fully verified
8 of 8

The ranking

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

  1. No change

    John Joseph Maceluch Jr.

    Independent practice · Panama City, FL

    Verified
    • 26 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 21.4)
    • Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 17.5)
  2. No change

    Julie Ann Sombathy

    Independent practice · Panama City, FL

    Verified
    • 32 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 21.4)
    • Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 17.5)
  3. No change

    Joy A. Marler

    Independent practice · Panama City, FL

    Verified
    • 22 years experience
    • Probate Litigation
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #3?

    Ranks #3 with 76.40: strongest in Experience (26.4/30) and Practice-area relevance (20/20). 3.60 points behind #2, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Experience 26.4/30 (ranking avg 21.4)
    • Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 17.5)

    3.60 points behind #2 (Julie Ann Sombathy): Experience −3.6.

  4. No change

    Angela Nichole Warren

    Independent practice · Panama City, FL

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

    Ranks #4 with 70.00: strongest in Experience (26.4/30) and Professional credentials (15/15). 6.40 points behind #3, mostly practice-area relevance.

    Strongest

    • Experience 26.4/30 (ranking avg 21.4)
    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 15)

    6.40 points behind #3 (Joy A. Marler): Practice-area relevance −5, Data quality −1.4.

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

  5. No change

    Christine D Smallwood Miranda

    Independent practice · Panama City, FL

    Verified
    • 20 years experience
    • Consumer Protection · Probate Litigation
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #5?

    Ranks #5 with 69.00: strongest in Experience (24/30) and Data quality (10/10). 1.00 points behind #4, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Experience 24/30 (ranking avg 21.4)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.7)

    1.00 points behind #4 (Angela Nichole Warren): Experience −2.4.

  6. No change

    Chad R. Templeton “Chad”

    Independent practice · Panama City, FL

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

    Ranks #6 with 62.00: strongest in Practice-area relevance (20/20) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Experience (12/30). 7.00 points behind #5, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 17.5)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.7)

    Held back by

    • Experience 12/30 (ranking avg 21.4)

    7.00 points behind #5 (Christine D Smallwood Miranda): Experience −12.

  7. No change

    Aletta Michele Smallwood “Michele”

    Independent practice · Panama City, FL

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

    Ranks #7 with 60.60: strongest in Data quality (10/10) and Professional credentials (15/15); held back by Experience (15.6/30). 1.40 points behind #6, mostly practice-area relevance.

    Strongest

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

    Held back by

    • Experience 15.6/30 (ranking avg 21.4)

    1.40 points behind #6 (Chad R. Templeton “Chad”): Practice-area relevance −5.

  8. No change

    Matthew Juergen Goldhagen

    Independent practice · Panama City, FL

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

    Ranks #8 with 50.80: strongest in Professional credentials (15/15) and Local relevance (5/5); held back by Experience (7.2/30). 9.80 points behind #7, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 15)
    • Local relevance 5/5 (ranking avg 5)

    Held back by

    • Experience 7.2/30 (ranking avg 21.4)

    9.80 points behind #7 (Aletta Michele Smallwood “Michele”): 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 · 8 profile pages81 facts for 8 lawyers

Probate Litigation market in Panama City

LexRanked tracks 8 lawyers in probate litigation law in Panama City, Florida. 8 of the lawyers have verified professional data. Data verified October 30, 2026.

Lawyers
8
Law firms
0
Verified professional data
8 of 8
Average rating
Withheldtoo few sourced ratings
Median review count
Withheldtoo few sourced counts
Median experience
21 years8 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 Panama City

What sets these Panama City 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 8 ranked lawyers Figure
Years in practice 6 to 32 (median 21)
Languages besides English American Sign Language (1), Spanish (1)
License status with The Florida Bar Eligible to practice, verified for every lawyer
Most common law school Florida State University College of Law (2 lawyers)

Who is included in this ranking?

Lawyers eligible to practice in Florida, with a Panama City office address and probate litigation as a practice area on record. It compares 8 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 Bay County is in Florida's Fourteenth 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 Panama City?

State court cases in Bay County are heard in Florida's Fourteenth Judicial Circuit.

Are there Spanish-speaking probate litigation lawyers in Panama City?

Yes. 1 of the 8 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?

8 of the 8 ranked lawyers have fully verified profiles: John Joseph Maceluch Jr., Julie Ann Sombathy, Joy A. Marler, Angela Nichole Warren and Christine D Smallwood Miranda 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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