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Estate Planning

Top-Ranked Estate Planning Lawyers in Sarasota, Florida

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

Summary

As of November 1, 2026, the top-ranked estate planning lawyers in Sarasota, Florida are Charla McNally Burchett (LexRank 84.00), Ric Gregoria (84.00) and Elizabeth C Marshall (84.00).

This ranking lists 16 estate planning lawyers in Sarasota, Florida, in order of their LexRank score, calculated from their Florida Bar records and other cited sources. All 16 lawyers in this ranking are Board Certified in Wills, Trusts and Estates Law by The Florida Bar, a credential held by 4.9% of Florida lawyers in any field. Their experience ranges from 13 to 42 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

    Charla McNally Burchett

    Independent practice · Sarasota, FL

    Verified
    • 37 years experience
    • Estate Planning
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #1?

    Ranks #1 with 84.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (4/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 25.9)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.3)

    Held back by

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

    Ric Gregoria

    Williams Parker · Sarasota, FL

    Verified
    • 34 years experience
    • Estate Planning
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #2?

    Ranks #2 with 84.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (4/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 25.9)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.3)

    Held back by

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

    Elizabeth C Marshall

    Williams Parker · Sarasota, FL

    Verified
    • 41 years experience
    • Estate Planning
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #3?

    Ranks #3 with 84.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (4/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 25.9)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.3)

    Held back by

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

    Rose-Anne Barnidge Frano

    Williams Parker · Sarasota, FL

    Verified
    • 24 years experience
    • Estate Planning
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #4?

    Ranks #4 with 82.80: strongest in Experience (28.8/30) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (4/20). 1.20 points behind #3, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Experience 28.8/30 (ranking avg 25.9)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.3)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4)

    1.20 points behind #3 (Elizabeth C Marshall): Experience −1.2.

  5. No change

    J Allison Archbold

    Independent practice · Sarasota, FL

    Verified
    • 29 years experience
    • Estate Planning
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #5?

    Ranks #5 with 82.60: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Professional credentials (15/15); held back by Reputation (4/20). 0.20 points behind #4, mostly data quality.

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 25.9)
    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 14.3)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4)

    0.20 points behind #4 (Rose-Anne Barnidge Frano): Data quality −1.4.

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

  6. No change

    Richard Roy Gans

    Independent practice · Sarasota, FL

    Verified
    • 31 years experience
    • Estate Planning
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #6?

    Ranks #6 with 82.60: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Professional credentials (15/15); held back by Reputation (4/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 25.9)
    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 14.3)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4)

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

  7. No change

    R Craig Harrison

    Independent practice · Sarasota, FL

    Verified
    • 41 years experience
    • Estate Planning
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #7?

    Ranks #7 with 82.60: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Professional credentials (15/15); held back by Reputation (4/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 25.9)
    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 14.3)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4)

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

  8. No change

    Neil William Scott

    Independent practice · Sarasota, FL

    Verified
    • 42 years experience
    • Estate Planning
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #8?

    Ranks #8 with 82.60: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Professional credentials (15/15); held back by Reputation (4/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 25.9)
    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 14.3)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4)

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

  9. No change

    David Whitney Payne

    Independent practice · Sarasota, FL

    Verified
    • 34 years experience
    • Estate Planning
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #9?

    Ranks #9 with 82.60: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Professional credentials (15/15); held back by Reputation (4/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 25.9)
    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 14.3)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4)

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

  10. No change

    Gregory Scott Band “Greg”

    Band Law Group P.L. · Sarasota, FL

    Verified
    • 35 years experience
    • Estate Planning
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #10?

    Ranks #10 with 78.85: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Local relevance (5/5); held back by Reputation (4/20). 3.75 points behind #9, mostly professional credentials.

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 25.9)
    • Local relevance 5/5 (ranking avg 5)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4)

    3.75 points behind #9 (David Whitney Payne): Professional credentials −3.8.

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

  11. No change

    Jeffrey Todd Troiano

    Williams Parker · Sarasota, FL

    Verified
    • 19 years experience
    • Estate Planning
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #11?

    Ranks #11 with 76.80: strongest in Data quality (10/10) and Professional credentials (15/15); held back by Reputation (4/20). 2.05 points behind #10, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.3)
    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 14.3)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4)

    2.05 points behind #10 (Gregory Scott Band “Greg”): Experience −7.2.

  12. No change

    Lee Hamilton Massey

    Independent practice · Sarasota, FL

    Verified
    • 19 years experience
    • Estate Planning
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #12?

    Ranks #12 with 73.05: strongest in Data quality (10/10) and Local relevance (5/5); held back by Reputation (4/20). 3.75 points behind #11, mostly professional credentials.

    Strongest

    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.3)
    • Local relevance 5/5 (ranking avg 5)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4)

    3.75 points behind #11 (Jeffrey Todd Troiano): Professional credentials −3.8.

  13. No change

    Francis Gant McCloud

    Independent practice · Sarasota, FL

    Verified
    • 17 years experience
    • Estate Planning
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #13?

    Ranks #13 with 73.00: strongest in Professional credentials (15/15) and Local relevance (5/5); held back by Reputation (4/20) and Experience (20.4/30). 0.05 points behind #12, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 14.3)
    • Local relevance 5/5 (ranking avg 5)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4)
    • Experience 20.4/30 (ranking avg 25.9)

    0.05 points behind #12 (Lee Hamilton Massey): Experience −2.4, Data quality −1.4.

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

  14. No change

    Elizabeth Paige Diaz

    Williams Parker · Sarasota, FL

    Verified
    • 15 years experience
    • Estate Planning
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #14?

    Ranks #14 with 72.00: strongest in Data quality (10/10) and Professional credentials (15/15); held back by Reputation (4/20) and Experience (18/30). 1.00 points behind #13, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.3)
    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 14.3)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4)
    • Experience 18/30 (ranking avg 25.9)

    1.00 points behind #13 (Francis Gant McCloud): Experience −2.4.

  15. No change

    Fletcher Hamilton Rush “Fletcher”

    Independent practice · Sarasota, FL

    Verified
    • 14 years experience
    • Estate Planning
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #15?

    Ranks #15 with 69.40: strongest in Professional credentials (15/15) and Local relevance (5/5); held back by Reputation (4/20) and Experience (16.8/30). 2.60 points behind #14, mostly data quality.

    Strongest

    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 14.3)
    • Local relevance 5/5 (ranking avg 5)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4)
    • Experience 16.8/30 (ranking avg 25.9)

    2.60 points behind #14 (Elizabeth Paige Diaz): Data quality −1.4, Experience −1.2.

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

  16. No change

    Daniel L. Tullidge

    Fergeson Skipper, P.A. · Sarasota, FL

    Verified
    • 13 years experience
    • Estate Planning
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #16?

    Ranks #16 with 65.85: strongest in Data quality (10/10) and Local relevance (5/5); held back by Reputation (4/20) and Experience (15.6/30). 3.55 points behind #15, mostly professional credentials.

    Strongest

    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.3)
    • Local relevance 5/5 (ranking avg 5)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 4)
    • Experience 15.6/30 (ranking avg 25.9)

    3.55 points behind #15 (Fletcher Hamilton Rush “Fletcher”): Professional credentials −3.8, Experience −1.2.

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 pages79 facts for 8 lawyers

Estate Planning market in Sarasota

LexRanked tracks 16 lawyers and 3 law firms in estate planning law in Sarasota, Florida. 16 of the lawyers have verified professional data. Data verified October 19, 2026.

Lawyers
16
Law firms
3
Verified professional data
16 of 16
Average rating
Withheldtoo few sourced ratings
Median review count
Withheldtoo few sourced counts
Median experience
30 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 Sarasota

What sets these Sarasota lawyers apart

All 16 lawyers in this ranking are Board Certified in Wills, Trusts and Estates Law by The Florida Bar, which only about one in twenty Florida lawyers achieves in any field. Florida Bar board certification requires at least five years of practice, substantial involvement in the field, peer review by other lawyers and judges, continuing legal education and a written exam, and it must be renewed every five years. The figures below come from each lawyer's Florida Bar profile.

Fact about the 16 ranked lawyers Figure
Board Certified in Wills, Trusts and Estates Law 16 of 16
Years in practice 13 to 42 (median 30)
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 Sarasota office address and estate planning as a practice area on record. It compares 16 estate planning lawyers, using only facts with a cited source. How we rank.

Florida rules to know

A Florida will must be signed in front of two witnesses, and small or older estates can use a simpler probate.

Rule What it means
Signing a will Signed at the end by the testator in front of at least two witnesses, who sign in front of the testator and each other (Fla. Stat. § 732.502)
Summary administration Available when the estate is $75,000 or less (excluding exempt property) or the person died more than 2 years ago (§ 735.201)
Homestead If survived by a spouse or minor child, the home can only be left to the spouse (Fla. Const. art. X, § 4)
Court Where cases are heard
State court circuit Sarasota County is in Florida's Twelfth 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 many witnesses does a Florida will need?

Two. The person making the will signs in front of both witnesses, and the witnesses sign in front of that person and each other.

What is summary administration in Florida?

A simpler probate for estates worth $75,000 or less, not counting exempt property, or where the person died more than 2 years ago.

What does Board Certified in Wills, Trusts and Estates Law mean?

It is a credential from The Florida Bar for lawyers with substantial experience in the field who have passed peer review and a written exam. 16 of the 16 lawyers in this ranking hold it; 4.9% of Florida lawyers hold a board certification in any field.

Which court handles cases in Sarasota?

State court cases in Sarasota County are heard in Florida's Twelfth 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: Charla McNally Burchett, Ric Gregoria, Elizabeth C Marshall, Rose-Anne Barnidge Frano and J Allison Archbold 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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