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Guardianship

Top-Ranked Guardianship Lawyers in St. Petersburg, Florida

Updated Methodology LexRank v1.222 lawyers rankedReviewed by LexRanked editorial team

Summary

As of November 1, 2026, the top-ranked guardianship lawyers in St. Petersburg, Florida are Terrence Jerome Deeb (LexRank 84.00), Sandra Fascell Diamond (84.00) and Michael William Porter (80.00).

This ranking lists 22 guardianship lawyers in St. Petersburg, Florida, in order of their LexRank score, calculated from their Florida Bar records and other cited sources. Their experience ranges from 3 to 52 years in practice.

Lawyers ranked
22
Fully verified
22 of 22

The ranking

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

  1. No change

    Terrence Jerome Deeb

    Deeb Elder Law, P.A. · St. Petersburg, FL

    Verified
    • 32 years experience
    • Guardianship
    • 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 0.4)
  2. No change

    Sandra Fascell Diamond

    Independent practice · St. Petersburg, FL

    Verified
    • 47 years experience
    • Guardianship
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #2?

    Ranks #2 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 0.4)
  3. No change

    Michael William Porter

    Independent practice · St. Petersburg, FL

    Verified
    • 39 years experience
    • Guardianship
    • 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). 4.00 points behind #2, mostly reputation.

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 22.2)
    • Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 17.3)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.4)

    4.00 points behind #2 (Sandra Fascell Diamond): Reputation −4.

  4. No change

    John Edward Tuthill

    Independent practice · St. Petersburg, FL

    Verified
    • 52 years experience
    • Guardianship
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #4?

    Ranks #4 with 78.60: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Practice-area relevance (20/20); held back by Reputation (0/20). 1.40 points behind #3, mostly data quality.

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 22.2)
    • Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 17.3)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.4)

    1.40 points behind #3 (Michael William Porter): Data quality −1.4.

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

  5. No change

    James R Kennedy Jr.

    Independent practice · St. Petersburg, FL

    Verified
    • 44 years experience
    • Guardianship
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #5?

    Ranks #5 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 17.3)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.4)

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

  6. No change

    Oscar Titus Blasingame “Oscar”

    Independent practice · St. Petersburg, FL

    Verified
    • 23 years experience
    • Guardianship
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #6?

    Ranks #6 with 76.20: strongest in Experience (27.6/30) and Practice-area relevance (20/20); held back by Reputation (0/20). 2.40 points behind #5, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Experience 27.6/30 (ranking avg 22.2)
    • Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 17.3)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.4)

    2.40 points behind #5 (James R Kennedy Jr.): Experience −2.4.

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

  7. No change

    David William Foster

    Independent practice · St. Petersburg, FL

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

    Ranks #7 with 75.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (0/20). 1.20 points behind #6, 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 0.4)

    1.20 points behind #6 (Oscar Titus Blasingame “Oscar”): Practice-area relevance −5.

  8. No change

    Russell Robert Winer

    Independent practice · St. Petersburg, FL

    Verified
    • 40 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); held back by Reputation (0/20). 1.40 points behind #7, mostly data quality.

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 22.2)
    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 14.8)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.4)

    1.40 points behind #7 (David William Foster): Data quality −1.4.

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

  9. No change

    Erica Kristen Smith Roodhouse

    Independent practice · St. Petersburg, FL

    Verified
    • 19 years experience
    • Guardianship
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #9?

    Ranks #9 with 72.80: strongest in Practice-area relevance (20/20) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (0/20). 0.80 points behind #8, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 17.3)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.6)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.4)

    0.80 points behind #8 (Russell Robert Winer): Experience −7.2.

  10. No change

    Mai Kim Ong

    Independent practice · St. Petersburg, FL

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

    Ranks #10 with 72.40: strongest in Experience (28.8/30) and Professional credentials (15/15); held back by Reputation (0/20). 0.40 points behind #9, mostly practice-area relevance.

    Strongest

    • Experience 28.8/30 (ranking avg 22.2)
    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 14.8)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.4)

    0.40 points behind #9 (Erica Kristen Smith Roodhouse): Practice-area relevance −5, Data quality −1.4.

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

  11. No change

    Elizabeth Dianne Moneymaker “Liz”

    Independent practice · St. Petersburg, FL

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

    Ranks #11 with 71.40: strongest in Experience (26.4/30) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (0/20). 1.00 points behind #10, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Experience 26.4/30 (ranking avg 22.2)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.6)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.4)

    1.00 points behind #10 (Mai Kim Ong): Experience −2.4.

  12. No change

    Benjamin Frank Diamond

    Independent practice · St. Petersburg, FL

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

    Ranks #12 with 70.20: strongest in Experience (25.2/30) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (0/20). 1.20 points behind #11, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Experience 25.2/30 (ranking avg 22.2)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.6)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.4)

    1.20 points behind #11 (Elizabeth Dianne Moneymaker “Liz”): Experience −1.2.

  13. No change

    Adam Thomas Jameson

    Independent practice · St. Petersburg, FL

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

    Ranks #13 with 69.00: strongest in Practice-area relevance (20/20) and Professional credentials (15/15); held back by Reputation (0/20) and Experience (20.4/30). 1.20 points behind #12, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 17.3)
    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 14.8)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.4)
    • Experience 20.4/30 (ranking avg 22.2)

    1.20 points behind #12 (Benjamin Frank Diamond): Experience −4.8, Data quality −1.4.

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

  14. No change

    Frank Joseph Tylman Jr. “Skip”

    Independent practice · St. Petersburg, FL

    Verified
    • 14 years experience
    • Guardianship
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #14?

    Ranks #14 with 66.80: strongest in Practice-area relevance (20/20) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (0/20) and Experience (16.8/30). 2.20 points behind #13, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 17.3)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.6)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.4)
    • Experience 16.8/30 (ranking avg 22.2)

    2.20 points behind #13 (Adam Thomas Jameson): Experience −3.6.

  15. No change

    Jennifer L Terrana

    Independent practice · St. Petersburg, FL

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

    Ranks #15 with 64.20: strongest in Data quality (10/10) and Professional credentials (15/15); held back by Reputation (0/20) and Experience (19.2/30). 2.60 points behind #14, mostly practice-area relevance.

    Strongest

    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.6)
    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 14.8)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.4)
    • Experience 19.2/30 (ranking avg 22.2)

    2.60 points behind #14 (Frank Joseph Tylman Jr. “Skip”): Practice-area relevance −5.

  16. No change

    Nicolas Stephen Robinson “Nick”

    Independent practice · St. Petersburg, FL

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

    Ranks #16 with 63.00: strongest in Data quality (10/10) and Professional credentials (15/15); held back by Reputation (0/20) and Experience (18/30). 1.20 points behind #15, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.6)
    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 14.8)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.4)
    • Experience 18/30 (ranking avg 22.2)

    1.20 points behind #15 (Jennifer L Terrana): Experience −1.2.

  17. No change

    Raleigh Williams Greene IV “Billy”

    Independent practice · St. Petersburg, FL

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

    Ranks #17 with 61.80: strongest in Data quality (10/10) and Professional credentials (15/15); held back by Reputation (0/20) and Experience (16.8/30). 1.20 points behind #16, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.6)
    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 14.8)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.4)
    • Experience 16.8/30 (ranking avg 22.2)

    1.20 points behind #16 (Nicolas Stephen Robinson “Nick”): Experience −1.2.

  18. No change

    Melissa Finley Williams

    Independent practice · St. Petersburg, FL

    Verified
    • 14 years experience
    • Guardianship · Probate Litigation
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #18?

    Ranks #18 with 61.80: strongest in Data quality (10/10) and Professional credentials (15/15); held back by Reputation (0/20) and Experience (16.8/30).

    Strongest

    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.6)
    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 14.8)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.4)
    • Experience 16.8/30 (ranking avg 22.2)
  19. No change

    Dena M. Rogers

    Independent practice · St. Petersburg, FL

    Verified
    • 13 years experience
    • Guardianship · Probate Litigation
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #19?

    Ranks #19 with 60.60: strongest in Data quality (10/10) and Professional credentials (15/15); held back by Reputation (0/20) and Experience (15.6/30). 1.20 points behind #18, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.6)
    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 14.8)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.4)
    • Experience 15.6/30 (ranking avg 22.2)

    1.20 points behind #18 (Melissa Finley Williams): Experience −1.2.

  20. No change

    Ashley Viola Gantt “Ashley”

    Independent practice · St. Petersburg, FL

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

    Ranks #20 with 57.00: strongest in Data quality (10/10) and Professional credentials (15/15); held back by Reputation (0/20) and Experience (12/30). 3.60 points behind #19, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.6)
    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 14.8)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.4)
    • Experience 12/30 (ranking avg 22.2)

    3.60 points behind #19 (Dena M. Rogers): Experience −3.6.

  21. No change

    Jenna Christine Jordan

    Deeb Elder Law, P.A. · St. Petersburg, FL

    Verified
    • 7 years experience
    • Guardianship · Probate Litigation
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #21?

    Ranks #21 with 53.40: strongest in Data quality (10/10) and Professional credentials (15/15); held back by Reputation (0/20) and Experience (8.4/30). 3.60 points behind #20, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.6)
    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 14.8)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.4)
    • Experience 8.4/30 (ranking avg 22.2)

    3.60 points behind #20 (Ashley Viola Gantt “Ashley”): Experience −3.6.

  22. No change

    Madison Maleen Angelone

    Independent practice · St. Petersburg, FL

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

    Ranks #22 with 48.45: strongest in Practice-area relevance (20/20) and Local relevance (5/5); held back by Reputation (0/20) and Experience (3.6/30). 4.95 points behind #21, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 17.3)
    • Local relevance 5/5 (ranking avg 5)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.4)
    • Experience 3.6/30 (ranking avg 22.2)

    4.95 points behind #21 (Jenna Christine Jordan): Experience −4.8, Professional credentials −3.8, 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 · 22 profile pages217 facts for 22 lawyers

Guardianship market in St. Petersburg

LexRanked tracks 22 lawyers and 1 law firm in guardianship law in St. Petersburg, Florida. 22 of the lawyers have verified professional data. Data verified October 22, 2026.

Lawyers
22
Law firms
1
Verified professional data
22 of 22
Average rating
Withheldtoo few sourced ratings
Median review count
Withheldtoo few sourced counts
Median experience
20 years22 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 St. Petersburg

What sets these St. Petersburg 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 22 ranked lawyers Figure
Years in practice 3 to 52 (median 20)
License status with The Florida Bar Eligible to practice, verified for every lawyer
Most common law school Stetson University College of Law (10 lawyers)

Who is included in this ranking?

Lawyers eligible to practice in Florida, with a St. Petersburg office address and guardianship as a practice area on record. It compares 22 guardianship lawyers, using only facts with a cited source. The Florida Bar does not board-certify lawyers in guardianship, 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

A Florida guardianship starts with a verified petition to determine incapacity, and the court-appointed guardian must report to the court within 60 days and file a plan every year; the ward keeps rights such as yearly review and restoration as soon as possible.

Rule What it means
Petition Any adult may file a verified petition to determine that a person is incapacitated (Fla. Stat. § 744.3201)
Who may serve A Florida resident 18 or older; a nonresident only if related to the ward as the statute lists (§ 744.309)
Disqualification A person convicted of a felony may not serve as guardian (§ 744.309(3))
Initial report The guardian files an inventory or initial plan within 60 days after letters of guardianship are signed (§ 744.362)
Annual plan A guardian of the person files an annual guardianship plan within 90 days after the anniversary month (§ 744.367)
Rights kept The ward keeps rights including an annual review, continuing review of restrictions and restoration to capacity at the earliest possible time (§ 744.3215)
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.

Further reading

Sources for the rules above

Frequently asked questions

Who can file for guardianship in Florida?

Any adult may file a verified petition to determine that a person is incapacitated, under section 744.3201. The court then decides on capacity and on who should serve as guardian.

Can someone outside Florida be a guardian?

Only if related to the ward in a way section 744.309 lists, such as by blood or adoption, or the spouse of such a relative. Florida residents 18 or older may serve unless disqualified.

Who cannot be a guardian in Florida?

A person convicted of a felony, or one who cannot carry out the duties because of incapacity or illness or is otherwise unsuitable (section 744.309(3)).

What reports must a Florida guardian file?

An initial report within 60 days after letters are signed (section 744.362) and, for a guardian of the person, an annual guardianship plan within 90 days after the anniversary month (section 744.367).

What rights does a person under guardianship keep?

Among others, an annual review of the guardianship report and plan, continuing review of any restriction of rights and restoration to capacity at the earliest possible time (section 744.3215).

Which court handles cases in St. Petersburg?

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?

22 of the 22 ranked lawyers have fully verified profiles: Terrence Jerome Deeb, Sandra Fascell Diamond, Michael William Porter, John Edward Tuthill and James R Kennedy Jr. 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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