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Guardianship

Top-Ranked Guardianship Lawyers in Tallahassee, Florida

Updated Methodology LexRank v1.217 lawyers rankedReviewed by LexRanked editorial team

Summary

As of November 1, 2026, the top-ranked guardianship lawyers in Tallahassee, Florida are Thomas Joseph Guilday (LexRank 80.00), Suzanne Fannon Summerlin (78.60) and Felicia S.W. Thomas (78.60).

This ranking lists 17 guardianship lawyers in Tallahassee, Florida, in order of their LexRank score, calculated from their Florida Bar records and other cited sources. Their experience ranges from 0 to 51 years in practice.

Lawyers ranked
17
Fully verified
17 of 17

The ranking

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

  1. No change

    Thomas Joseph Guilday

    Guilday Law, P.A. · Tallahassee, FL

    Verified
    • 51 years experience
    • Guardianship
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #1?

    Ranks #1 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 22.7)
    • Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 17.4)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.2)
  2. No change

    Suzanne Fannon Summerlin

    Independent practice · Tallahassee, FL

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

    Ranks #2 with 78.60: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Practice-area relevance (20/20); held back by Reputation (0/20). 1.40 points behind #1, mostly data quality.

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 22.7)
    • Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 17.4)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.2)

    1.40 points behind #1 (Thomas Joseph Guilday): Data quality −1.4.

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

  3. No change

    Felicia S.W. Thomas

    Independent practice · Tallahassee, FL

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

    Ranks #3 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 22.7)
    • Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 17.4)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.2)

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

  4. No change

    Elizabeth Willard Willis “”Bib””

    Independent practice · Tallahassee, FL

    Verified
    • 38 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).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 22.7)
    • Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 17.4)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.2)

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

  5. No change

    Jessica Megan Bowen

    Independent practice · Tallahassee, FL

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

    Ranks #5 with 75.60: strongest in Reputation (4/20) and Practice-area relevance (20/20); held back by Experience (21.6/30). 3.00 points behind #4, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 0.2)
    • Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 17.4)

    Held back by

    • Experience 21.6/30 (ranking avg 22.7)

    3.00 points behind #4 (Elizabeth Willard Willis “”Bib””): Experience −8.4.

  6. No change

    Trudy Elizabeth Innes Richardson

    Independent practice · Tallahassee, FL

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

    Ranks #6 with 75.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (0/20). 0.60 points behind #5, mostly practice-area relevance.

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 22.7)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.4)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.2)

    0.60 points behind #5 (Jessica Megan Bowen): Practice-area relevance −5, Reputation −4.

  7. No change

    Robert Scott Williams

    Independent practice · Tallahassee, FL

    Verified
    • 31 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).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 22.7)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.4)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.2)
  8. No change

    Kimberly Lionel King “Kim”

    Gardner Bist King & Wood, LLP · Tallahassee, 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 22.7)
    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 14.8)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.2)

    1.40 points behind #7 (Robert Scott Williams): Data quality −1.4.

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

  9. No change

    Harriet Williams Williams

    Independent practice · Tallahassee, FL

    Verified
    • 37 years experience
    • Guardianship · Probate Litigation
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #9?

    Ranks #9 with 73.60: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Professional credentials (15/15); held back by Reputation (0/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 22.7)
    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 14.8)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.2)

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

  10. No change

    Amy Mason Collins

    McConnaughhay & Rudd, P.A. · Tallahassee, FL

    Verified
    • 19 years experience
    • Guardianship
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #10?

    Ranks #10 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 #9, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 17.4)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.4)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.2)

    0.80 points behind #9 (Harriet Williams Williams): Experience −7.2.

  11. No change

    Kevin George Neja

    Independent practice · Tallahassee, FL

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

    Ranks #11 with 71.25: strongest in Practice-area relevance (20/20) and Experience (26.4/30); held back by Reputation (0/20). 1.55 points behind #10, mostly professional credentials.

    Strongest

    • Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 17.4)
    • Experience 26.4/30 (ranking avg 22.7)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.2)

    1.55 points behind #10 (Amy Mason Collins): Professional credentials −3.8, Data quality −1.4.

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

  12. No change

    Kendra Eleanor Parris

    Independent practice · Tallahassee, FL

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

    Ranks #12 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). 7.05 points behind #11, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.4)
    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 14.8)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.2)
    • Experience 19.2/30 (ranking avg 22.7)

    7.05 points behind #11 (Kevin George Neja): Experience −7.2, Practice-area relevance −5.

  13. No change

    Jessica Gertel McGrew

    Independent practice · Tallahassee, FL

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

    Ranks #13 with 64.00: strongest in Professional credentials (15/15) and Local relevance (5/5); held back by Reputation (0/20) and Experience (20.4/30). 0.20 points behind #12, mostly data quality.

    Strongest

    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 14.8)
    • Local relevance 5/5 (ranking avg 5)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.2)
    • Experience 20.4/30 (ranking avg 22.7)

    0.20 points behind #12 (Kendra Eleanor Parris): Data quality −1.4.

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

  14. No change

    Mallory Bennett Brown

    Independent practice · Tallahassee, FL

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

    Ranks #14 with 62.00: strongest in Practice-area relevance (20/20) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (0/20) and Experience (12/30). 2.00 points behind #13, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 17.4)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.4)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.2)
    • Experience 12/30 (ranking avg 22.7)

    2.00 points behind #13 (Jessica Gertel McGrew): Experience −8.4.

  15. No change

    Amy Elizabeth Parker Martin

    Independent practice · Tallahassee, FL

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

    Ranks #15 with 58.20: strongest in Data quality (10/10) and Professional credentials (15/15); held back by Reputation (0/20) and Experience (13.2/30). 3.80 points behind #14, mostly practice-area relevance.

    Strongest

    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.4)
    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 14.8)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.2)
    • Experience 13.2/30 (ranking avg 22.7)

    3.80 points behind #14 (Mallory Bennett Brown): Practice-area relevance −5.

  16. No change

    Max Jordan Solomon

    Heuler, Wakeman, Solomon Law Group, PLLC · Tallahassee, FL

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

    Ranks #16 with 54.60: strongest in Data quality (10/10) and Professional credentials (15/15); held back by Reputation (0/20) and Experience (9.6/30). 3.60 points behind #15, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.4)
    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 14.8)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.2)
    • Experience 9.6/30 (ranking avg 22.7)

    3.60 points behind #15 (Amy Elizabeth Parker Martin): Experience −3.6.

  17. No change

    Tazara Mary Christiana Fields “Taz”

    The Sketchley Law Firm, P.A. · Tallahassee, FL

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

    Ranks #17 with 45.00: strongest in Data quality (10/10) and Professional credentials (15/15); held back by Experience (0/30) and Reputation (0/20). 9.60 points behind #16, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.4)
    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 14.8)

    Held back by

    • Experience 0/30 (ranking avg 22.7)
    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.2)

    9.60 points behind #16 (Max Jordan Solomon): Experience −9.6.

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 · 17 profile pages166 facts for 17 lawyers

Guardianship market in Tallahassee

LexRanked tracks 17 lawyers and 5 law firms in guardianship law in Tallahassee, Florida. 17 of the lawyers have verified professional data. Data verified October 30, 2026.

Lawyers
17
Law firms
5
Verified professional data
17 of 17
Average rating
Withheldtoo few sourced ratings
Median review count
Withheldtoo few sourced counts
Median experience
22 years17 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 Tallahassee

What sets these Tallahassee 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 17 ranked lawyers Figure
Years in practice 0 to 51 (median 22)
Languages besides English French (1)
License status with The Florida Bar Eligible to practice, verified for every lawyer
Most common law school Florida State University College of Law (11 lawyers)

Who is included in this ranking?

Lawyers eligible to practice in Florida, with a Tallahassee office address and guardianship as a practice area on record. It compares 17 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 Leon County is in Florida's Second 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

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 Tallahassee?

State court cases in Leon County are heard in Florida's Second 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?

17 of the 17 ranked lawyers have fully verified profiles: Thomas Joseph Guilday, Suzanne Fannon Summerlin, Felicia S.W. Thomas, Elizabeth Willard Willis “”Bib”” and Jessica Megan Bowen and others.

What is the difference between the top two lawyers?

Thomas Joseph Guilday scores 80.00 and Suzanne Fannon Summerlin 78.60, a gap of 1.40 points, mostly in data quality. 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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