Top-Ranked Guardianship Lawyers in Tampa, Florida

As of October 31, 2026, the top-ranked guardianship lawyers in Tampa, Florida are Cela Delgado Webster (LexRank 80.00), Patricia W Bradford (80.00) and Donna Joy Buchholz (80.00).

This ranking lists 25 guardianship lawyers in Tampa, Florida, in order of their LexRank score, calculated from their Florida Bar records and other cited sources. Their experience ranges from 14 to 54 years in practice. 4 of the 25 list Spanish on their Florida Bar profile.

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

No change
CW
Cela Delgado Webster
Independent practice · Tampa, FL
Verified
- 26 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).
Strongest
- Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 19.7)
- Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 17.3)
No change
PB
Patricia W Bradford
Independent practice · Tampa, FL
Verified
- 29 years experience
- Guardianship
- 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 19.7)
- Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 17.3)
No change
DB
Donna Joy Buchholz
Independent practice · Tampa, FL
Verified
- 26 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).
Strongest
- Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 19.7)
- Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 17.3)
No change
LL
Laurie Wellons Valentine “Laurie”
Independent practice · Tampa, FL
Verified
- 44 years experience
- Guardianship
- Bar status verified
View profile
Why #4?
Ranks #4 with 80.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Practice-area relevance (20/20).
Strongest
- Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 19.7)
- Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 17.3)
No change
VV
Victoria Josefina Alvarez “Vickie”
Independent practice · Tampa, 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). 1.40 points behind #4, mostly data quality.
Strongest
- Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 19.7)
- Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 17.3)
1.40 points behind #4 (Laurie Wellons Valentine “Laurie”): Data quality −1.4.
Not on record (scores 0, never estimated): website.
No change
KG
Karen C D Gabbadon
Independent practice · Tampa, FL
Verified
- 32 years experience
- Guardianship
- Bar status verified
View profile
Why #6?
Ranks #6 with 78.60: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Practice-area relevance (20/20).
Strongest
- Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 19.7)
- Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 17.3)
Not on record (scores 0, never estimated): website.
No change
ML
Mindi Beth Lasley
Independent practice · Tampa, FL
Verified
- 23 years experience
- Guardianship
- Bar status verified
View profile
Why #7?
Ranks #7 with 77.60: strongest in Experience (27.6/30) and Practice-area relevance (20/20). 1.00 points behind #6, mostly experience.
Strongest
- Experience 27.6/30 (ranking avg 19.7)
- Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 17.3)
1.00 points behind #6 (Karen C D Gabbadon): Experience −2.4.
No change
SS
Spiro Tilemachos Komninos “Spiro”
Independent practice · Tampa, FL
Verified
- 26 years experience
- Guardianship · Probate Litigation
- Bar status verified
View profile
Why #8?
Ranks #8 with 75.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10). 2.60 points behind #7, mostly practice-area relevance.
Strongest
- Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 19.7)
- Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.5)
2.60 points behind #7 (Mindi Beth Lasley): Practice-area relevance −5.
No change
MA
Mark Jerome Albrechta
Independent practice · Tampa, FL
Verified
- 44 years experience
- Guardianship · Probate Litigation
- Bar status verified
View profile
Why #9?
Ranks #9 with 75.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10).
Strongest
- Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 19.7)
- Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.5)
No change
DA
Derek Brian Alvarez
Genders – Alvarez – Diecidue P.A. · Tampa, FL
Verified
- 29 years experience
- Guardianship · Probate Litigation
- Bar status verified
View profile
Why #10?
Ranks #10 with 75.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10).
Strongest
- Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 19.7)
- Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.5)
No change
MG
Michelle Garcia Gilbert
Independent practice · Tampa, FL
Verified
- 40 years experience
- Guardianship · Probate Litigation
- Bar status verified
View profile
Why #11?
Ranks #11 with 75.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10).
Strongest
- Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 19.7)
- Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.5)
No change
RH
Raymond A Haas
Independent practice · Tampa, FL
Verified
- 54 years experience
- Guardianship · Probate Litigation
- Bar status verified
View profile
Why #12?
Ranks #12 with 75.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10).
Strongest
- Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 19.7)
- Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.5)
No change
GJ
Gerald Louis Hemness Jr.
Independent practice · Tampa, FL
Verified
- 30 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).
Strongest
- Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 19.7)
- Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.5)
No change
TI
Thomas Joseph Shea III
Independent practice · Tampa, FL
Verified
- 29 years experience
- Guardianship · Probate Litigation
- Bar status verified
View profile
Why #14?
Ranks #14 with 75.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10).
Strongest
- Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 19.7)
- Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.5)
No change
LV
Lori A. Vella
Independent practice · Tampa, FL
Verified
- 26 years experience
- Guardianship · Probate Litigation
- Bar status verified
View profile
Why #15?
Ranks #15 with 75.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10).
Strongest
- Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 19.7)
- Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.5)
No change
SP
Sarah Schelling Peet
Independent practice · Tampa, FL
Verified
- 21 years experience
- Guardianship
- Bar status verified
View profile
Why #16?
Ranks #16 with 73.80: strongest in Experience (25.2/30) and Practice-area relevance (20/20). 1.20 points behind #15, mostly experience.
Strongest
- Experience 25.2/30 (ranking avg 19.7)
- Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 17.3)
1.20 points behind #15 (Lori A. Vella): Experience −4.8, Data quality −1.4.
Not on record (scores 0, never estimated): website.
No change
AR
Alexa Argerious Rodriguez
Independent practice · Tampa, FL
Verified
- 19 years experience
- Guardianship
- Bar status verified
View profile
Why #17?
Ranks #17 with 72.80: strongest in Practice-area relevance (20/20) and Experience (22.8/30). 1.00 points behind #16, mostly experience.
Strongest
- Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 17.3)
- Experience 22.8/30 (ranking avg 19.7)
1.00 points behind #16 (Sarah Schelling Peet): Experience −2.4.
No change
AD
Anthony F Diecidue
Genders – Alvarez – Diecidue P.A. · Tampa, FL
Verified
- 28 years experience
- Guardianship · Probate Litigation
- Bar status verified
View profile
Why #18?
Ranks #18 with 71.25: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10). 1.55 points behind #17, mostly practice-area relevance.
Strongest
- Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 19.7)
- Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.5)
1.55 points behind #17 (Alexa Argerious Rodriguez): Practice-area relevance −5, Professional credentials −3.8.
No change
JK
Judy Madonna Roach Karniewicz
Independent practice · Tampa, FL
Verified
- 22 years experience
- Guardianship · Probate Litigation
- Bar status verified
View profile
Why #19?
Ranks #19 with 70.00: strongest in Experience (26.4/30) and Professional credentials (15/15). 1.25 points behind #18, mostly experience.
Strongest
- Experience 26.4/30 (ranking avg 19.7)
- Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 14.8)
1.25 points behind #18 (Anthony F Diecidue): Experience −3.6, Data quality −1.4.
Not on record (scores 0, never estimated): website.
No change
EM
Elaine Noelle McGinnis
Independent practice · Tampa, FL
Verified
- 22 years experience
- Guardianship · Probate Litigation
- Bar status verified
View profile
Why #20?
Ranks #20 with 70.00: strongest in Experience (26.4/30) and Professional credentials (15/15).
Strongest
- Experience 26.4/30 (ranking avg 19.7)
- Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 14.8)
Not on record (scores 0, never estimated): website.
No change
NA
Nina McGucken Alvarez
Independent practice · Tampa, FL
Verified
- 17 years experience
- Guardianship
- Bar status verified
View profile
Why #21?
Ranks #21 with 69.00: strongest in Practice-area relevance (20/20) and Experience (20.4/30). 1.00 points behind #20, mostly experience.
Strongest
- Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 17.3)
- Experience 20.4/30 (ranking avg 19.7)
1.00 points behind #20 (Elaine Noelle McGinnis): Experience −6.
Not on record (scores 0, never estimated): website.
No change
AS
Aaron William Saoud
AWS Law Firm · Tampa, FL
Verified
- 14 years experience
- Guardianship
- Bar status verified
View profile
Why #22?
Ranks #22 with 66.80: strongest in Practice-area relevance (20/20) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Experience (16.8/30). 2.20 points behind #21, mostly experience.
Strongest
- Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 17.3)
- Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.5)
Held back by
- Experience 16.8/30 (ranking avg 19.7)
2.20 points behind #21 (Nina McGucken Alvarez): Experience −3.6.
No change
EB
Erin Rowland Bass
Independent practice · Tampa, FL
Verified
- 17 years experience
- Guardianship · Probate Litigation
- Bar status verified
View profile
Why #23?
Ranks #23 with 64.00: strongest in Experience (20.4/30) and Professional credentials (15/15). 2.80 points behind #22, mostly practice-area relevance.
Strongest
- Experience 20.4/30 (ranking avg 19.7)
- Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 14.8)
2.80 points behind #22 (Aaron William Saoud): Practice-area relevance −5, Data quality −1.4.
Not on record (scores 0, never estimated): website.
No change
GK
Grant Wesley Kindrick
Independent practice · Tampa, FL
Verified
- 15 years experience
- Guardianship · Probate Litigation
- Bar status verified
View profile
Why #24?
Ranks #24 with 63.00: strongest in Data quality (10/10) and Professional credentials (15/15); held back by Experience (18/30). 1.00 points behind #23, mostly experience.
Strongest
- Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.5)
- Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 14.8)
Held back by
- Experience 18/30 (ranking avg 19.7)
1.00 points behind #23 (Erin Rowland Bass): Experience −2.4.
No change
ML
Mariel Lanza
Independent practice · Tampa, FL
Verified
- 14 years experience
- Guardianship · Probate Litigation
- Bar status verified
View profile
Why #25?
Ranks #25 with 60.40: strongest in Professional credentials (15/15) and Local relevance (5/5); held back by Experience (16.8/30). 2.60 points behind #24, mostly data quality.
Strongest
- Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 14.8)
- Local relevance 5/5 (ranking avg 5)
Held back by
- Experience 16.8/30 (ranking avg 19.7)
2.60 points behind #24 (Grant Wesley Kindrick): Data quality −1.4, Experience −1.2.
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 pages247 facts for 25 lawyers

Guardianship market in Tampa

LexRanked tracks 39 lawyers and 3 law firms in guardianship law in Tampa, Florida. 39 of the lawyers have verified professional data. Data verified October 22, 2026.

Lawyers: 39
Law firms: 3
Verified professional data: 39 of 39
Average rating: Withheldtoo few sourced ratings
Median review count: Withheldtoo few sourced counts
Median experience: 19 years39 lawyers

Calculated by LexRanked from its own records on October 31, 2026; data verified October 22, 2026. Ratings and review counts count only when backed by a source; figures from fewer than three profiles are withheld. All lawyers in Tampa

What sets these Tampa 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	14 to 54 (median 26)
Languages besides English	Spanish (4), Greek (1)
License status with The Florida Bar	Eligible to practice, verified for every lawyer
Most common law school	Stetson University College of Law (8 lawyers)

Who is included in this ranking?

Lawyers eligible to practice in Florida, with a Tampa office address and guardianship as a practice area on record. It compares 25 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	Hillsborough County is in Florida's Thirteenth 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.

Look up the lawyer in The Florida Bar's directory and check the bar number shown on their LexRanked profile.
Ask whether the lawyer you meet will handle your matter personally, and how many matters like yours they have handled recently.
Ask how they charge and what costs are extra, and get the agreement in writing.
If you prefer to work in another language, check the languages listed on each profile.

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 Tampa?

State court cases in Hillsborough County are heard in Florida's Thirteenth Judicial Circuit.

Are there Spanish-speaking guardianship lawyers in Tampa?

Yes. 4 of the 25 ranked lawyers list 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?

25 of the 25 ranked lawyers have fully verified profiles: Cela Delgado Webster, Patricia W Bradford, Donna Joy Buchholz, Laurie Wellons Valentine “Laurie” and Victoria Josefina Alvarez “Vickie” and others.

Which lawyers speak Spanish?

6 of the 39 lawyers in this ranking have it on record, 6 confirmed by a verified fact or an official record. They are ranked separately by the same LexRank score. Top-Ranked Spanish-Speaking Guardianship Lawyers in Tampa, Florida

About this ranking

Last updated: October 31, 2026
Methodology: LexRank v1.2 - deterministic, reproducible scoring
Editorial review: LexRanked editorial team, October 19, 2026
Independence: Positions are never sold. Paid placements, if any, are labelled and do not affect scores.

Explore

Summary

The ranking

Data sources behind the scores

Guardianship market in Tampa

What sets these Tampa lawyers apart

Who is included in this ranking?

Florida rules to know

How to choose among these lawyers

Further reading

Sources for the rules above

Frequently asked questions

About this ranking

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