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Probate Litigation

Top-Ranked Probate Litigation Lawyers in Vero Beach, Florida

Updated Methodology LexRank v1.213 lawyers rankedReviewed by LexRanked editorial team

Summary

As of November 1, 2026, the top-ranked probate litigation lawyers in Vero Beach, Florida are Charles A Sullivan Jr. (LexRank 80.00), Thomas Warren Tierney (80.00) and Edward Philip Green “Phil” (78.60).

This ranking lists 13 probate litigation lawyers in Vero Beach, Florida, in order of their LexRank score, calculated from their Florida Bar records and other cited sources. Their experience ranges from 9 to 46 years in practice.

Lawyers ranked
13
Fully verified
13 of 13

The ranking

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

  1. No change

    Charles A Sullivan Jr.

    Independent practice · Vero Beach, FL

    Verified
    • 46 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); held back by Reputation (0/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 24.7)
    • Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 16.5)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.6)
  2. No change

    Thomas Warren Tierney

    Independent practice · Vero Beach, FL

    Verified
    • 26 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); held back by Reputation (0/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 24.7)
    • Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 16.5)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.6)
  3. No change

    Edward Philip Green “Phil”

    Independent practice · Vero Beach, FL

    Verified
    • 44 years experience
    • Probate Litigation
    • 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). 1.40 points behind #2, mostly data quality.

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 24.7)
    • Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 16.5)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.6)

    1.40 points behind #2 (Thomas Warren Tierney): Data quality −1.4.

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

  4. No change

    Carolyn Butler Norton

    Independent practice · Vero Beach, FL

    Verified
    • 24 years experience
    • Elder Law · Guardianship
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #4?

    Ranks #4 with 76.13: strongest in Reputation (4/20) and Experience (28.8/30); held back by Practice-area relevance (13.3/20). 2.47 points behind #3, mostly practice-area relevance.

    Strongest

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 0.6)
    • Experience 28.8/30 (ranking avg 24.7)

    Held back by

    • Practice-area relevance 13.3/20 (ranking avg 16.5)

    2.47 points behind #3 (Edward Philip Green “Phil”): Practice-area relevance −6.7, Experience −1.2.

  5. No change

    Lisa Thompson Barnes

    Independent practice · Vero Beach, FL

    Verified
    • 33 years experience
    • Guardianship · Probate Litigation
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #5?

    Ranks #5 with 75.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (0/20). 1.13 points behind #4, mostly reputation.

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 24.7)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.7)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.6)

    1.13 points behind #4 (Carolyn Butler Norton): Reputation −4.

  6. No change

    Lisa Gaye dos Santos

    Independent practice · Vero Beach, FL

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

    Ranks #6 with 73.60: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Professional credentials (15/15); held back by Reputation (0/20). 1.40 points behind #5, mostly data quality.

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 24.7)
    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 15)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.6)

    1.40 points behind #5 (Lisa Thompson Barnes): Data quality −1.4.

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

  7. No change

    Timothy Nicholas Thomes

    Independent practice · Vero Beach, FL

    Verified
    • 41 years experience
    • Eminent Domain · Guardianship
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #7?

    Ranks #7 with 73.33: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (0/20) and Practice-area relevance (13.3/20). 0.27 points behind #6, mostly practice-area relevance.

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 24.7)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.7)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.6)
    • Practice-area relevance 13.3/20 (ranking avg 16.5)

    0.27 points behind #6 (Lisa Gaye dos Santos): Practice-area relevance −1.7.

  8. No change

    Anthony Peter Guettler

    Independent practice · Vero Beach, FL

    Verified
    • 20 years experience
    • Estate Planning · Probate Litigation
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #8?

    Ranks #8 with 73.00: strongest in Reputation (4/20) and Data quality (10/10). 0.33 points behind #7, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 0.6)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.7)

    0.33 points behind #7 (Timothy Nicholas Thomes): Experience −6.

  9. No change

    Michael Scott Reeser

    Independent practice · Vero Beach, FL

    Verified
    • 41 years experience
    • Insurance · Medical Malpractice
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #9?

    Ranks #9 with 71.93: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Professional credentials (15/15); held back by Reputation (0/20) and Practice-area relevance (13.3/20). 1.07 points behind #8, mostly reputation.

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 24.7)
    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 15)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.6)
    • Practice-area relevance 13.3/20 (ranking avg 16.5)

    1.07 points behind #8 (Anthony Peter Guettler): Reputation −4, Practice-area relevance −1.7, Data quality −1.4.

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

  10. No change

    Nicholas L Bruce

    Independent practice · Vero Beach, FL

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

    Ranks #10 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). 5.13 points behind #9, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 16.5)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.7)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.6)
    • Experience 16.8/30 (ranking avg 24.7)

    5.13 points behind #9 (Michael Scott Reeser): Experience −13.2.

  11. No change

    Shannon Davis Norvig

    Independent practice · Vero Beach, FL

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

    Ranks #11 with 65.40: strongest in Data quality (10/10) and Professional credentials (15/15); held back by Reputation (0/20) and Experience (20.4/30). 1.40 points behind #10, mostly practice-area relevance.

    Strongest

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

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.6)
    • Experience 20.4/30 (ranking avg 24.7)

    1.40 points behind #10 (Nicholas L Bruce): Practice-area relevance −5.

  12. No change

    Eva Louise Lauer

    Independent practice · Vero Beach, FL

    Verified
    • 9 years experience
    • Probate Litigation
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #12?

    Ranks #12 with 60.80: strongest in Practice-area relevance (20/20) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (0/20) and Experience (10.8/30). 4.60 points behind #11, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 16.5)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.7)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.6)
    • Experience 10.8/30 (ranking avg 24.7)

    4.60 points behind #11 (Shannon Davis Norvig): Experience −9.6.

  13. No change

    Megan Naomi Root

    Independent practice · Vero Beach, FL

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

    Ranks #13 with 55.80: strongest in Data quality (10/10) and Professional credentials (15/15); held back by Reputation (0/20) and Experience (10.8/30). 5.00 points behind #12, mostly practice-area relevance.

    Strongest

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

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.6)
    • Experience 10.8/30 (ranking avg 24.7)

    5.00 points behind #12 (Eva Louise Lauer): Practice-area relevance −5.

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 · 13 profile pages131 facts for 13 lawyers

Probate Litigation market in Vero Beach

LexRanked tracks 13 lawyers in probate litigation law in Vero Beach, Florida. 13 of the lawyers have verified professional data. Data verified October 30, 2026.

Lawyers
13
Law firms
0
Verified professional data
13 of 13
Average rating
Withheldtoo few sourced ratings
Median review count
Withheldtoo few sourced counts
Median experience
26 years13 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 Vero Beach

What sets these Vero Beach 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 13 ranked lawyers Figure
Years in practice 9 to 46 (median 26)
License status with The Florida Bar Eligible to practice, verified for every lawyer
Most common law school Stetson University College of Law (2 lawyers)

Who is included in this ranking?

Lawyers eligible to practice in Florida, with a Vero Beach office address and probate litigation as a practice area on record. It compares 13 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 Indian River County is in Florida's Nineteenth 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 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 Vero Beach?

State court cases in Indian River County are heard in Florida's Nineteenth 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?

13 of the 13 ranked lawyers have fully verified profiles: Charles A Sullivan Jr., Thomas Warren Tierney, Edward Philip Green “Phil”, Carolyn Butler Norton and Lisa Thompson Barnes 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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