Probate Litigation
Top-Ranked Probate Litigation Lawyers in Winter Park, Florida
Summary
As of November 1, 2026, the top-ranked probate litigation lawyers in Winter Park, Florida are Frederick Wayne Jones (LexRank 75.93), Meenakshi A Hirani “Meena” (75.00) and Kathryn Ishee Kasper (72.60).
This ranking lists 9 probate litigation lawyers in Winter Park, Florida, in order of their LexRank score, calculated from their Florida Bar records and other cited sources. Their experience ranges from 2 to 51 years in practice. 1 of the 9 lists Spanish on their Florida Bar profile.
- Lawyers ranked
- 9
- Fully verified
- 9 of 9
The ranking
Ordered by organic LexRank score; paid placements are labelled and never affect a position. How we rank
- Rank1-No changeFJ
Frederick Wayne Jones
Independent practice · Winter Park, FL
Verified- 51 years experience
- Guardianship · Probate Litigation
- ✓ Bar status verified
75.93LexRankView profileWhy #1?
Ranks #1 with 75.93: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Reputation (4/20); held back by Practice-area relevance (13.3/20).
Strongest
- Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 19.3)
- Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 0.4)
Held back by
- Practice-area relevance 13.3/20 (ranking avg 16.1)
Not on record (scores 0, never estimated): website.
- Rank2-No changeMM
Meenakshi A Hirani “Meena”
Independent practice · Winter Park, FL
Verified- 27 years experience
- Guardianship · Probate Litigation
- ✓ Bar status verified
75.00LexRankView profileWhy #2?
Ranks #2 with 75.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (0/20). 0.93 points behind #1, mostly reputation.
Strongest
- Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 19.3)
- Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.4)
Held back by
- Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.4)
0.93 points behind #1 (Frederick Wayne Jones): Reputation −4.
- Rank3-No changeKK
Kathryn Ishee Kasper
Independent practice · Winter Park, FL
Verified- 23 years experience
- Bankruptcy · Probate Litigation
- ✓ Bar status verified
72.60LexRankView profileWhy #3?
Ranks #3 with 72.60: strongest in Experience (27.6/30) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (0/20). 2.40 points behind #2, mostly experience.
Strongest
- Experience 27.6/30 (ranking avg 19.3)
- Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.4)
Held back by
- Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.4)
2.40 points behind #2 (Meenakshi A Hirani “Meena”): Experience −2.4.
- Rank4-No changeTT
Thomas Edward Shafovaloff “Thomas”
Independent practice · Winter Park, FL
Verified- 41 years experience
- Civil Rights · Consumer Protection
- ✓ Bar status verified
70.03LexRankView profileWhy #4?
Ranks #4 with 70.03: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Professional credentials (15/15); held back by Reputation (0/20) and Practice-area relevance (11.4/20). 2.57 points behind #3, mostly practice-area relevance.
Strongest
- Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 19.3)
- Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 14.6)
Held back by
- Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.4)
- Practice-area relevance 11.4/20 (ranking avg 16.1)
2.57 points behind #3 (Kathryn Ishee Kasper): Practice-area relevance −3.6, Data quality −1.4.
Not on record (scores 0, never estimated): website.
- Rank5-No changeBT
Brandon Michael Tyson
Independent practice · Winter Park, FL
Verified- 20 years experience
- Guardianship · Probate Litigation
- ✓ Bar status verified
69.00LexRankView profileWhy #5?
Ranks #5 with 69.00: strongest in Experience (24/30) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (0/20). 1.03 points behind #4, mostly experience.
Strongest
- Experience 24/30 (ranking avg 19.3)
- Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.4)
Held back by
- Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.4)
1.03 points behind #4 (Thomas Edward Shafovaloff “Thomas”): Experience −6.
- Rank6-No changeRF
Rhett B Frazier
Independent practice · Winter Park, FL
Verified- 9 years experience
- Probate Litigation
- ✓ Bar status verified
59.40LexRankView profileWhy #6?
Ranks #6 with 59.40: strongest in Practice-area relevance (20/20) and Professional credentials (15/15); held back by Reputation (0/20) and Experience (10.8/30). 9.60 points behind #5, mostly experience.
Strongest
- Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 16.1)
- Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 14.6)
Held back by
- Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.4)
- Experience 10.8/30 (ranking avg 19.3)
9.60 points behind #5 (Brandon Michael Tyson): Experience −13.2, Data quality −1.4.
Not on record (scores 0, never estimated): website.
- Rank7-No changeMR
Martin Rosenthal
Independent practice · Winter Park, FL
Verified- 8 years experience
- Probate Litigation
- ✓ Bar status verified
55.85LexRankView profileWhy #7?
Ranks #7 with 55.85: strongest in Practice-area relevance (20/20) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (0/20) and Experience (9.6/30). 3.55 points behind #6, mostly professional credentials.
Strongest
- Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 16.1)
- Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.4)
Held back by
- Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.4)
- Experience 9.6/30 (ranking avg 19.3)
3.55 points behind #6 (Rhett B Frazier): Professional credentials −3.8, Experience −1.2.
- Rank8-No changeJZ
Jennifer Jannet Zamot
Independent practice · Winter Park, FL
Verified- 8 years experience
- Guardianship · Probate Litigation
- ✓ Bar status verified
53.20LexRankView profileWhy #8?
Ranks #8 with 53.20: strongest in Professional credentials (15/15) and Local relevance (5/5); held back by Reputation (0/20) and Experience (9.6/30). 2.65 points behind #7, mostly practice-area relevance.
Strongest
- Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 14.6)
- Local relevance 5/5 (ranking avg 5)
Held back by
- Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.4)
- Experience 9.6/30 (ranking avg 19.3)
2.65 points behind #7 (Martin Rosenthal): Practice-area relevance −5, Data quality −1.4.
Not on record (scores 0, never estimated): website.
- Rank9-No changeRT
Roderick Eugene Thomas
Independent practice · Winter Park, FL
Verified- 2 years experience
- Probate Litigation
- ✓ Bar status verified
52.40LexRankView profileWhy #9?
Ranks #9 with 52.40: strongest in Practice-area relevance (20/20) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (0/20) and Experience (2.4/30). 0.80 points behind #8, mostly experience.
Strongest
- Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 16.1)
- Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.4)
Held back by
- Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.4)
- Experience 2.4/30 (ranking avg 19.3)
0.80 points behind #8 (Jennifer Jannet Zamot): Experience −7.2.
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 · 9 profile pages89 facts for 9 lawyers
Probate Litigation market in Winter Park
LexRanked tracks 9 lawyers in probate litigation law in Winter Park, Florida. 9 of the lawyers have verified professional data. Data verified October 30, 2026.
- Lawyers
- 9
- Law firms
- 0
- Verified professional data
- 9 of 9
- Average rating
- Withheldtoo few sourced ratings
- Median review count
- Withheldtoo few sourced counts
- Median experience
- 20 years9 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 Winter Park
What sets these Winter Park 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 9 ranked lawyers | Figure |
|---|---|
| Years in practice | 2 to 51 (median 20) |
| Languages besides English | Gujarati (1), Hindi (1), Spanish (1) |
| License status with The Florida Bar | Eligible to practice, verified for every lawyer |
| Most common law school | Florida A&M University, College of Law (2 lawyers) |
Who is included in this ranking?
Lawyers eligible to practice in Florida, with a Winter Park office address and probate litigation as a practice area on record. It compares 9 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 | Orange County is in Florida's Ninth 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.
Further reading
Sources for the rules above
- The Florida Bar: member directory (license, certification, languages, admission dates)
- The Florida Bar News: Board certification continues to set Florida lawyers apart (July 2026)
- Florida Statutes, section 733.212 (notice of administration; objections)
- Florida Statutes, section 732.5165 (fraud, duress, mistake and undue influence)
- Florida Statutes, section 733.107 (burden of proof in will contests)
- Florida Statutes, section 733.702 (limitations on presentation of claims)
- Florida Statutes, section 733.710 (limitations on claims against estates)
- Florida Statutes, section 736.0604 (limitation on contesting a revocable trust)
- Florida Statutes, section 732.501 (who may make a will)
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 Winter Park?
State court cases in Orange County are heard in Florida's Ninth Judicial Circuit.
Are there Spanish-speaking probate litigation lawyers in Winter Park?
Yes. 1 of the 9 ranked lawyers lists 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?
9 of the 9 ranked lawyers have fully verified profiles: Frederick Wayne Jones, Meenakshi A Hirani “Meena”, Kathryn Ishee Kasper, Thomas Edward Shafovaloff “Thomas” and Brandon Michael Tyson and others.
What is the difference between the top two lawyers?
Frederick Wayne Jones scores 75.93 and Meenakshi A Hirani “Meena” 75.00, a gap of 0.93 points, mostly in reputation. 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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