Business Details
22 Years
experience
Your Trusted Estate Planning & Probate Law Firm in Bradenton
Gerling Law Group was founded in 2004 by Rodney Gerling and Dana Laganella Gerling with a vision to provide accessible, client-centered legal services to Florida families. Specializing in estate planning, probate, elder law, and trust administration, the firm combines over 20 years of collective experience with a commitment to affordability and personalized guidance. Recognized as a 2024 Super Lawyer by Florida Super Lawyer Magazine and recipient of the Bradenton Herald's Peoples Choice Award for Best Estate Law Firm, the team prioritizes continuing education and state-of-the-art technology to deliver up-to-date legal solutions.With offices serving Manatee and Sarasota counties, Gerling Law Group emphasizes community engagement, ethical standards, and transparent communication. Their attorneys hold leadership roles in local bar associations and legal organizations, reflecting their dedication to professional excellence. The firm's client-focused approach ensures tailored estate plans, probate assistance, and elder law strategies that protect clients' legacies and future needs.
Services
Estate Planning
Probate Administration
Trust Administration
Elder Law
Medicaid Planning
Wills & Trusts
Guardianships
Long Term Care Planning
Asset Protection
Legal Document Preparation
Details
- Year established: 2004
Highlights and features
- We have over 20 years of combined experience in Florida estate law.
- Our attorneys are consistently recognized as Super Lawyers by peer evaluation.
- We provide personalized legal strategies tailored to individual family needs.
- We maintain an AV Preeminent peer review rating for legal ability and ethics.
- Our team includes former board members of local legal and community organizations.
Associations and certifications
- National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys
- Martindale-Hubbell
- Florida Bar Real Property and Estate Planning Section
What people say
Outstanding service
Extremely responsive
Personalized communication
Knowledgeable staff
Reasonable fees
Services
Estate Planning
Our estate planning services create comprehensive strategies to protect assets and ensure wishes are honored. We draft customized wills, trusts, and advanced directives while addressing tax implications. Clients receive guidance on updating plans for life changes like marriages or inheritances. Our approach combines legal expertise with personalized education about document purposes.
Probate Administration
We guide personal representatives through Florida's probate process for estates of all sizes. Services include asset inventory, creditor notification, tax filings, and distribution compliance. Our team handles formal and summary administrations while explaining homestead laws and tax considerations. We represent fiduciaries in contested probate matters and trust disputes.
Elder Law
Our elder law practice addresses long-term care needs and Medicaid qualification strategies. We help families navigate nursing home costs, guardianships, and abuse prevention. Services include drafting healthcare surrogates and advising on asset protection while maintaining eligibility for government benefits through legal compliance.
Trust Administration
We assist trustees with post-mortem trust administration including asset transfer, tax compliance, and beneficiary communications. Our team explains fiduciary duties and handles disputes between trustees and beneficiaries. Services cover revocable living trusts and complex irrevocable arrangements while ensuring adherence to Florida trust laws.
Medicaid Planning
We develop strategies to qualify for Florida's Medicaid Institutional Care Program while preserving assets. Our attorneys explain income caps, asset limits, and exempt resources like homestead properties. Services include creating qualified income trusts and navigating the 5-year lookback period for asset transfers while maintaining ethical compliance.
People
Dana Laganella Gerling
Partner
Dana Gerling practices estate planning and elder law with 20+ years of experience. A Super Lawyer since 2010 and former president of Manatee American Inn of Court, she focuses on wills, trusts, and Medicaid planning while maintaining Martindale-Hubbell's AV Preeminent rating.
Rodney D. Gerling
Partner
Rodney Gerling specializes in probate and estate litigation with Super Lawyer recognition since 2015. A former public defender, he brings trial experience to trust disputes and estate administration while serving on local bar association committees.
Marla Stewart Owczarek
Associate
Marla Owczarek focuses on estate planning with 12 years of experience across Maryland and Florida. She creates customized plans emphasizing client education and previously practiced at Tulane University Law School, maintaining Florida and Maryland bar admissions.
Questions
What estate planning documents are essential for Florida residents?
Every Florida resident should have a will, durable power of attorney, health care surrogate, and living will. Trusts may be recommended for asset protection and probate avoidance based on individual circumstances.
How does Medicaid asset qualification work in Florida?
Florida requires applicants to have $2,000 or less in countable assets and meet income caps. Our attorneys help reclassify assets legally while maintaining eligibility through strategies like qualified income trusts.
Can I avoid probate for Florida real estate?
Florida homestead property can avoid probate through transfer-on-death deeds or revocable trusts. Our team helps structure ownership transfers while addressing potential creditor claims and tax implications.
What happens if someone contests a will in Florida?
Contested wills go through formal probate litigation. Our firm represents executors and beneficiaries in disputes over testamentary capacity, undue influence, or fraud while navigating Florida's elective share laws.
How often should I update my estate plan?
Review your estate plan every 3-5 years or after major life events like marriage, divorce, births, or significant asset changes to ensure documents reflect current wishes and legal requirements.
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