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C. Randolph Coleman

  • Attorney
  • Sole Practitioner

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Biography

C. Randolph Coleman, the Jacksonville, Florida law firm’s founder, is an estate planning, probate, elder law attorney who entered private law practice in Miami, Florida, in 1978 as a member of The Florida Bar. He moved his practice to Jacksonville, Florida in 1991.  The Florida law firm’s practice is limited to Florida estate planning law, Florida elder law and Medicaid planning, special needs trust planning, financial and tax planning, business succession planning including choice of business entity, wealth preservation and asset protection planning, Florida guardianship, Florida probate law and trust administration, Florida probate litigation and trust litigation.

Mr. Coleman is a frequent lecturer and nationally recognized speaker in the areas of estate planning, financial planning, financial exploitation of the elderly, and asset protection.

Mr. Coleman is the co-author of “Animal Trusts and Estate Planning,” The Florida Bar, continuing legal education program, 2008; “The New Florida Trust Code“, published by Lorman Professional Seminars in 2008; “Pets and Pet Trusts”, The Florida Bar, continuing legal education program, 2005; “Asset Protection Techniques in Florida“, published by the National Business Institute in 2004; the author of “Family Limited Partnerships in Florida” (Chapter entitled “Ethical Considerations”, published by the National Business Institute in 2002; “Key Issues in Estate Planning and Probate in Florida” (Chapter entitled “Protecting the Passage of Wealth”), published by the National Business Institute in 1997, and “Advanced Estate Planning Techniques in Florida” (Chapter entitled “The Use of Family Limited Partnership in Estate Planning”) published by the National Business Institute in 1995. Mr. Coleman is recognized in Top Lawyers of Jacksonville, Florida, for Estate Planning, Probate, Guardianship, Asset Protection, Small Business Law, Medicaid Planning.

He is a member of The Florida Bar (Real Property, Probate and Trust Section, Elder Law Section, Tax Section), the American Bar Association, the National Association of Elder Law Attorneys, the Florida Academy of Elder Law Attorneys. Mr. Coleman is the former Director of Asset Protection Planning for The Florida Physicians Association (FPA) He also served as Chairman of the Planned Giving Committee for the Arthritis Foundation, Florida Chapter, Northeast Florida Region. A graduate of the University of Florida, Warrington College of Business (Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, major in accounting, 1972) and the University of Florida Levin College of Law, with Honors, 1978, where Mr. Coleman received the American Jurisprudence Awards for academic achievement in Corporations Law and Commercial Paper Law, was a member of the leadership organizations Florida Blue Key and Omicron Delta Kappa; and was inducted into Phi Kappa Phi, the scholarship organization for those graduating in the top 10% of their class. Mr. Coleman was a practicing CPA in Florida for six years prior to entering law practice.

Mr. Coleman and The Coleman Law Firm, PLLC, are “AV” rated by Martindale-Hubbell, the peer review rating service for lawyers and are listed in the Martindale-Hubbell® Bar Register of Pre-Eminent Lawyers, which lists only those select lawyers and law firms who have earned the A-V® Rating in the Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory and have therefore been designated by their colleagues as pre-eminent in their field. Mr. Coleman has also been recognized by Best Lawyers as one of the Best Lawyers in America for Trusts and Estates. He has been peer review rated as Lead Counsel by Thomson-Reuters, and is rated 10.0 out of 10.0 by AVVO.

Education

  • University of Florida Levin College of Law, Gainesville, Florida
    • J.D. - 1978
    • Honors: With Honors
    • Honors: American Jurisprudence Award for Academic Achievement in Corporations Law and Commercial Paper Law
  • University of Florida Warrington College of Business, Gainesville, Florida
    • B.S. - 1972
    • Honors: With Honors
    • Major: Accounting

Certified Legal Specialties

  • Mr. Coleman was a Practicing CPA in Florida for Six Years, Prior to Practicing Law

Classes & Seminars

  • The New Florida Trust Code, Lorman Seminars, 2008
  • Family Limited Partnerships in Florida, National Business Institute, 2002
  • Asset Protection Techniques in Florida, National Business Institute, 2004
  • Advanced Estate Planning Techniques In Florida, National Business Institute, 1995
  • Trusts and Pets: Establishing Truss for Pets Under Florida Law, The Florida Bar, 2005
  • Key Issues in Estate Planning and Probate in Florida, National Business Institute, 1997
  • Trusts for Pets: Establishing Trusts for Pets Under the Florida Trust Code, The Florida Bar, 2008
  • Frequent Lecturer on Estate Planning, Financial Planning, and Asset Protection, 2002 - Present

Pro-Bono Activities

  • Florida Blue Key
  • The Florida Physicians Association (FPA), Asset Protection Planning, Former Director
  • Chairman of the Planned Giving Committee for the Arthritis Foundation, Florida Chapter, Northeast Florida Region

Past Positions

  • The Coleman Law Firm, PLLC, Attorney, 1991 - Present
  • Coleman Cosby Lipscomb & Bounds, P.A., Partner, 1987 to 1991
  • The Coleman Law Firm, Attorney, 1985 to 1987
  • Finley Kumble Wagner Heine Underberg Manley and Casey, Partner, 1983 to 1985
  • Mershon Sawyer Johnston Dunwody & Cole, Associate Attorney, 1978 to 1983

Published Works

  • “Asset Protection Techniques in Florida," The National Business Institute in 2004
  • “Pets and Pet Trusts," The Florida Bar, Continuing Legal Education Program, 2005
  • “The New Florida Trust Code," Published by Lorman Professional Seminars in 2008
  • Co-Author of: “Animal Trusts and Estate Planning,” The Florida Bar, Continuing Legal Education Program, 2008
  • Author, “Family Limited Partnerships in Florida,” (Chapter Entitled: “Ethical Considerations"), Published by the National Business Institute, 2002
  • “Key Issues in Estate Planning and Probate in Florida,” (Chapter Entitled: “Protecting the Passage of Wealth”), Published by the National Business Institute in 1997
  • “Advanced Estate Planning Techniques in Florida,” (Chapter Entitled: “The Use of Family Limited Partnerships in Estate Planning”), Published by the National Business Institute in 1995

Professional Associations

  • ElderCounsel, LLC, Member
  • WealthCounsel, LLC, Member
  • Florida Bar, Tax Section, Member
  • American Bar Association, Member
  • Florida Bar, Elder Law Section, Member
  • Florida Bar, Real Property Section, Member
  • Florida Bar, Probate and Trust Section, Member
  • Florida Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, Member
  • National Association of Elder Law Attorneys, Member

Practice Areas

  • Estate Planning
  • Asset Protection Planning
  • Elder Law and Medicaid Planning
  • Probate and Trusts Administration
  • Small Business Law

Bar Admissions

  • Florida, 1978
  • U.S. Court of Appeals 11th Circuit, 1982
  • U.S. District Court Middle District of Florida, 1985

Honors

  • 10.0 out of 10.0 by AVVO
  • Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers
  • Best Lawyers in America - Trusts and Estates, 2020
  • Lead Counsel - Estate Planning and Probate Law, 2019
  • AV Preeminent Rating by Martindale-Hubbell
  • Top Lawyers of Jacksonville, Florida, for: Estate Planning, Probate, Guardianship, Asset Protection, Small Business Law, and Medicaid Planning