Estate & Inheritance Counsel — Since 1994

What you leave behind should say exactly what you mean.

We draft wills and trusts, settle estates, and stand beside families through probate and inheritance disputes — with the patience of counsel who've done this for three generations of the same families.

Schedule a Consultation Our Services

What We Handle

Every stage of a family's estate, in one office.

From the first draft of a will to the final distribution of a trust, we handle the legal work so your family can focus on each other.

Wills

Wills & Testaments

Clear, contestable-proof drafting that says precisely who receives what, and names guardians for children when it matters most.

Trusts

Trusts & Trust Design

Revocable and irrevocable trusts built to reduce estate tax exposure and keep your assets out of probate court entirely.

Probate

Probate Administration

We represent executors and administrators through court filings, creditor claims, and asset distribution from start to close.

Disputes

Inheritance Disputes

Will contests, breach of fiduciary duty, and sibling disagreements over an estate — resolved through mediation or, when needed, litigation.

Elder

Elder & Incapacity Planning

Powers of attorney, healthcare directives, and guardianship arrangements that protect a parent's wishes before a crisis forces the issue.

Admin

Trust Administration

Ongoing counsel for trustees on distributions, accountings, and their fiduciary duties to beneficiaries over the life of a trust.

How We Work

Four stages, start to finish.

An estate plan is built once and lived with for decades. Here's the order we build it in — and stay with it after.

Week One

Consultation & Inventory

We sit down — in person or by video — and map your assets, your family, and what you actually want to happen to each. No forms before this conversation.

Weeks Two–Four

Strategy & Drafting

We draft the will, trust, or combination that fits your goals, walk you through every clause in plain language, and revise until it's exactly right.

Execution

Signing & Funding

Documents are formally executed and witnessed, and — critically — assets are actually retitled into your trust. An unfunded trust protects no one.

Ongoing

Administration & Review

We revisit your plan every few years or after a major life change, and step in to administer the estate or trust when the time comes.

Counsel

The attorneys handling your family's estate.

Est. 1994

Managing Partner & Lead Attorney

John F. Martins

Head of the Firm — the attorney our longest-standing families ask for by name.

John has led Martins Law Firm for over two decades, personally overseeing our most complex trusts, contested estates, and multi-generational succession plans. Clients consistently describe him as the steadiest hand in the room during a family's hardest conversations — the attorney every partner in this firm turns to first.

26 years leading estate & inheritance practice
Personally oversees every high-value trust and contested matter
Most-requested attorney among returning families

Elena Marsh

Founding Partner — Trusts & Estates

Thirty-one years in estate planning and probate litigation. Certified specialist in trust administration.

Robert Chen

Partner — Probate & Disputes

Focuses on contested estates and fiduciary litigation, with a preference for resolving disputes before trial.

Priya Nandakumar

Associate — Elder & Incapacity Law

Handles powers of attorney, guardianship, and healthcare directive planning for aging clients and their families.

They handled my mother's estate with more patience than I had for myself that year.

— Client, trust administration

Our trust was drafted, explained line by line, and funded properly — nothing was left as paperwork we didn't understand.

— Client, estate planning

A dispute between my siblings over our father's will was resolved without any of us having to face each other in court.

— Client, inheritance dispute

Questions

Common questions before that first call.

Do I need a trust, or is a will enough?+

It depends on the size of your estate, whether you own property in more than one state, and whether you want to avoid probate court. We'll walk through your situation in the first consultation and recommend the simplest structure that meets your goals — not the most expensive one.

How long does probate usually take?+

A straightforward estate typically closes in six to twelve months. Estates with disputes, out-of-state property, or unclear documentation can take considerably longer — we'll give you a realistic estimate once we've reviewed the specifics.

Can a will be contested after it's signed?+

Yes, though successful contests are less common than people assume. Careful drafting, proper witnessing, and a clear record of the testator's intent are the best protection — all things we build into every will we draft.

What should I bring to the first meeting?+

A rough list of assets and debts, existing estate documents if any exist, and names of anyone you'd want named as executor, trustee, or guardian. We'll help you fill in the gaps from there.

Get In Touch

Let's put your wishes in writing.

Consultations run 45 minutes and can take place in our office, by video, or at your home if travel is difficult. Send us a few details and we'll follow up within one business day.

999 Brickell Ave, CJ 410, Miami, FL 33131, United States
(786) 964-4885
John.f.martins@outlook.com