Learn More About E.P.P.G. Law of St. Johns in St. Augustine, FL

Attorney Tania Schmidt Alpers. In the late 1990s, I saw Tania in court representing victims of domestic violence and thought she was the bravest woman I had ever seen. She was the lone female in the court room, and I was in awe of her strength and confidence. It made me realize that I could be anything, and in that moment, I knew that I wanted to be an attorney.

Estate planning, probate, and trust administration are practice areas that came very naturally to me. My mom passed away before I began law school, so I became familiar with the probate process. Having been through a significant loss has enabled me to relate personally with my clients in the face of tragedy.

Additionally, I grew up with a huge extended family and was close to all my grandparents, so protecting the elderly is extremely important to me. Estate planning and probate are naturally intertwined.

The biggest change I’ve observed is how many attorneys are beginning to "dabble" in estate planning instead of specializing in it. Estate Planning is a very nuanced and technical field and I worry about the individuals using an attorney who drafts only a few Wills or Trusts a year. The unfortunate part is that many families don’t realize the mistakes until it is too late, and they are unable to fix them. 

Easily AI.  Just because you can download a Will or Trust online doesn't mean you should.  Individuals biggests assets are their health and their wealth.  You wouldnt buy a chemo kit online if you had cancer, so you shouldn't do the same with your wealth.  Wills and Trusts usually come into play once the individuals passes away so there is no way to know if what you did was correct and your families members suffer because of that. 

 I am a past president of the St. Johns County Bar Association and have been co-director of the St. Johns County Young Lawyers Section. In that time, we have established and hosted events that have raised more than $15,000 for various non-profits, such as Jacksonville Area Legal Aid – St. Johns County, Kids Bridge, and United Way of St. Johns County.

Find a mentor. Meet more established attorneys practicing in your field and ask them questions. Take them to lunch to pick their brains; never think you know more than they do. Established attorneys are a wealth of knowledge, and most are willing to do what they can to help you, even if they are on the other side of the case. Always remember that your clients will come and go, but the attorneys in your field will be there long after your client, so don’t burn a bridge over an “enthusiastic” client.