Debra G Simms

Debra G Simms

4.4
Rating: 10.0

Licensed for 37 years

Estate planning Lawyer at Port Orange, FL
Practice Areas: Estate Planning, Probate, Family ... +2 more

823 Dunlawton Ave., Port Orange, FL

About Debra

Biography

Practice Areas

5

Practice Areas

Probate 30%

20 years

30%
Guardianship 5%

20 years

5%

Fees and Rates

We have not found any cost information for this lawyer


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Licenses

Licensed in Florida for 28 years

State: Florida

Acquired: 1997

Member in Good Standing

No misconduct found

Licensed in Ohio for 37 years

State: Ohio

Acquired: 1988

Inactive

No misconduct found

Location

Debra G. Simms, PA Volusia Office

823 Dunlawton Ave., Port Orange, FL, 32129

Debra G. Simms

629 N. Dixie FW, New Smyrna Beach, FL, 32168

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Debra G Simms's Reviews

Avvo Review Score

4.4 /5.0

40 Client Reviews

5 star (34)
4 star (0)
3 star (0)
2 star (0)
1 star (6)

Posted by Joan | October 1, 2020 | Hired Attorney

This review is from a person who hired this attorney.

Estate review

Debra was very helpful with my estate after the passing of my husband. It was very confusing but Debra was there to help and answer all my questions and put my mind at ease. Debra's staff is very professional and quick to answering emails and phone calls. I have recommended Debra to my neighbors and ...those that have hired her for their estate planning were well satisfied. They say she is very knowledgeable in her profession. If you need a professional attorney, hire Debra. Get a consultation and see for yourself. See does see clients during the Covid 19 crisis. Thanks Debra for a job well done.

Posted by Sue | September 6, 2020 | Hired Attorney

This review is from a person who hired this attorney.

Very thorough!

I am a single woman with no children. I had no idea who to name as my beneficiaries or who I should name to handle my affairs if I get sick. Debra Simms is patient and understood my situation. We worked together to find the best solution. I highly recommend her!

Posted by Robert | July 2, 2020 | Hired Attorney

This review is from a person who hired this attorney.

Great Estate Planning

Ms. Simms set up our revocable trust and other estate documents, such as living wills -- and changed all our deeds to be in the name of the trust-- she patiently answered all our questions (we had a lot, since we had done no planning at all). We can highly recommend Ms. Simms -- she and her staff ar...e a pleasure to work with!

Posted by Linda | May 6, 2020 | Hired Attorney

This review is from a person who hired this attorney.

Professional and Friendly Estate Planning

Ms. Simms provided us great advice about establishing a revocable trust and did not hesitate to answer all our questions. Creating the trust was quick, painless, and will make things much easier for our adult children to not only care for us as we age but to settle our estate when the time comes. We ...can highly recommend Ms. Simms for estate planning!

Posted by Tom | December 18, 2019 | Hired Attorney

This review is from a person who hired this attorney.

Professional and Honest

We had our last will and testament drawn up and recorded in another state so we needed to update it as we are now Florida residents. My wife and I recently had a complete estate plan completed by Ms. Simms and was very satisfied with the process and her professionalism. She spent the total hour gat...hering all the legal information required for the plan answering our questions in detail. After completing the session she stated her price and asked if we wanted to proceed. I could have walked away at that point with all that information but felt very comfortable with her knowledge and professionalism so I agreed to continue with her representation. When I returned home I remembered that I forgot to mention an advertisement I had seen in the local newspaper that offered a price reduction. I informed her office and was subsequently granted the reduced price. Thanks

See All Client Reviews

Debra G Simms's Lawyer Endorsements

Endorse Debra
Christopher Sprysenski headshot
Christopher Sprysenski

Estate planning lawyer | Sep 23

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"Debra is a caring, thoughtful attorney who approaches your estate planning needs with an eye towards her clients' true goals. Her passion for assisting clients plan for their future at any stage shines through in her communication and quality of work she performs. I would highly recommend Debra for your estate planning needs."

Elizabeth C Kamper headshot
Elizabeth Kamper

Chapter 7 bankruptcy lawyer | Sep 10

Relationship: Friend

"I endorse this lawyer."

Nadine Marie Jett headshot
Nadine Jett

Family lawyer | Jan 14

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer. Her willingness to contribute to the AVVO community along with the substance of those contributions displays an attorney that is ready, willing and able to zealously advocate for her clients. I wouldn't think twice about referring a potential client to Ms. Simms."

Steven D. Kramer headshot
Steven Kramer

Unknown lawyer | Jan 05

Relationship: Worked together on matter

"I endorse this lawyer."

Howard M Lewis headshot
Howard Lewis

Estate planning lawyer | Dec 26

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer. Attorney Simms is one of if not the finest estate planning attorney's in Florida. She is an outstanding attorney with an exceptional reputation. Attorney Simms is a credit to the legal profession and I needed an attorney in Florida she would be my first choice and the first choice we refer our clients to."

Lesley Abigail Hoenig headshot
Lesley Hoenig

Bankruptcy and debt lawyer | Dec 22

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse Debra because I know she knows her Bankruptcy as well as Estate Planning and would do a great job for any of her clients."

Dennis Andrew Chen headshot
Dennis Chen

Chapter 7 bankruptcy lawyer | Jan 25

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer. I have known attorney Debra Simms for many years and find her to be very knowledgeable and hard working."

Ronald A. Jones headshot
Ronald Jones

Estate planning lawyer | Sep 12

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"She uses a good, common sense, practical approach to estate planning."

View All Endorsements
Elizabeth C Kamper headshot
Elizabeth Kamper

Bankruptcy and debt lawyer

Dineen Pashoukos Wasylik headshot
Dineen Wasylik

Copyright infringement lawyer

John Peter Page headshot
John Page

Business lawyer

Ronald A. Jones headshot
Ronald Jones

Probate lawyer

Lesley Abigail Hoenig headshot
Lesley Hoenig

Bankruptcy and debt lawyer

Oliver Max Gardner III headshot
Oliver Gardner

Bankruptcy and debt lawyer

Dennis Andrew Chen headshot
Dennis Chen

Chapter 7 bankruptcy lawyer

Lewis Matthew Roberts headshot
Lewis Roberts

Bankruptcy and debt lawyer

Steven D. Kramer headshot
Steven Kramer

Foreclosure lawyer

Experience

Rating:  10.0 (Superb)

Honors

2014

Elder Law Certification, Florida Bar

2014

Board Certified - Elder Law, Florida Bar

N/A

Preventative Law, National Preventative Law Institute

N/A

Editor, Law Review

N/A

First Amendment Rights and Responsibilites, Am Jur

Work Experience

2007 - Present

President, Debra G. Simms, P.A.

1997 - 2006

Attorney, Pearson-Wise & Simms

1992 - 1996

Attorney, Ross, Britain & Schoenberg

1988 - 1992

President, Law Office of Debra G. Simms

Associations

2015 - Present

Daytona Beach Symphony Board of Directors

Board of Directors

2015 - Present

ARC, Volusia

Board of Directors

2014 - Present

Florida Bar

Certified Elder Law Attorney

2014 - Present

Volusia County Bar Association

Member, Elder Law Chair

2007 - Present

Met Life Hyatt Legal Plan

Panel Attorney

National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (Florida chapter)

Member

AARP

Lawyer Panel

Sample of Legal Cases

DCF v. Sorokin

Case Dismissed, Ward and daughter prevailed

In re Shirley Tousignant

Debra G. Simms, on behalf of the son, Ricky Triplett

Elder Law

Medicaid Eligibility for Long Term Care

Chapters 7 and 13

Discharge of Debts

Estate Planning

Avoidance of probate and incapacity planning

Probate

Opening and closing probate within 3--6 months!

See More Legal Cases

Education

1987

Cleveland State University - Cleveland-Marshall College of Law

JD - Juris Doctor

1978

Case Western Reserve University

MA - Masters

1974

Ohio State University

BS - Bachelor of Science

Speaking Engagements

2018

Medicaid Planning

Medicaid, Liens, Estate Recovery and Hardship Waivers

2016

Healthy Decisions

Medical Directives and Living Wills

2016

Healing Path

Medicaid Planning

2015

Stroke Victim Support Group

Medical Directives and Living Wills

2015

Kiwanis of New Smyrna Beach

Elder Abuse/Fraud

2015

Elder Care Matters

Medicaid for Assisted Living and Skilled Nursing Facilites

2014

Solosez Mid-Florida Lunch

Solo practice

2014

4th of July bash

Estate Planning and Long Term Nursing Care

2012

Real Estate Update

Foreclosure Process in Florida Today

2012

Pershing Moms Day Out

Basic Estate Planning for Moms

2012

MetLife Legal Plan

Estate Planning Basics

2012

Educational Meeting

Adoption for Same-sex Couples in Florida

2012

Educational Event

Choosing the Right Attorney for You

2012

Continuing Legal Education Florida Estate Planning Basics

2012

Charles Schwab Employee Benefits Plan

Four Corners of Estate Planning

2011

Seminole Public Library

Bankruptcy for Beginners - Your debt: Budge It!

2011

POA's and Advanced Directives

Powers of Attorney & Advanced Directives

2011

Estate Planning: Wills and Trusts

Estate Planning: Wills and Trusts

2011

Estate Planning

Basic Estate Planning

2011

Employee Benefits for Hyatt Legal Plan

Estate Planning for You and Your Family

2010

Senior Lunch and Learn

Elder Law Issues

2010

Jewish Pavillion Health Fair

Estate Planning

2010

FAMU Law School

Being a Sole Practitioner

2008

COS Seniors

Estate Planning

Publications

2013

City Magazine of Altamonte Springs Our Digital Afterlife

2012

SimmsLawFirm.com Elder Law

2012

SimmsLawFirm.com/blog Estate Planning

2012

SimmsLawFirm.com blog Probate

1988

Cleveland State Law Review Succession Planning: The Daughter Option

Languages

English

Spanish

Activity

Avvo Rating

Our Rating is calculated using information the lawyer has included on their profile in addition to the information we collect from state bar associations and other organizations that license legal professionals. Attorneys who claim their profiles and provide Avvo with more information tend to have a higher rating than those who do not.

What determines Avvo Rating?
  • Experience & background Years licensed, work experience, education
  • Legal community recognition Peer endorsements, associations, awards
  • Legal thought leadership Publications, speaking engagements
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