1. Home
  2. Find a Lawyer
  3. Florida
  4. Port Orange
  5. Estate Planning
  6. Debra Simms

Debra G Simms

Estate planning Attorney at Port Orange, FL

4.4   40 reviews
Message
  • State Years
    Florida - FL 26 years
    Ohio - OH 35 years
  • Licensed for 26 years
    State FL
    Acquired 1997
    Status
    Member in Good Standing No misconduct found
  • Licensed for 35 years
    State OH
    Acquired 1988
    Status
    Inactive No misconduct found

We have not found any instances of professional misconduct for this lawyer.

Estate review
Joan
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
Hired Attorney
Very thorough!
Sue
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
Hired Attorney
Read more reviews

About Debra

Learn Debra’s areas of practice.

5
Practice areas

Debra G. Simms is an experienced  attorney, with a practice specializing in estate planning, elder law, probate and guardianship, special needs trust, bankruptcy, divorce, family law, and mediation. She is a Florida Bar Certified Elder Law Attorney, only one of 99 such attorneys in the State of Florida.  She is also a Certified Civil Circuit Mediator, Certified Family Law Mediator, and certified Parent Coordinator in the State of Florida. Debra Simms has over 26 years experience as a lawyer.

Photos and videos

Photos and videos

Contact Debra

Similar lawyers nearby

Debra G. Simms, PA Volusia Office
823 Dunlawton Ave.
Port Orange, FL, 32129
Message Get Directions
Debra G. Simms
629 N. Dixie FW
New Smyrna Beach, FL, 32168
Message Get Directions
Hide locations

Reviews

Write A Review
4.4 / 5.0
  40 customer reviews
5 Star
 
85%
4 Star
 
0%
3 Star
 
0%
2 Star
 
0%
1 Star
 
15%
Posted by Joan | October 1, 2020
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired 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.
Read less
Posted by Sue | September 6, 2020
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired 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
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired 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 are a pleasure to work with!
Posted by Linda | May 6, 2020
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired 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!
Read less
Posted by Tom | December 18, 2019
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired 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 gathering 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
Read less
Posted by Richard | May 13, 2019
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Great Lawyer
Hired Ms Simms to touch up my out of FL estate plan. She did an excellent and timely job.
Posted by Sherrie | October 25, 2018
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Thorough and Knowledgeable
Debra assisted us with our estate planning documents. She was very thorough and carefully listened to our needs and provided thoughtful answers to our questions. We definitely will use her again.
Posted by anonymous | August 28, 2018
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Happy client. I recommend Debra G. Simms, P.A.
Ms. Simms and her staff worked hard to resolve my issues with my estate planning and upcoming nuptials. Very pleased with her professionalism and ethical recommendations for resolving my issues.
Posted by Linda | August 1, 2018
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Probate of Estate
I hired Debra to Probate my late brother's Estate after another lawyer sat on it and did nothing for over 10 months. She is professional, very knowledgeable and let me know what to expect. She took on a bad situation and got the job done. Her staff was very thorough, efficient and kind. I would highly recommend her with no hesitation. Thank you Debra and Kendall, I couldn't have gotten through this without you!!
Read less
Posted by anonymous | April 24, 2018
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Debra Simms is a highly knowledgable and caring lawyer
Debra prepared for us trust document, power of attorney, health care proxy, living trust, deed and last will and testament after first meeting with us to determine our needs and wants. She prepared a memorandum of understanding so we would know clearly how the documents tie together and the steps we need to take to follow up on what needs to be done at our end to complete the process. We have never had a lawyer who did this step. We found her fees to be very reasonable. We recommend her very highly!
Read less
Posted by Joyce G. | October 11, 2017
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Caring and Helpful
Ms. Simms recently spoke at my homeowner's assoc. meeting. She was a good speaker and offered useful information. Shortly afterwards, we had a death in the family and I called Ms. Simms. Her office assistant was friendly and got us in immediately. We have confidence in this attorney and hired her to handle the probate. She is doing a wonderful job.
Read less
Posted by Joy | October 3, 2017
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Great lawyer
My husband and I just moved to Florida from Ohio. We heard that our will, power of attorney, etc. might not be good in Florida. We had a free consultation with attorney Debra G. Simms. She looked over our papers and made some suggestions and gave us advice on how to handle our retirement accounts. Her prices are very reasonable for the updates to the documents. She was very easy to work with and we highly recommend her. We found her on AVVO so we wanted to make sure we gave her a good review.
Read less
Posted by anonymous | March 28, 2016
This review is from a potential client who consulted with this attorney.
| Consulted Attorney
Excellent attorney
My dealings with Ms. Simms have been terrific. She is pleasant to deal with, she is very personable and is very knowledgeable. Thank you for all you have done!
Posted by John S. | November 18, 2015
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Terrific!
I returned to Ms Simms for an update on my estate planning and also to discuss asset protection in case I ever need nursing home care. She really is terrific- smart, thorough, and very kind. Her new office located in Port Orange is welcoming, warm, and she wisely served plenty of water and snacks! My wife feels the same and we recommend her highly!
Read less
Posted by Pam | June 19, 2015
Absolutely the Best!
“My financial advisor found some problem areas in the trust I had and highly recommended Debra to me. She immediately saw that the old trust would have made available to me only the net income and I wouldn’t have been able to touch the principal when I needed it later in life. She fixed this and I had her rewrite my will, power of attorney and designation of health care surrogate. Debra is extremely knowledgeable, friendly, fun and wonderful to work for. She is dedicated, efficient and personable. On top of all this, her fees were quite reasonable.”
Read less
Posted by Kimberly | May 20, 2015
Caring,attentive, and competent lawyer
Debra was always available for advice and creating new documents for my family. She made a very hard time a lot easier for me and my dad. Forever thankful!!
Posted by Pat | August 19, 2014
An Excellent Elder Law Attorney
Attorney Debra Simms handled an Elder Law Medicaid case for my mother. She told us she is Board Certified in this area and her expertise really showed. She answered all our questions and the application process went smoothly. Her office is located in The Villages and she was also helpful when we were selecting a nursing home. I recommend her.
Read less
Posted by Joy | August 16, 2014
Trust, wills, medical directives.
After us explaining our concerns she knew exactly what all we needed to make life easier for our family after we die. She is very easy to talk to. She talks in terms that the average person will understand.
Posted by Richard | August 10, 2014
Planning Experience
Gave us an informative review of what needed to be done on our wills to bring them up-to-date and then made the corrections in a timely manner. Treated us with respect and courtesy.
Posted by Melissa | August 6, 2014
Debra is an excellent lawyer who gives great legal advice and representation.
Debra has been extremely helpful handling my case. She gives clear and concise recommendations, and is extremely knowledgeable on all types of legal services. I would highly recommend her to anyone seeking attorney representation. She makes you feel comfortable throughout the entire process., unlike some of the larger law firms that make you feel as if you are part of a mill service. She gives dedicated time and effort in every case to ensure that her clients receive the best possible outcome.
Read less
View all reviews
View less reviews

Cost

We have not found any cost information for this lawyer

Contact for Details

Resume

AVVO RATING 10.0 (Superb)

Work Experience

  • President
  • Debra G. Simms, P.A.
  • 2007 - Present
  • Attorney
  • Pearson-Wise & Simms
  • 1997 - 2006
  • Attorney
  • Ross, Britain & Schoenberg
  • 1992 - 1996
  • President
  • Law Office of Debra G. Simms
  • 1988 - 1992
View all work experience

Education

  • Cleveland State University - Cleveland-Marshall College of Law
  • JD - Juris Doctor
  • 1987
  • Case Western Reserve University
  • MA - Masters
  • 1978
  • Ohio State University
  • BS - Bachelor of Science
  • 1974

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
  • Estate Planning
  • Avoidance of probate and incapacity planning
View all legal cases

Associations

  • Daytona Beach Symphony Board of Directors
  • Board of Directors
  • 2015 - Present
  • ARC, Volusia
  • Board of Directors
  • 2015 - Present
  • Florida Bar
  • Certified Elder Law Attorney
  • 2014 - Present
  • Volusia County Bar Association
  • Member, Elder Law Chair
  • 2014 - Present
  • Met Life Hyatt Legal Plan
  • Panel Attorney
  • 2007 - Present
  • National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (Florida chapter)
  • Member
  • N/A
  • AARP
  • Lawyer Panel
  • N/A
View all associations

Languages Spoken

  • English
  • Spanish

Honors and Awards

  • Elder Law Certification
  • Florida Bar
  • 2014
  • Board Certified - Elder Law
  • Florida Bar
  • 2014
  • First Amendment Rights and Responsibilites
  • Am Jur
  • N/A
  • Editor
  • Law Review
  • N/A
  • Preventative Law
  • National Preventative Law Institute
  • N/A
View all awards

Publications

  • City Magazine of Altamonte Springs
  • Our Digital Afterlife
  • 2013
  • SimmsLawFirm.com blog
  • Probate
  • 2012
  • Cleveland State Law Review
  • Succession Planning: The Daughter Option
  • 1988
View all publications

Speaking Engagements

  • Medicaid Planning
  • Medicaid, Liens, Estate Recovery and Hardship Waivers
  • 2018
  • Healing Path
  • Medicaid Planning
  • 2016
  • Healthy Decisions
  • Medical Directives and Living Wills
  • 2016
  • Kiwanis of New Smyrna Beach
  • Elder Abuse/Fraud
  • 2015
  • Stroke Victim Support Group
  • Medical Directives and Living Wills
  • 2015
  • Elder Care Matters
  • Medicaid for Assisted Living and Skilled Nursing Facilites
  • 2015
  • 4th of July bash
  • Estate Planning and Long Term Nursing Care
  • 2014
  • Solosez Mid-Florida Lunch
  • Solo practice
  • 2014
  • Pershing Moms Day Out
  • Basic Estate Planning for Moms
  • 2012
  • Educational Meeting
  • Adoption for Same-sex Couples in Florida
  • 2012
  • Educational Event
  • Choosing the Right Attorney for You
  • 2012
  • Charles Schwab Employee Benefits Plan
  • Four Corners of Estate Planning
  • 2012
  • MetLife Legal Plan
  • Estate Planning Basics
  • 2012
  • Real Estate Update
  • Foreclosure Process in Florida Today
  • 2012
  • Employee Benefits for Hyatt Legal Plan
  • Estate Planning for You and Your Family
  • 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
  • Jewish Pavillion Health Fair
  • Estate Planning
  • 2010
  • Senior Lunch and Learn
  • Elder Law Issues
  • 2010
  • FAMU Law School
  • Being a Sole Practitioner
  • 2010
  • COS Seniors
  • Estate Planning
  • 2008
View all speaking engagements

Attorney endorsements

Received (8)
Given (9)
Endorse Debra
Christopher Sprysenski headshot
Christopher Sprysenski
Estate planning Attorney | 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 Attorney | Sep 10
Relationship: Friend
"I endorse this lawyer."
Nadine Marie Jett headshot
Nadine Jett
Family Attorney | 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 Attorney | Jan 05
Relationship: Worked together on matter
"I endorse this lawyer."
Howard M Lewis headshot
Howard Lewis
Estate planning Attorney | 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 Attorney | 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 Attorney | 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 Attorney | Sep 12
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"She uses a good, common sense, practical approach to estate planning."
View more endorsements
Elizabeth C Kamper headshot
Elizabeth Kamper
Bankruptcy and debt
Dineen Pashoukos Wasylik headshot
Dineen Wasylik
Copyright infringement
John Peter Page headshot
John Page
Business
Ronald A. Jones headshot
Ronald Jones
Probate
Lesley Abigail Hoenig headshot
Lesley Hoenig
Bankruptcy and debt
Oliver Max Gardner III headshot
Oliver Gardner
Bankruptcy and debt
Dennis Andrew Chen headshot
Dennis Chen
Chapter 7 bankruptcy
Lewis Matthew Roberts headshot
Lewis Roberts
Bankruptcy and debt
Steven D. Kramer headshot
Steven Kramer
Foreclosure
Port Orange Estate planning Lawyer Debra G Simms
Debra G Simms
Estate planning Attorney
Port Orange, FL
Licensed for 35 years
Message