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

Showing 1 - 5 of 10 reviews | Cost of Services

Posted by Tom | December 19, 2019 | Hired Attorney | Estate Planning

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

Posted by anonymous | August 14, 2018 | Hired Attorney

Unsatisfactory

Ms. Simms did some work for us and on of the documents we asked her to change a section. She refused. We had to pay another attorney to fix what I had already paid Ms. Simms for. And, the new attorney found two errors on the document she prepared.

Debra Simms

Replied last August 14, 2018

My ethical obligations do not allow me to make changes on documents that are not requested by the client. This reviewer was not my client.

Posted by anonymous | April 25, 2018 | Hired Attorney | Estate Planning

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!

Posted by Joy | October 03, 2017 | Hired Attorney | Estate Planning

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.

Posted by anonymous | July 12, 2017 | Consumer Protection

very bad atty

. She is absolutely a bad attorney and attempted to take $500.00 off of a 91 year old lady when we only wanted a free consultation that she offered and she gave us no advice what-so-ever and tried to immediately get us out the door when this 91 year old lady gave her a check for $500.00 to supposedly... represent her as a client. when did not go there to hire this lady yet. we only wanted info and she provided none. she is terrible

Debra Simms

Replied last July 12, 2017

This reviewer brought the 91 year old client to my office for a Power Of Attorney. He directed the client to appoint him as her agent under the POA. After consulting with the potential client, I was concerned that she was the victim of exploitation by her "friend". After a lengthy consultation, however, I initially agreed to do the POA. My client then went outside to the car, but this gentleman came back into the office and became verbally abusive towards ME. I kindly asked him to leave, and then went outside to inform my client I could not represent her and handed the check back to her. I consider it my duty to do my part to prevent elder exploitation and I make no apologies for not representing this client. I only hope he did not take her to another attorney and obtain the POA which will allow him access to ALL her funds. Shame on you Mr. Reviewer!!!!!! And please come back and pick up your glasses.

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

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  • Experience & background Years licensed, work experience, education
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