About Charla
Biography
For over 30 years, I have drafted wills and trusts and administered estates and trusts in the Sarasota area. In 2001, I opened my own law office with a team of three employees. After running my own office for over 13 years, I merged my firm into Shutts & Bowen LLP, a firm with eight offices throughout the state. However, my office in Sarasota is a small office with seven attorneys. Each person in my Trusts and Estates Department at Shutts believes it is our mission to guide clients through challenging decisions and difficult times to preserve their legacies across generations. My team is dedicated to providing outstanding service to our clients.
We know that each client is more than just a name on a file folder. Our clients are individuals and families facing unique challenges and sometimes difficult decisions or situations. We understand. We guide our clients with compassion, understanding, and a true commitment to the highest professional standards and ethics. We strive to “go the extra mile” on behalf of our clients. This environment allows clients to feel at ease and comfortable in their decision to work with our team.
Of the more than 106,000 attorneys in Florida, I am one of only 342 in the state of Florida and one of only 28 in the Sarasota and Manatee Counties who have been certified by the Florida Bar as a Specialist in Wills, Trusts, and Estates. Board certification recognizes an attorney’s special knowledge, skills and proficiency in various areas of law and professionalism and ethics in practice. Certification is the highest level of evaluation by The Florida Bar of the competency and experience of an attorney.
Practice Areas
4
Practice Areas
Fees and Rates
Cost
Sometimes
Payment Methods
- Check
- Credit Card
Looking for an attorney? Avvo can help.
Search our directory
Quickly connect with top attorneys through our legal directory to get help with your legal issue.
Avvo's live chat agents can help coordinate a consultation with a local attorney.
Chat with a live agent who can match you with the right attorney for your legal needs.
Chat withLicenses
Licensed in Florida for 36 years
State: Florida
Acquired: 1989
No misconduct found
Licensed in Kentucky for 38 years
State: Kentucky
Acquired: 1987
No misconduct found
Location
Shutts & Bowen LLP
1858 Ringling Blvd, Suite 300, Sarasota, FL, 34236
Ad
Transform legal challenges into solutions.
Connect now to review your situation.
Charla McNally Burchett's Reviews
Showing 1 - 5 of 12 client reviews from Avvo
Posted by Steve | October 17, 2020 | Hired Attorney
Awesome Professional!
I want everyone to know Charla is AWESOME. Charla Burchett is a board -certified wills trust estates attorney that helped me and my wife with our will . estate planning and end of life arrangements. She is well versed, of course, but her ability to keep the conversations we needed to have understan...
Posted by anonymous | October 14, 2020 | Consulted Attorney
Charla is Outstanding!
Charla is the only attorney to contact regarding Probate, Estate Planning and Wills. She is outstanding, professional and makes sure every aspect of your Estate Planning is up to date. I cannot imagine working with anyone else.
Posted by David | February 6, 2018 | Hired Attorney
Very thorough and professional
I have known Charla for over three years. When it came time for my wife and I to have our estate planning documents updated there was no question we were going to have Charla prepare them. She is professional in her approach, and very thorough in her attention to details. She raised issues that we ne...
Posted by John | January 29, 2018 | Consulted Attorney
Best in Town
I have known Charla professionally for many years. She has always taken fantastic care of my clients and family members. Over the past 3 years I've had some significant life changes getting married and having two young boys. Charla has been a wealth of knowledge and makes the process very easy and...
Posted by anonymous | January 28, 2018 | Hired Attorney
Estate Attorney
Charla has been our Estate Attorney for 16 years. She reviews our documents when necessary and has prepared additional documents for family members. Her communication skills are excellent and allow her to explain complex issues in a simple manner. I never hesitate to refer Charla.
Charla McNally Burchett's Lawyer Endorsements
"I highly endorse this lawyer. Charla is an outstanding attorney with a great reputation in our legal community. I recommend clients to her because: 1) I know she is highly knowledgeable in her field, and 2) her reputation for making her clients feel comfortable with what can be a difficult subject for most people to think about let alone plan for."
"I highly endorse this lawyer. Charla has the highest of ethics and legal skills. She is very well respected in our community."
"I endorse this lawyer. Charla is one of the most knowledgeable attorneys in the area of elder law and estate planning. She is caring for her clients and attentive to their needs."
"I highly endorse this lawyer and her skills in the area of estate planning. This is well respected in our community."
Medicaid and medicare lawyer
Family lawyer
Estate planning lawyer
Guardianship lawyer
Business lawyer
Experience
Honors
2020
Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers
2020
AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5 Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell®
2019
AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5 Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell®
2019
Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers
2018
Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers
2018
AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5 Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
2017
Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers
2017
AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5 Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
2016
AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5 Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
2016
Super Lawyer, SuperLawyers
2015
AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5 Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
2014
AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5 Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
2013
AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5 Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
2012
AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5 Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
2012
Who's Who in America 66th Edition, Marquis Who's Who in American Law
2011
5 Star Wealth Manager Award, Sarasota Magazine
2011
AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5 Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
2010
AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5 Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
2009
5 Star Wealth Manager, Sarasota Magazine
2009
AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5 Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
2008
5 Star Wealth Manager, Sarasota Magazine
2008
AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5 Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
2007
AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5 Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
2006
AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5 Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
2005
AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5 Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
2004
AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5 Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
2003
AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5 Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
2002
AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5 Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
2001
AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5 Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
Work Experience
2014 - Present
Partner, Shutts & Bowen LLP
2001 - 2014
Partner, Charla M. Burchett, PLC
1997 - 2001
Partner, Lee & Burchett, PA
1989 - 1997
Partner, Fergeson, Skipper, et. al.
Associations
2020 - Present
Sarasota Tiger Bay ClubBoard Member
2019 - Present
Impact100 SRQFounding Member
2018 - Present
The Pines FoundationBoard Member
1989 - Present
Sarasota County Bar AssociationMember
1989 - Present
The Florida BarMember
1987 - Present
Kentucky Bar AssociationMember
2021 - 2021
The Pines FoundationChair
2020 - 2020
Impact100 SRQArts & Culture Focus Area Committee Member
2020 - 2020
The Pines FoundationFirst Vice Chair
2019 - 2019
Impact100 SRQEducation Focus Area Committee Member
2019 - 2019
The Pines FoundationSecretary
2010 - 2011
Community Foundation of Sarasota CountyChair
2008 - 2010
Community Foundation of Sarasota County1st Vice Chair
2005 - 2010
Community Foundation of Sarasota CountyChair of Grants and Program Services
2004 - 2005
Sarasota County Bar Association Solo SectionChair
2003 - 2008
Community Foundation of Sarasota CountyChair of Charitable Planning
2003 - 2012
Community Foundation of Sarasota CountyBoard of Directors
1999 - 2000
Southwest Florida Estate Planning CouncilChair
1996 - 1997
Gulf Coast Chapter of the Florida State Guardianship AssociationPresident
1996 - 2011
Gulf Coast Chapter of the Florida State Guardianship AssociationFounding Member
1996 - 2011
Florida State Guardianship AssociationMember
1994 - 1995
Sarasota County Bar Association, Estate Planning & Probate SectionChair
1989 - 2011
Southwest Florida Estate Planning CouncilMember, Former Chair
Education
1989
LLM in Estate Planning
1987
Juris Doctor
1984
Bachelor of Arts
Speaking Engagements
2011
Update on Estate Planning Issues
Publications
2021
2020
2020
2020
2020
2020
Languages
English