$ 350-400 per hour
PRO
Dawn Marie Bates-Buchanan
also known as Bates-Buchanan & Savitsky Law Group, P.A.
Virtual Consultation Available
About Dawn
Biography
I handle cases in Bankruptcy, Estate Planning, Probate, Trust Administration, Contracts (Collections of Debts/Defense of Collection of Debts), Landlord Tenant, Real Property (Sales, Foreclosure Defense), Family Law, Collaborative Family Law, Family Law Mediation and in Sarasota, Venice, Port Charlotte, and throughout the State of Florida.
I am an attorney with 25 years experience in preparing wills, trusts, healthcare living wills, powers of attorney, helping seniors and others with collections violations, contract violations, bankruptcy, foreclosure issues and probate. I am also a certified mediator in Circuit Civil and Family Law, with specific training in mortgage modification mediation in bankruptcy. I am also specially training in Collabrative Family Law, a confidential negotation based, non litigation type of family law.
My primary office is in Venice, Florida, but I also have a office in Bradenton. I live in Venice and my family still lives in a Venice and I went to high school in Venice and graduated in 1986. I work in counties throughout the State of Florida, but usually work between Fort Myers and Tampa appearing in Manatee, Sarasota, Lee, Pinellas, Pasco and Hillsborough Counties.
I was born in Texas, but have lived my whole life in one part of Florida or another. I was raised in Venice, Florida, went college at University of South Florida, in Tampa and recieved a Bachelors degree in Criminology, Sociology and Child Psychcology and became a Guardian Ad Litem. I went to work for the 12th Judicial Circuit State Attorney's office and went back to school and became a certified legal assistant with a A.S. in Legal Assisting and national certification from NALA. I then worked for the 12th Judicial Circuit in the worthless check division for five years before being endorsed by Earl Moreland to go to law school. I was accepted and attended Stetson University College of Law from 1995-2008 where I earned my Juris Doctorate. I was admitted to the Florida Bar in October of 1999. While in law school i continued my community service as a Guardian Ad Litem and interned for the U.S. Attorney's office in Tampa, as well as for Judge Fleming in Pinellas County. After law school I worked for the 12th Judicial Circuit State Attorney's Office as an intern, but found a job working in Family Law with Central Florida Legal Services, Inc in Daytona Beach, Florida, which ultimately became Community Legal Services of Mid-Florida, Inc. I was promoted to Family Law Unit Leader in my 4th year and Managing Attorney of the Daytona Beach office in my 5th year. I moved to Bradenton, Florida to be closer to my family that still lived in Venice in February of 2006 and became Managing Attorney of Gulfcoast Legal Services, Inc, Bradenton Office where a specialized in elder law, which included estate planning, bankruptcy, foreclosure defense and consumer defense law.
I am animal advocate and often foster dogs, along with raising and caring for my dachshunds.
I am married to Eddie Robert Buchanan, for 22 years and we have a beautiful daughter named Darian.
Big Enough to Fight for You ...Small Enough to Care
Here to help you create a Will and/or a Trust, other healthcare documents in Venice or Sarasota.
Specially Trained to be a Collaborative Family Law Attorney. Go to www.nextgenerationdivorce.com.
In Venice and Sarasota - here to help you resolve your debt issues with compassion and respect.
Family Law and Circuit Civil Mediator in Venice and Sarasota - 15 years Experience.
15 Years Experience - will help you resolve your case quickly and efficiently with compassion.
Practice Areas
6
Practice Areas
Bankruptcy and Debt
20%
17 years
Estate Planning
20%
22 years
Mediation
20%
16 years
Probate
20%
22 years
Fees and Rates
Cost
Hourly Rates
Payment Methods
- Cash
- Check
- Credit Card
Licenses
Licensed in Florida for 26 years
State: Florida
Acquired: 1999
No misconduct found
Location
Bates-Buchanan & Savitsky Law Group, P.A.
333 Tamiami Trail S, Suite 298, Venice, FL, 34285
LadyLawyersFLA.comBates-Buchanan & Savitsky Law Group, P.A.
(800) 549-5137
Fax
(941) 242-7184
Mobile
333 6th Ave W, Bradenton, FL, 34205
LadyLawyersFLA.comGallery
Online Presence
Other places you can find Dawn online.
Dawn Marie Bates-Buchanan's Reviews
Avvo Review Score
12 Client Reviews
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Practice Areas
Showing 1 - 5 of 12 reviews
Posted by Tom | May 21, 2025 | Hired Attorney | Estate Planning
For Business or Estate Planning . . . the Best!
I have used so many Virginia, Maryland and D.C. attorneys in my business career and my experience with Dawn Marie here in Florida was excellent, and with great rates. I highly recommend the Lady Lawyers. Dawn Marie prepared an extensive Estate Plan for my family and I have consulted both Dawn Marie...
Posted by Chris | September 15, 2020 | Hired Attorney | Trusts
Highly reliable expertise and lots of personal communication.
I would like to commend the Lady Lawyers at The Bates-Buchanan & Savitsky Law Groupfor their thorough and very professional services involving a complex trust dispute they handled for us. My brothers and I were the designated beneficiaries in a disputed trust in which we could have lost our substanti...
Dawn Bates-Buchanan
Replied last September 15, 2020Thank you for your kind words and I am glad that we were able to help you family through this difficult issue.
Posted by anonymous | October 16, 2019 | Hired Attorney | Probate
Excellent Probate Attorney
Dawn Marie was compassionate and helped me and my family through a difficult time and we were able to resolve our Mother’s estate quickly and efficiently.
Posted by Julie Wyant | September 08, 2014 | Child Support
Caring Law firm
Dawn Bates -Buchanan, Handled our very tricky child support case. She was very helpful and caring .She answered all my questions and genuinely wanted a good out come for us. Dawn is very trustworthy and her staff is great! I highly recommend her .
Posted by anonymous | August 20, 2014 | Divorce & Separation
Dissolution of Marriage
Ms. Bates-Buchanan did an excellent job. I needed someone that was knowledgable in dissolution of Marriage with a spouce going through bankruptcy. My case was handled professionally, and very expediently, (less than a month from signing of papers to final judgement! Wow!) The price was very reasona...
Dawn Marie Bates-Buchanan's Lawyer Endorsements
"I endorse this lawyer."
"Dawn Marie Bates-Buchanan provides excellent representation for clients in need of bankruptcy and debt assistance. Her compassion and dedication to the underprivileged has been displayed consistently in her career. I strongly endorse her."
"I endorse this lawyer."
"I endorse this lawyer. I first met Dawn through the Florida Association of Women Lawyers organization. Dawn is a conscientious hard working Attorney who cares about her clients and their well being."
"I endorse this lawyer."
"I endorse this lawyer."
"Dawn Bates-Buchanan is a very experienced and compassionate attorney. I would highly recommend her to anyone seeking legal advice in the areas of family, consumer, foreclosure and bankruptcy law, as well as those in need of a will or trust."
"I endorse this lawyer."
"Dawn is an aggressive advocate for her clients. Both in and out of the law, she is very actively involved with animals. In addition to the areas listed above, she handles animal cases and does pet trusts."
"Dawn truly cares about her clients and their often diffficult situations, and it shows in the way she practices law."
"I endorse Dawn because I have seen her go above and beyond to help her clients resolve their issues. She will work tirelessly to help her clients and she never backs down from a fight when necessary. She is an attorney because it is her calling, not because of the money, as evidenced by the endless pro bono work she has done. In addition to helping her clients, she is very generous with her knowledge and is always willing to help her fellow attorneys. She is the type of lawyer we all strive to be!"
"I endorse this lawyer. Dawn has been very helpful to me on an important project. I have a lot of trust and confidence in her abilities."
"Ms. Bates-Buchanan is a tireless advocate, committed to her clients and to the practice of law. I appreciate her honesty, candor and zealous representation of indigent clients in our community."
"I endorse this lawyer's work. I consulted with her on several occasions and found her to be quite knowledgeable."
"I endorse this lawyer's work. She is very professional and very well verse in the areas of law she practices. She is an example to other Attorney's for her work helping low income families retain legal counsel."
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Experience
Honors
2010
Community Service Award, Manatee County Bar Association
2005
President's Club - Volunteer Award, United Way of Manatee County
Work Experience
2012 - Present
Managing Partner, Bates-Buchanan & Savitsky Law Group, P.A.
2011 - 2011
Contract Attorney, Gulfcoast Legal Services, Inc
2011 - 2012
Owner/Managing Partner, Bates-Buchanan Law Group, P.A.
2006 - 2011
Managing Attorney - Bradenton, Gulfcoast Legal Services, inc
1999 - 2006
Managing Attorney, Community Legal Services of Mid-Florida, Inc.
1998 - 1998
Associate, 12th Judicial Circuit State Attorney's Office
Associations
2008 - Present
National Association of Consumer AdvocatesMember
2006 - Present
Manatee Children's ServicesBoard of Directors
2006 - Present
Manatee Florida Association for Women LawyersBoard of Directors
2006 - Present
Florda Bar Housing Umbrella GroupMember
2006 - Present
Florida Bar Consumer Umbrella GroupMember
2006 - Present
Manatee County Bar Association, Family Law SectionMember
2000 - Present
Association of Trial Lawyers of AmericaMember
1999 - Present
Florida Bar Family Law Umbrella GroupMember
1999 - Present
American Bar AssociationMember
1991 - Present
National Association of Legal AssistantsMember
2010 - 2012
Manatee County Bar AssociationBoard of Directors
2008 - 2009
Family Law Advisory Group - Parenting Plan CommitteeParenting Plan Committee
Sample of Legal Cases
Bartlett
Judgment Reverse - Modification
Gordon
Chapter 7 - Discharge of Debts
Peterson
Establishment of Pet Trust and Estate Trust
Florence Keeton v. Tommy Bryant
Order of Contempt was overturned on appeal
Torres
Settlement with Court Intervention
Education
1994
Manatee Community College
A.S.
1991
University of South Florida
BS - Bachelor of Science
N/A
Stetson University College of Law
law
Speaking Engagements
2010
Region IV
Foreclosure Defense
Publications
2009
Woman's Quarterly
What to do if the home your renting is being foreclosed
Languages
English
Activity
Legal Answers
Legal Guides
Legal Answers
Q&A
What can i do if my dad stop sending me child support?
10 Jan 2019
Q&A
Person refusing to file probate after selling the property
10 Jan 2019
Q&A
I have 5 homes should i ptu them in a lady bird deed to pass without expense of living trust to my children. fl resident?
10 Jan 2019