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Debra Ann Faulkner

Estate planning Attorney at Oldsmar, FL

5.0   17 reviews

also known as Debbie Faulkner

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  • Licensed for 11 years
    State FL
    Acquired 2011
    Status
    Member in Good Standing No misconduct found
  • Licensed for 3 years
    State TX
    Acquired 2019
    Status
    Not Eligible to Practice - Administrative No misconduct found
  • Licensed for 10 years
    State MO
    Acquired 2012
    Status
    Inactive No misconduct found
  • Licensed for 13 years
    State VA
    Acquired 2009
    Status
    Inactive No misconduct found

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

Knows her stuff!
Joe
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
Hired Attorney
CFO
anonymous
This review is from a potential client who consulted with this attorney.
Consulted Attorney
Read more reviews

About Debra

Learn Debra’s areas of practice.

5
Practice areas
  1. Estate planning
    35%
    With a special focus on tax consequences and asset protection, we create revocable living trusts, wills, powers of attorney, life insurance trusts, health care surrogate, living wills, & buy-sell agreements. We help entrepreneurs with business succes

  2. Business
    25%
    Business transactional work including incorporation of partnerships, Limited Liability Companies and corporations; operating agreements, partnership, shareholder and stock restriction agreements; phantom stock & options plans.

  3. Mergers and acquisitions
    15%
    Buy-sell agreements, cross-purchase agreements, employment contracts, non-disclosure and non-compete agreements, and owner-financed sale documents. Promissory notes with security agreements or stock pledged as collateral transactions.

  4. Probate
    15%
    We help you through the post-death transfer of assets, whether through probate court, or through trust administration.

  5. Debt and lending agreements
    10%
    Promissory notes, security agreements, subordination or inter-creditor agreements, assignment and assumption agreements, mortgage agreements, accounts receivable letters.

At 19, Debbie graduated from Stetson cum laude and earned the distinction of being Stetson's youngest graduate since its founding in 1883.   
 
After graduating, Debbie worked full-time as assistant to the CEO of a local 400+ employee company. She was responsible for locating international investment properties for company expansion, organizing and participating in team-building and morale development meetings for key employees, and providing customer service to corporate clients. She worked closely with management to streamline activities, increase productivity, and effectuate change in the office atmosphere to promote employee development and growth. Through her experience Debbie became intimately familiar with the challenges and demands of running a small business including accounts receivable, accounts payable, mail solutions, invoicing, responding to customer demands, morale boosting, budgeting, and file & client management.  
 
Debbie attended Cornell Law School - one of the five Ivy League law schools - and became the first person in her family to obtain a graduate-level education.  Upon graduating, Debbie accepted an appellate clerkship with the Court of Appeals of Virginia.  In 2012, Debbie returned to school and obtained a Master of Laws (LL.M.) in Taxation from Washington University in St. Louis.  In the Taxation program, Debbie focused her coursework on sophisticated personal estate and tax planning.
 
Debbie currently serves on the Executive Council of the Florida Bar's Real Property, Probate and Trust Committee and serves on the following sub-committees: Real Estate Structures & Tax, Asset Protection, Probate Law. Debbie was selected to teach a Certified Legal Education class by the Florida Bar Asset Protection Committee and her article on taxation implications of structuring real estate transactions has been published in the statewide publication, Actionline 

Photos and videos

Robert C. Burke, Jr., Partner
Henri Bardhi, J.D., LL.M., Associate Attorney

Photos and videos

Robert C. Burke, Jr., Partner
Henri Bardhi, J.D., LL.M., Associate Attorney

Contact Debra

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Burke Faulkner Law, P.A.
3937 Tampa Road #2
Oldsmar, FL, 34677
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Reviews

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5.0 / 5.0
  17 customer reviews
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Posted by Joe | October 16, 2019
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Knows her stuff!
In my first time working with Debbie, she was responsive, efficient, and highly knowledgeable. I am very pleased and happy to recommend her!
Posted by anonymous | September 30, 2019
This review is from a potential client who consulted with this attorney.
| Consulted Attorney
CFO
We consult with her for most of our corporate legal issues like drafting and reviewing agreements such as license agreements with customer/vendor, sale/purchase of membership units in a company etc, She is simple, knowledgeable, approachable, very friendly. More importantly, approachable even after office hours in case of any urgency
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Posted by Alan | December 26, 2018
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Very pleased with Debbie and her firm
Debbie was caring, bright, professional and all one would ask for in an Estate Planning attorney. We highly recommend her services.
Posted by Tony | November 29, 2018
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
A Caring Bright Intelligent Lawyer
Miss Faulkner guided me through a tough time when I needed a lawyer and a friend. She worked diligently to develop a family trust that would right for our situation. Though she is young she is an experienced, knowledgeable and qualified lawyer.
Posted by Karen | November 18, 2018
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
LAST TESTAMENT AND WILL
My experience with Attorney Debra Faulkner was very pleasant and professional. She and her staff made me feel at ease in a comfortable and friendly environment. Attorney Debra was extremely attentive in listening to me and through in explaining how my estate planning works for me and for my best interest. Her character and professional ethics are a such a rare trait in today's business world. Her staff immediately answered any questions when I had called. I feel extremely blessed to have Attorney Debra Faulkner in the successful process of my Last Will and Testament. I will definitely recommend her to anyone who needs help with family law issues.
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Posted by Margaret | November 16, 2018
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Fantastic professional service
Debbie fully understood my corporate and estate needs and she will be handling legal needs going forward. I highly recommend her and her firm. Margaret
Posted by Lance | November 16, 2018
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Professional and Highly Skilled
Debbie helped me more in a few hours than three previous attorneys combined. She is professional, positive, extraordinaly kind, extremely intelligent and most importantly gets the job done with minimal stress to the client. I highly recommend this attorney.
Posted by Dr. Bob | May 26, 2017
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Outstanding Attorney.
I hired Attorney Faulkner in 2016 after having had an unfortunate experience with another lawyer. Attorney Faulkner met with me to understand what my legal goals and needs were. She proposed a game plan and we went forward. Without question, Attorney Faulkner is the best attorney I've ever worked with. She is knowledgeable and competent. She is an excellent communicator and always responds in a timely manner to my inquiries (even at 12 midnight!!) She always follows through with what she says she's going to do. She has a great understanding of the law and the legal process and she is thoughtful, candid and most effective in how to negotiate the legal system and its procedures. Additionally, I regard Attorney Faulkner as a quality person who is very interested in her client's personal background and issues. Her approach is both personal and professional. I feel she hashigh standards and expectations for herself and her clients; she is a person of high integrity; a professional with great empathy and listening skills; and, a juris with a strong desire to do everything she can to help her client be successful to the extent possible. It has been an honor to be Attorney Faulkner's client and to have my faith restored in the legal profession by such a competent professional as she. I greatly appreciate all she has done to help me with my very complicated case. Thank you! Dr. Bob
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Posted by Kevin | February 16, 2017
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Trust Establishment
Debbie was very knowledgeable and versed in the laws governing Trusts. Our Trust was drawn timely and proficiently, and complied with all legal reviews required to establish this legal entity for the benefit of a dependent.
Posted by anonymous | February 9, 2017
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Consummate Professional
Ms. Faulkner possesses a fervent work ethic. From the time Ms. Faulkner took me on as a client, she has always made herself available to speak with me - even during the weekends. Ms. Faulkner is very knowledgeable, and she is a consummate professional. I would recommend Ms. Faulkner to anyone in need of both tax advise and/or estate planning counseling.
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Posted by anonymous | April 3, 2015
Quality Service Standards
I was referred to Ms. Faulkner for legal guidance on an estate issue. She is a great strategist who provided ethical, viable options to resolve challenges my family faced. I'm impressed with her devotion to her clients and quick follow up on questions that may arise. Her extensive and diverse law experience is remarkable. I have strongly recommended Ms. Faulkner to friends and family and received great feedback on her quality service.
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Posted by Peter | March 30, 2015
Petition for Deed transfer
Debbie's professional and personal attention to my case was great. The attention to details were and efficient and handled in a quick and timely manor. The compassion and understanding for my case was wonderful. I would refer the Faulkner Firm to anyone who asked me about Legal maters knowing that they could help or point them in the right direction. Thank you for your time Peter
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Posted by Casey Cane / CCI Developments, Inc. | March 27, 2015
Best in the Bay
The Faulkner Firm is a well oiled machine. Attorney Debra Faulkner has represented my personal and business matters for a number of years with the adequacy and proficiency I expect and demand as a business owner. She continues to serve my individual needs in excess of my expectations as matters arise with a due diligence of achieving the goal each and every time. Her profound understanding of Law combined with her professionalism proves to be refreshing in an every growing and competitive industry. I personally and professionally recommend this Firm for Taxes, Will's, Business Litigation Matters, Contract review, Construction Lien Litigation Matters and Real-Estate Law.
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Posted by anonymous | March 27, 2015
A Tax Attorney you can count on
We were very lucky to connect with Attorney Faulkner when we had a significant tax issue to deal with. She was informative, knowledgeable and very comfortable in dealing with our issues. Best of all, she got us what seemed an impossibly favorable outcome.
Posted by David | March 27, 2015
Invaluable asset on my team
Having worked with Debbie Faulkner on family and business Estate planning, Tax, Trust, WIll, Power of Attorney, LLC creation and maintenance in 3 states, and several other matters I have come to depend on Ms. Faulkner's depth of knowledge, thoroughness, and get it done now approach. Highly Recommended.
Posted by Janice | June 29, 2013
New Business Contracts
Ms. Faulkner constructed business agreements for my new business. She took the time to explain the pros and cons of many clauses I could include in my agreements. She then advised me how to correctly complete the agreements with my clients. She helped me get off to a great start. I look forward to a lasting relationship with Debbie as my business grows.
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Posted by anonymous | June 14, 2013
Great lawyer
Debbie is an excellent lawyer who is very thorough and a pleasure to work with. She is extremely knowledgeable in all aspects of estate planning and is an expert in explaining concepts to her clients in a manner that is comprehensive but easy to understand. Highly recommended.
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Cost

Rates
  • Hourly Rates $ 275-400 per hour
Payment methods
Cash, Check, Credit Card

Resume

AVVO RATING 10.0 (Superb)

Work Experience

  • Managing Partner
  • Burke Faulkner Law, P.A.
  • 2013 - Present
  • Assistant State Attorney
  • State Attorney, Sixth Judicial Circuit
  • 2011 - 2012
  • Law Clerk
  • Virginia Court Of Appeals
  • 2009 - 2011
  • Legal Intern
  • U.S. Attorney's Office
  • 2009 - 2009
  • Legal Intern
  • U.S. Air Force Jag Corps
  • 2008 - 2008
  • Law Clerk
  • U.S. District Court Middle District Florida
  • 2008 - 2008
View all work experience

Education

  • American College of Trust & Estate Counsel
  • Florida Fellows Program Graduate
  • 2017
  • Washington University School of Law
  • LL.M - Master of Laws
  • 2013
  • Cornell Law School
  • JD - Juris Doctor
  • 2009
  • Stetson University
  • B.A.
  • 2005
  • American University
  • Semester in Washington
  • 2004
View all education

Legal Cases

  • Insurance company incorporation
  • Great
  • Medical billing company Incorporation
  • Great
  • Irrevocable trust
  • Great
View all legal cases

Associations

  • Gulf Coast Estate Planning Council
  • Co-Founder and President
  • 2017 - Present
  • Florida Bar, Asset Protection Committee
  • Member
  • 2016 - Present
  • Florida Bar Membership and Inclusion Committee
  • Member
  • 2015 - Present
  • Florida Bar Real Property Structures and Taxation Committee
  • Board Member
  • 2015 - Present
  • Florida Bar, Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section
  • Member
  • 2013 - Present
  • Missouri Bar
  • Member
  • 2012 - Present
  • Florida Bar
  • Member
  • 2011 - Present
  • United States Parachute Association
  • B-licensed Skydiver
  • 2011 - Present
  • Virginia State Bar
  • Associate Member
  • 2009 - Present
  • American Cancer Society Relay for Life of Palm Harbor/Tarpon Springs
  • Chairman
  • 2015 - 2017
  • Clearwater Bar Association, Young Lawyers Division
  • Chair, Oyster Roast Committee
  • 2014 - 2014
  • East Lake Library Foundation Board
  • Chairman
  • 2014 - 2016
  • Ruth Eckard Hall Planned Giving Council
  • Board Member
  • 2014 - 2015
  • Morton Plant Mease Planned Giving Advisory Council
  • Attorney Member
  • 2013 - 2016
  • Gulf Coast Legal Foundation
  • Volunteer Attorney
  • 2013 - 2014
  • Charles Schwab Select Investor Advisory Group
  • Investor Advisor
  • 2013 - 2015
  • Clearwater Bar Association, Young Lawyers Division
  • Member
  • 2013 - 2014
  • Clearwater Bar Association
  • Member
  • 2013 - 2017
  • Cornell Law School Moot Court Board
  • Member
  • 2007 - 2009
  • Lawyers in MENSA
  • Member
  • 2006 - 2009
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Languages Spoken

  • English
  • Spanish

Honors and Awards

  • Rising Star
  • Super Lawyers
  • 2019
  • Top 40 Lawyers Under 40 - Trust & Estates
  • American Society of Legal Advocates
  • 2019
  • Rising Star
  • Super Lawyers
  • 2018
  • Top 40 Lawyers Under 40
  • American Society of Legal Advocates
  • 2018
  • Rising Star
  • Super Lawyers
  • 2017
  • Top 40 Lawyers Under 40
  • American Society of Legal Advocates
  • 2017
  • Rising Star
  • Super Lawyers
  • 2016
  • Up and Comer Award
  • Tampa Bay Business Journal
  • 2013
  • Merit Scholar
  • Washington University in St. Louis
  • 2012
  • Scholarship Recipient
  • Cornell Law School
  • 2006
  • Youngest Known Graduate
  • Stetson University
  • 2005
  • Presidential Scholarship
  • Stetson University
  • 2003
  • Presidential Service Award for Community Service
  • White House
  • 2003
  • Everyday Hero Award
  • Bay News 9
  • 2001
View all awards

Publications

  • National Business Institute Seminar
  • Business Succession Planning
  • 2019
  • National Business Institute Seminar
  • Basic Tax Planning & Updates
  • 2019
  • Action Line, a publication of The Florida Bar's Real Property, Probate & Trust Law Section
  • Practice Pointer - Estate Planning Best Practices
  • 2018
  • Action Line, a publication of The Florida Bar's Real Property, Probate & Trust Law Section
  • A Primer on Taxation Considerations in Structuring Real Estate Holdings
  • 2017
  • Res Ipsa Loquitur (CBA)
  • Avoiding Digital Deficits in Estate Planning
  • 2014
  • trustbryancave.com
  • $5 million Federal Estate Tax Exemption Doesn't Mean You're Safe from Tax at Death
  • 2013
View all publications

Speaking Engagements

  • Seminar
  • Estate Planning 101
  • 2019
  • Seminar
  • When a Will Isn't Enough
  • 2019
  • Women's Symposium
  • Women in the Law
  • 2017
  • Synovus Team Training
  • Hot Topics in Estate and Tax Planning: Titling Accounts
  • 2013
  • Criminal Law Society's Job Panel
  • Seeking and Obtaining Summer Employment
  • 2013
  • Questions in the Courtyard
  • Appellate Clerkships
  • 2012
  • Tampa Bay Computer Society
  • Skip Tracing
  • 2008
View all speaking engagements

Attorney endorsements

Received (12)
Given (8)
Endorse Debra
Paul J Knudsen headshot
Paul Knudsen
Contracts and agreements Attorney | Nov 07
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"Debbie and I used to work together as prosecutors. Now I send all of my clients with business related issues to her knowing full well she will provide an exceptional service."
Mark Henry Perenich headshot
Mark Perenich
Business Attorney | Nov 07
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"It's my honor to endorse Debbie. Debbie is a brilliant lawyer, she knows what she's talking about. When I have an issue with business law, estate law, trust law, I go to Debbie for answers. She's hard working and very personable."
Afram Malki headshot
Afram Malki
Business Attorney | Feb 22
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"I endorse this lawyer."
Cristin Buell Gerczak headshot
Cristin Gerczak
Tax fraud and tax evasion Attorney | Sep 01
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"I endorse this lawyer. Debbie is very knowledgeable, experienced and professional."
Andrew J. Mongelluzzi headshot
Andrew Mongelluzzi
Trusts Attorney | Jul 22
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"Debbie brings some much needed energy and ambition to the Trusts and Estates practice. Very intelligent and knowledgeable in the area of Wealth Preservation and Estate Planning. Highly recommended."
Robert David Eckard headshot
Robert Eckard
Trusts Attorney | Apr 06
Relationship: Supervised lawyer
"I have known Debbie for a little over 2 years. Almost immediately upon meeting her I could tell how sharp she was. Debbie is personable yet formidable. Debbie is able to explain complex matters in a way that make them easy to understand. She is one of the brightest people I know. If you hire Debbie Faulkner-- you will have hired an excellent lawyer."
Andrew W. Cowan headshot
Andrew Cowan
Estate planning Attorney | Mar 30
Relationship: Friend
"Attorney Faulkner is the best. I have known Attorney Faulkner since she started law school ten years ago, and can say without reservation that she is one of the smartest attorneys I know. She understands her areas of practice top to bottom, inside and out. She knows where the law is stable, and where it is in flux. Where it is in flux, she know show to plan to make sure that the client is taken care of no matter what happens in the future. When I have an estate planning question, Debbie Faulkner is the first person I call. Her estate planning and probate clients are in the best of hands."
David Milton Sandy headshot
David Sandy
Estate planning Attorney | Mar 29
Relationship: Worked together on matter
"I hired Mrs. Faulkner to help with my grammy's estate planning since I'm licensed in another state and only have a passing understanding of her area of law. First, she's incredibly responsive and willing to work late when the situation or poor planning on the client's part creates a time sensitive situation. Two, she really knows the law and crafts the forms when called for. I went over the forms very closely and when I saw a couple areas I had questions about the handling of she knew what I was talking about and had a great rationale for handling it the way she draft, a sign of a great lawyer. Three, she's young but experienced in the area. If you look up her bio she's sort of a female Doogie Howser in law who got a law degree really young. So she's been practicing for awhile. This means she's still fresh and up on the area. In addition, being young she has a great chance of being around for handling the matters she set up ten or twenty years in the future."
Michael Patrick Perenich headshot
Michael Perenich
Estate planning Attorney | Apr 15
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"Debbie, is a brilliant attorney, she is a guru when I comes to estate planning. If you have an issue I'd definitely call her."
Joelle Bordeaux headshot
Joelle Bordeaux
Estate planning Attorney | Jan 13
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"Debbie is a great attorney. She is very knowledgeable, detailed, hard working, personable, and able to overcome and provide strategic plans and alternatives to reach the goals her clients hope to achieve. Her work ethic is extraordinary and the work she performs is nothing less. I will use Debbie for all my Estate Planning and Tax needs and highly recommend her services to anybody else as well."
Nicole Michelle Denmon headshot
Nicole Denmon
Estate planning Attorney | Aug 26
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"Ms. Faulkner is an excellent attorney who exudes professionalism."
David Ashley Haenel headshot
David Haenel
Estate planning Attorney | Jul 02
Relationship: Opposing Counsel on matter
"First let me say that I give attorney reviews very sparingly as I find the attorney must have a good understanding of the law and be client focused. As a former state attorney, Debbie has what it takes to get the job done. She is tenacious and never loses track of the task at hand. Take it from me..you will not be disappointed if you hire Debbie to handle your legal matter."
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Oldsmar Estate planning Lawyer Debra Ann Faulkner
Debra Ann Faulkner
Estate planning Attorney
Oldsmar, FL
Licensed for 13 years
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