Michael W. Porter, Esquire, has been engaged in the practice of law primarily in the areas of Guardianship, Probate & Estate Administration, Trusts, Estate Planning, and Real Estate Law since his admission to the Florida Bar in 1986. He has attended and received credit for over 300 hours of continuing legal education, relating to probate, guardianship and estate planning. Since his admission to the Florida Bar, he has represented the guardian, the ward, or another interested person in over 1,000 guardianship matters.

He has authored numerous articles on subjects relating to Florida guardianship procedures, estate planning, and advance directives.

From 1989 to 2006, he taught various portions of the forty (40) hour guardianship training course, which was required of professional guardians, and the eight (8) hour family guardianship training course, at St. Petersburg College. In addition, he has lectured on various aspects of Florida Guardianship Law at meetings and seminars conducted by the St. Petersburg Bar Association, the Florida State Guardian's Association, and the Guardian's Association of Pinellas County, as well as having personally conducted several continuing education seminars for professional guardians. He is also a frequent speaker at hospitals, nursing homes, and other community forums on the topics of guardianship, advance directives, and estate planning.

Michael W. Porter, Esquire, has been qualified before the Circuit Court for Pinellas County, Florida, as an 'Expert Witness' on numerous occasions as to all aspects of Florida guardianship law, for the purpose of providing expert testimony to the Court.

Due to his experience, reputation, ability and diligence, in addition to his reliance upon a highly trained support staff, and the tools of technology, Michael W. Porter, Esquire is able to provide legal representation more efficiently and in less time than the average attorney.

He currently practices law as a shareholder in the law firm of Michael W. Porter, P.A., providing legal services to clients located throughout Pinellas County, Florida. With an office located in St. Petersburg, Florida, he frequently meets with clients at hospitals, nursing homes, and even in their own homes when their physical limitations and circumstances make it impractical to meet at his office.

Areas of Practice

• 50% Guardianship
• 20% Estate Planning
• 20% Probate and Estate Administration
• 5% Real Estate
• 5% Health & Health Care Law

Bar Admissions

• Florida, 1986

Education

• Widener University School of Law, Wilmington, Delaware, 1986
  J.D.
  
  
• High Point College, High Point, NC, USA, 1982
  B.A.
  Major: Political Science
  Major: History
  
  

Published Works

• Guardianship Court Documentation and Record Keeping, Pinellas County Guardian Association, Sept., 1999
• Termination of Florida Guardianships, St. Petersburg College, Training Manual, 2000

Classes/Seminars Taught

• Numerous Guardian Seminars, Guardian Association of Pinellas County, Inc., 1989 - 2006
• Guardian Training, St. Petersburg College, 1989 - 2006
• Advance Directives Seminars, Palms of Pasadena Hospital, 1993 - 2000

Honors and Awards

• Sertoman of the Year, 1988 - 1989

Professional Associations and Memberships

• Christian Recovery Centers, Inc., 1988 - 2006
  President and Director
  
  
• Guardian Association of Pinellas County, Inc., 1989 - 1993
  Legal Counsel
  
  
• Sertoma Club of St. Petersburg, Florida, 1989 - 1992
  President, Vice President and Director
  
  
• St. Petersburg Bar Association, 1986 - Present
  Member
  
  
• Apollo (f/k/a Greenbrook Nursing and Rehabilitation Center), 1989 - 2003
  Ethics Committee Member
  
  
• Bon Secours Maria Manor, 2001 - 2006
  Ethics Committee Member
  
  
• North Rehabilitation Center, 2005 - 2006
  Ethics Committee Member
  
  

Pro Bono Activities

• Legal Representation of guardians of indigent wards of the court, 1987 - Present
• Legal Advice to persons recovering from drug and alcohol abuse, 1987 - 2006

Birth Information

• 1961, Rochester, Pennsylvania, United States of America