Adrian Thomas
Demand Grows For Estate And Trust Litigation Before Largest Transfer Of Wealth In U.S. History
As a young lawyer 25 years ago, Adrian Thomas began his practice in estate planning and estate administration. He soon realized that Florida’s large, affluent elderly population made the state a hotbed for elder abuse and decided to open a law firm specializing in estate and trust litigation.
For two decades, Adrian Philip Thomas, P.A., a boutique Fort Lauderdale firm, has represented thousands of clients in estate-related disputes, both prosecuting and defending, across Florida. The causes of action include undue influence, lack of capacity and tortious interference with an inheritance.
“There are only a handful of fact patterns, and you see them over and over again,” Thomas says.
Sometimes, the surviving spouse in a second marriage diverts the money to his or her own children. Or a ne’er-do-well child returns to “assist” an elderly parent and ends up taking the assets. Or a caregiver exploits the elderly person. Sometimes, a paramour interferes with the parent-child relationship, and, sometimes, a trustee can be vindictive with the beneficiary.
“Almost every case falls into one of those categories,” says Thomas. “But one thing is certain. With the biggest wealth transfer in history of approximately $30 trillion from Baby Boomers to Gen X or Millennials, there is no end in sight to the issues giving rise to estate litigation.”
Estate and trust litigation are complex areas of law that require specialized knowledge.
“You wouldn’t go to a family practitioner if you needed brain surgery, and you shouldn’t go to just any law firm if you need representation in an estate or trust litigation matter,” he says. “It is a nuanced area of the law fraught with traps for the unwary.”
Thomas holds a Master of Laws from the University of Miami and is AV rated by Martindale-Hubbell and 10-Superb rated by Avvo. He has been a top-rated lawyer and recognized by numerous publications.
“I love what I do,” says Thomas. “As a student of human behavior, I am able to combine psychology with the law on a daily basis, which makes for engaging and compelling work.”
Adrian Philip Thomas, P.A., is located in Las Olas Square, 515 E. Las Olas Blvd., Ste. 1050, Fort Lauderdale. For more information, call 954-908-6727 or visit florida-probate-lawyer.com.
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