Current Employment Position(s)

Sole Practitioner

Lawyer Overview

Susan M. Charles, J.D., LL.M. (Elder Law)

Attorney Susan Marie Charles is an attorney practicing in Largo, Florida. She provides comprehensive legal services to people in the Tampa Bay area who need assistance with estate planning, Medicaid planning, guardianship, and trust and estate administration.

A native of Rockville, Maryland, Susan enjoyed a 10-year career as an international travel consultant in Washington, D.C., San Francisco, and Tampa. A King-O'Neal Scholar, she graduated first in her undergraduate class, receiving her Bachelor's Degree Summa Cum Laude from the University of South Florida Honors College in 2002. She received her Juris Doctor (J.D.) from Stetson University College of Law in 2004, and attained her Master of Laws (LL.M.) in Elder Law from Stetson University College of Law in 2008. Susan Charles is one of only a handful of attorneys in the United States to have earned the prestigious LL.M. in Elder Law. She is licensed to practice law in Florida and in the District of Columbia.

Professional and Community Involvement

Susan is a member of several professional associations, including the Florida Bar Association, the District of Columbia Bar Association, the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA), the Academy of Florida Elder Law Attorneys, the American Bar Association, the St. Petersburg Bar Association, the St. Petersburg Bar Foundation, the Clearwater Bar Association, the Florida Association for Women Lawyers, and the Pinellas County Estate Planning Council.

She is active in the community, serving as an advisor to the board of Suncoast Voices for Children Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting abused and neglected children through the Guardian Ad Litem Program in Pinellas and Pasco counties. She is also an active member of the Professional Advisors Committee of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) Tampa Bay.

Committed to Educating Others

Susan's primary practice areas are estate planning, probate, Medicaid nursing home planning, guardianship, and other elder law issues. She provides free seminars to educate the public about the estate planning options available in Florida, explaining the pros and cons of each estate planning strategy, as well as the associated costs and tax ramifications. Her seminars also include discussion of estate taxes and asset protection methods, as well as the most common mistakes the elder community makes when planning asset protection and probate avoidance without the professional oversight of competent legal counsel. See her upcoming seminars in the Tampa Bay area.

Susan Charles is the host of "Florida Law Live", a call-in radio program during which attorneys discuss legal issues and answer legal questions live on the air. "Florida Law Live" is broadcast throughout Florida on Sunday mornings from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. on WWBA News Talk 820 AM. "Florida Law Live;" can also be heard around the world by visiting www.wwba820.com  and then clicking "Listen Live" on the WWBA homepage.

Susan lives in Largo, Florida with her husband, Bob Charles, and their children, Robert and Hannah.

Areas of Practice

• Estate Planning
• Elder Law
• Probate & Estate Administration
• Trusts
• Wills
• Medicaid Planning
• Estate Litigation
• Guardianship
• Nursing Home
• Powers of Attorney
• Advance Directives
• Living Wills

West Practice Categories

Estate Planning, Elder Law, Guardianships & Conservatorships, Living Wills, Powers of Attorney and Appointment, Trusts, Wills, Health & Health Care Law, Medicare & Medicaid, Nursing Home, Litigation & Appeals, Probate & Estate Administration

Bar Admissions

• Florida, 2005
• District of Columbia, 2006

Professional Associations and Memberships

• Florida Bar Association (Member)
• District of Columbia Bar Association (Member)
• American Bar Association (Member)
• National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (Member)
• Academy of Florida Elder Law Attorneys (Member)
• St. Petersburg Bar Foundation (Member)
• St. Petersburg Bar Association (Member)
• Clearwater Bar Association (Member)
• Pinellas County Estate Planning Council (Member)
• Florida Association for Women Lawyers (Member)
• Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) Tampa Bay (Member, Professional Advisors Committee)

Pro Bono Activities

• Advisor, Board of Suncoast Voices for Children Foundation

Education

• Stetson University College of Law, St. Petersburg, Florida, 2008
  LL.M.
  Major: Elder Law
• Stetson University College of Law, St. Petersburg, Florida, 2004
  J.D.
• University of South Florida Honors College, Tampa, Florida, 2002
  B.A.
  Honors: summa cum laude
  Honors: King-O'Neal Scholar

Offers Free Initial Consultation

Accepts Credit Cards

Address

Wachovia Building
801 West Bay Drive
Suite 403
Largo, FL 33770

Phones

(866) 607-6531
(727) 475-6340

Faxes

(727) 683-1484

Emails

scharles@charleslawoffices.com

Websites

http://www.charleslawoffices.com