Michelle A. Quintana Gomez, Esq.

Experience

• Specialize in areas of First Party Property Insurance Litigation, Probate Administration, Trust Administration, Guardianship Administration, Estate Planning and Real Estate
• Manage the probate, guardianship, estate planning and real estate practice of the firm. Assist with the firm’s representation of clients in civil litigation matters including first party property insurance litigation.

Sullivan, Admire & Sullivan, PA , Coral Gables, FL
Associate Attorney, Miami, FL April 2014 – April 2016

• Specialized in areas of Probate Administration, Trust Administration, Guardianship Administration, Estate Planning and Real Estate
• Probate Administration/Estates – Represent personal representatives, trustees beneficiaries and creditors in all aspects of probate and trust matters, including related pro bono cases. Manage and maintain client relationships and communication, including explaining legal rights and identifying goals. Research regarding all assets (probate and non-probate) known to family and/or personal representative. Research and draft all memoranda and pleadings for probate matters including wrongful death settlement approvals. Prepare and review informal accountings as well as final accountings. Set up restricted accounts with financial institutions. Request files and prepare hearing folders including ex parte folders. Attend ex parte and special set hearings. Defend actions involving probate assets such as foreclosures. Draft deeds for probate matters. Serve as personal representative and court appointed curator. Participate in settlement negotiations with estate and interested parties, including drafting and negotiating private settlement agreements. Work closely with CPA regarding preparation of tax forms such as forms SS-4, W-9, 1040, 1041, 2848, 4506, 706, and 709.
• Mental Health & Guardianships – Represent professional and non-professional guardians in all aspects of guardianship matters. Manage and maintain client relationships and communication, including explaining legal rights and identifying goals with proposed guardian and/or parents of minors. Research and draft all memoranda and pleadings for mental health and/or guardianship matters including settlements for minors. Set up restricted accounts with financial institutions. Assist guardians prepare annual guardianship plans for adult/minor guardianships. Prepare, draft, and/or review all annual accountings and reports as required by the Court. Request files and prepare hearing folders including ex parte folders. Attend ex parte and special set hearings.
• Estate Planning – Attend estate planning conferences and prepare client intake sheet post conference. Manage and maintain client relationships and communication until execution of estate plan. Draft simple wills, powers of attorney, health care surrogates, authorizations for release of protected health information and living wills. Draft documentation to transfer real property. Prepare estate plan documents for execution under the supervision of Senior Partner. Finalize and supervise execution of estate plan with clients.
• Real Estate – Review listing agreements and contracts. Manage and maintain client relationships and communication until closing. Prepare real estate contracts, maintain contact with realtor, review lien searches, title searches, commitments, and owner’s policies. Prepare and/or review settlement statements, and all closing documentation for sellers and buyers. Supervise signing of loan documentation. Coordinate, supervise and/or issue wire transfers of funds for closing as well as payoffs to sellers and lenders. Review and/or send documentation to recording.

Eleventh Judicial Circuit of Florida, Miami, FL
Case Manager, Probate Division May 2013 – April 2014

• Handled Estate and Guardianship files for the Court under the supervision of the Honorable Maria M. Korvick. Met with Attorneys during ex-parte calendar. Assisted attorneys with probate- and guardianship-related matters. Observed ex-parte hearings, special set hearings and trials. Aided with drafting orders and filing memoranda. Assisted with show cause hearings when needed, research, and other administrative duties. Facilitated the progress of probate and guardianship cases.

The Honorable Spencer Eig, Eleventh Judicial Circuit of Florida, Miami, FL
Judicial Intern, Civil Division May 2012 – July 2012

• Researched civil issues. Observed motion calendars, special set calendars, calendar calls, evidentiary hearings, for want of prosecution hearings, settlement conferences, and a mock trial. Aided with writing agreed orders. Assisted the judicial assistant with the phone system, with imputing motions into the docket system, and with the electronic filing system.

Law Offices of the Public Defender, Eleventh Judicial Circuit of Florida, Miami, FL
Legal Intern, Juvenile Division January 2012 – April 2012

• Drafted motions to suppress evidence. Assisted and observed attorneys in court, in depositions, and with clients. Managed the hearing calendar for attorneys in court. Researched criminal law and criminal procedure issues. Summarized and outlined depositions in preparation for trial. Assisted with case file set up in preparation for hearings and trial. Translated for clients in Spanish.

Alvarez, Carbonell, Feltman, Jimenez and Gomez, P.L., Coral Gables, FL
Insurance Claims Specialist October 2009 – August 2010

• Drafted and prepared correspondence and legal documents such as pleadings, discovery, motions, and affidavits. Filed motions in state and federal court. Assisted attorneys in hearing and trial preparation. Organized and tracked files. Prepared status reports for clients and updated clients on their cases. Conducted client intakes in Spanish. Assisted attorneys in preparing for meetings and attended such meetings, including settlement conferences.

Administrative Assistant November 2008 – October 2009

• Managed phone system and appointments. Maintained and updated filing system, inventory mailing, and database systems. Indexed case documents and aided in document sorting. Prepared pleadings and correspondence binders. Managed and organized case files for attorneys and litigation documents in preparation of various types of hearings, depositions, and trial.

QUINTANA & COMPANY, CPA, Coral Gables, FL
Office Clerk June 2006 – December 2008

• Assisted with the clerical tasks of the accounting firm. Managed, organized, and maintained financial records. Prepared and made bank deposits. Maintained and updated filing, mailing, and database systems. Implemented a new filing system using a scanner.

• Fluent in Spanish (oral and written)
• Proficient in ProDoc
• Familiar with Lawgic