James W. Martin is a real estate and probate attorney in St. Petersburg, Tampa Bay, Florida, who has practiced law and developed expertise and experience in Florida real estate, wills, trusts, and probate law. He attended Georgia Tech, Stetson University, and Stetson University College of Law, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics and a Juris Doctor in law. He is Board Certified in Real Estate Law by The Florida Bar Board of Legal Specialization and Education and has written articles for the American Law Institute, American Bar Association, and The Florida Bar Journal.

In addition to his law practice, James W. Martin is an Adjunct Professor of Law at Stetson University College of Law, and he was inducted into the Stetson Law Hall of Fame. Stetson is nationally ranked #1 in trial advocacy and #3 in legal writing by U.S. News & World Report.

St. Petersburg attorney James W. Martin has the highest  ratings on Justia, Martindale, Lawyers, Avvo, and Super Lawyers. He has drafted and reviewed hundreds of wills and trusts and handled the legal aspects of all types of probate and trusts including administration and litigation. He served for six years on The Florida Bar Probate Rules Committee, and he has served as chair of the St. Petersburg Bar Association Real Property Section and Probate Law Section.

Attorney James W. Martin has written nationally-published law books, legal articles, and legal forms for Florida attorneys, including eight legal forms books for West Publishing, comprising over five thousand pages of legal forms. His articles on Florida probate, wills, real estate, contracts, and business have been published in national and state bar publications.

Law School Faculty Position

Board Certified

Highest Attorney Ratings

Awards

Professional Associations

  • Probate Rules Committee of The Florida Bar, past appointed member
  • Coordinating Committee on Technology of The Florida Bar, past appointed chair
  • Probate Law Section of St. Petersburg Bar Association, past appointed chair
  • Real Property Law Section of St. Petersburg Bar Association, past appointed chair
  • American Bar Association American Law Institute The Practical Lawyer, Editorial Board, past appointed member

Education

  • Georgia Institute of Technology
  • Stetson University, Bachelor of Science B.S. in Mathematics
  • Stetson University College of Law, Juris Doctor J.D.

Articles Author – Wills, Trusts, Estates, and Probate

Articles Author – Real Estate Law and Drafting Contracts

  • Do You Need Your Client’s Consent to Disclose Estate Planning Documents, Sarasota Board Certified Group
  • Ten Tips for Handling Complex Probate, St. Petersburg Bar Association Probate & Guardianship Section
  • Snakes in the Grass: Hidden Real Property Issues in Probate, St. Petersburg Bar Association Real Property and Probate Sections
  • The Lawyer’s Conscience: Professionalism in Writing Contracts and Wills for a Mechanistic World, The Florida Bar Convention
  • Tips for Handling the Complex Real Property Transaction, American Law Institute Continuing Legal Education; St. Petersburg Bar Association Real Property Section
  • Drafting a Clear As-Is Agreement, Everything You Always Wanted to Know About the As-Is Sale But Were Afraid to Ask, St. Petersburg Bar Association Real Property Section
  • Writing the Contract that Stays Out of Court, The Florida Bar Convention
  • Drafting the Settlement Agreement That Stays Out of Court, Presidential Showcase Program, Litigating with Power and Professionalism, American Bar Association Tort & Insurance Practice Section, ABA Convention, Chicago
  • Drafting Settlement Agreements (That Stay Out of Court), The Florida Bar Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section Construction Law Committee

Courts Admitted To Practice

  • Florida:
    • All State Courts
  • Federal:
    • U.S. District Court for Middle District of Florida
    • U.S. Court of Appeals for 11th Circuit
    • U.S. Supreme Court

Community Positions

  • Salvador Dali Museum, Trustee & Executive Committee (current)
  • St. Petersburg City Councilman (former)
  • Tampa Bay Regional Planning Councilman (former)
  • Leadership St. Petersburg and Leadership Tampa Bay

Hall of Fame Induction Video

Contact

If you have the need for a Tampa Bay Florida lawyer, you may use the contact form below or call James W. Martin directly at 727-821-0904 or email him at jim@jamesmartinpa.com .

This page was written by St. Petersburg Tampa Bay Florida real estate and probate attorney James W. Martin and was last updated on September 14, 2025.

Get in Touch

For your initial consultation, just fill out the Leave a Message form or email jim@jamesmartinpa.com or call (727) 821-0904.
  1. 1 Highest Ratings
  2. 2 Decades of Experience
  3. 3 Quick Response

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