Trusted St. Petersburg Probate and Real Estate Lawyer Serving Pinellas County

James W. Martin is an experienced Florida probate and real estate attorney based in St. Petersburg, Pinellas County, Florida, with decades of legal experience in Florida wills, trusts, real estate, and probate law. He helps individuals and families with estate planning, probate administration, trust management, and real estate matters.

Education and Credentials

James W. Martin attended Georgia Tech and Stetson University earning a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and a Juris Doctor (J.D.) from Stetson University College of Law.
He is Board Certified in Real Estate Law by The Florida Bar Board of Legal Specialization and Education, demonstrating his advanced knowledge and professionalism in Florida real estate and probate matters.

Professional Recognition and Ratings

Probate attorney Martin holds top peer and client ratings on Justia, Martindale-Hubbell, Lawyers.com, Avvo, and Super Lawyers.
He has drafted and reviewed hundreds of wills and trusts and handled all aspects of probate and trust administration and litigation across Florida.
He served six years on The Florida Bar Probate Rules Committee and chaired both the Real Property Section and the Probate Law Section of the St. Petersburg Bar Association.

James W. Martin is also a nationally published legal author, having written:

  • Eight law books for West Publishing, covering over 5,000 pages of Florida legal forms.
  • Numerous articles on Florida probate, wills, real estate, contracts, and business law for the American Law Institute, American Bar Association, and The Florida Bar Journal.

Academic Contributions

In addition to his law practice, Mr. Martin serves as an Adjunct Professor of Law at Stetson University College of Law, where he was inducted into the Stetson Law Hall of Fame.
Stetson Law is nationally ranked #1 in Trial Advocacy and #3 in Legal Writing by U.S. News & World Report.

Contact a St. Petersburg Probate Attorney Today

If you need help with a Florida probate case, estate administration, trust litigation, or probate litigation, contact James W. Martin, Attorney at Law, today for professional legal guidance and personal attention.

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 St. Petersburg 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 last updated on November 5, 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

Leave a Message