The Family Estate & Legacy Program™ is our trademarked 7-step process personalized just for you.

Since 1924 our boutique law firm has specialized in estate planning and administration. Over those many years we have found that clients who possess a certain mindset often realize the most successful planning experience. These clients view their estate plan as more than an exercise that divides their assets into who gets what.

Instead, they appreciate the opportunity to set the stage for family harmony, to protect their loved ones from the dangers of losing or squandering their inheritance, and to take advantage of the most up to date legal and tax strategies.

Click to take The Mindset Quiz

By investing your time and resources to create a plan, we know you care about your loved ones’ future. Our personalized, trademarked process provides you:

Expertise

Professional Team Led by Board Certified Wills, Trusts &
Estates Attorneys

Confidence

Providing leadership through otherwise confusing legal, tax and financial issues

Clarity

Creating an understandable estate plan that meets your personal and family dynamics

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Your Estate Planning Team

Craig R. Hersch
Florida Bar Board Certified Wills, Trusts & Estates Attorney, CPA

Bio: Craig R. Hersch has created several trademarked processes tied to his estate planning and administration practice, including The Family Estate & Legacy Program™ and The Estate Settlement Program™. He is the author of two books, Common Cents Estate Planning and Legal Matters When a Loved One Dies, and two additional books are anticipated for publication in 2016. His work has appeared in several professional journals, including The Practical Tax Lawyer, Trusts & Estates Magazine, and The Florida Bar Journal.

Michael B. Hill
Florida Bar Board Certified Wills, Trusts & Estates Attorney

Bio: Michael B. Hill concentrates his practice in estate and wealth preservation and business succession planning. Michael has extensive tax, legal and technology skills, enabling him to create unique plans meeting client’s individual and family needs. Michael is a double graduate of the University of Florida, receiving his Bachelor of Science in Accounting in 1998, and his Juris Doctor, with honors, in 2001. Michael is a member of the Florida Bar Association, the American Bar Association and the Lee County Bar Association.

Christopher E. Halkitis
Attorney-At-Law

Bio: Christopher E. Halkitis assists clients with all of their tax and estate planning needs, advising on and drafting simple and complex wills, trusts and other estate planning documents on a daily basis. Chris also works closely with the firm’s Annual Maintenance Program clients, keeping their estate plan updated with any law changes as well as changes in financial circumstances. Chris received his LL.M. in Taxation and his Juris Doctorate from Washington University in St. Louis.

Hayley E. Donaldson
Attorney-At-Law, CPA

Bio: Hayley helps guide family members in the trust administration and probate process after the passing of their loved one.  Additionally she assists clients with their tax and estate planning, drafting simple and complex wills, trusts, and related estate planning documents. Hayley received her Juris Doctor from the University of Florida, graduating first in her class. Hayley is also a Certified Public Accountant with a Masters in Professional Accounting from the University of Texas and degrees in Accounting and Finance from the University of Miami.

The Family Estate & Legacy Series

The Florida Residency & Estate Planning Guide

by Craig R. Hersch (Author)

Whether to claim Florida residency and how that affects your estate plan are two significant questions on many people’s minds. This book addresses whether your will, revocable living trust, durable power of attorney, health care surrogate and living will documents from up north remain valid, the important issues you should consider when updating your documents to Florida law, and whether you can achieve tax savings by becoming a Florida resident.

Craig R. Hersch is a Florida board certified wills, trusts & estates attorney and CPA who has three decades of experience helping families achieve their estate planning goals. He has developed a Unique Process™, The Family Estate & Legacy Program™, geared to provide clients with confidence and clarity through the often confusing legal, tax and financial world.

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What Our Clients Are Saying

As a physician and business owner I expect exemplary performance and results from other professionals that I engage for services. I can say without reservation or hesitation that Mr. Hersch and the firm of Sheppard, Brett, Stewart, Hersch, Kinsey & Hill P.A. have met and exceeded those expectations. Mr. Hersch’s training and experience as a Certified Public Accountant as well as specialized certification in Trust and Estate Law make him uniquely qualified to address a wide variety of issues and concepts. As a husband and father, as well as a business owner, I am at peace and sleep well at night knowing that Mr. Hersch and the team at Sheppard Law have ‘covered my back.’ I have utilized Mr. Hersch’s services and expertise for over 16 years in a variety of legal and trust matters. I am an active client now, and I expect my children and grandchildren to be active clients of Mr. Hersch and his firm in the future.
Wayne I., Fort Myers, FL
Recently we decided it was time to update our estate plan. We did a good bit of research into the right attorney given our circumstances and selected Craig from a rather long list of recommended attorneys. The results were outstanding. He was very detailed in his analysis of our needs and goals. As he prepared our documents, he communicated his thoughts and made recommendations that made a lot of sense. There were two items that if found particularly important… he had his staff do the necessary reregistration of our assets, and he made sure he met all of our family to insure they knew where to go for help. We could not be more pleased with the results. As a retired CEO of a large trust company, I have seen a lot of documents that were prepared by many attorneys. None were better than the work Craig did for us!
Jim M., Fort Myers FL

We are so pleased to have Michael Hill as he and his team suggest, inform and advise us with our complicated issues.  I would also say that Yollanda McCoy has helped us so much, she is a God-send and a pleasure.

Dorothy Z., Fort Myers, FL

Craig and his team did a very thorough job which was well thought out and executed.  He took the time to guide us in all phases.  He brought clarity to a complex situation.  Follow his advice, the process is worth your time and effort.

Roger S., Fort Myers, FL

Mike Hill and his staff were extremely helpful, professional and knowledgeable in helping me with my estate planning after my wife passed away.  Any questions I had at the initial meeting and the 10 years afterwards were answered immediately.  I would highly recommend this law firm and Mike Hill and his staff to everyone seeking advice on estate planning.

John S., Fort Myers, FL

It seemed as though everyone’s goal was to make everything as easy and comfortable for us as possible.

Judith P., Fort Myers, FL

We had attended one of your workshops because a friend advised that we set up a trust.  Michael Hill and the entire group that worked with us could not have been more thorough or patient.  They helped to make this complicated process much easier.  Special thanks to Yollanda McCoy who is always so kind when we call with questions.

Angelo & Peri P., Cape Coral, FL

After a referral from a friend, we contacted this law firm.  We needed to update a 30 year old will from another state and set up trusts.  With the guidance of Christopher Halkitis and the excellent assistance of Aimee Balcer, we were able to accomplish everything in a timely manner.  Their professional expertise made this an easy process.

Tom & Pat N., Fort Myers, FL

We moved to Florida from New Jersey and Craig Hersch did an excellent job of explaining the differences in the laws of the two states concerning estates and adapting our estate plan to the Florida statues.  Subsequently, events in our lives required revisions in our estate plan, including the creation of new trust documents to address our special circumstances.  Craig and his team handled these changes competently and expeditiously while ensuring that we fully understood their impact on our estate plan.  We feel that Craig’s in-depth knowledge of estate matters and the associated tax regulations will produce significant savings for our heirs.  In working with Craig and his team, we feel comfortable that they always have our best interests at heart.

Sandra & Philip M., Fort Myers, FL

Time spent other than with Craig was almost entirely with Regina and Yollanda.  I found them patient, knowledgeable, and very comfortable in their positions, especially special in making me feel unhurried and at ease.  They stated their goal is client satisfaction and it was most apparent.  I look forward to Yollanda’s answers and interpretations.  These two ladies are an asset to the office.

Sidney M., Fort Myers, FL

We’ve worked for many years with the planning team at Sheppard, Brett, Stewart, Hersch, Kinsey and Hill, P.A. Many thanks to Craig and the many more that were there to give us advice.

Donald & Dorothy S., Fort Myers, FL

When my mom passed away, it was a very upsetting and confusing time.  Luckily she had the foresight to consult with Michael Hill and had introduced us to his law firm and staff.  The process of settling the estate and trust went smoothly and Mr. Hill took care of every detail (including working with our out-of-state holdings and banks).  We were so thankful for his professional approach and his assurances that we are having him handle our estate and help our children in the same way he helped us.

Bob & Judy E., Ocala, FL

Craig Hersch and his entire team have consistently provided outstanding advice and care with respect to our estate planning needs.  They treat us like family! Others to whom we have recommended Craig and his law firm have enjoyed the same experience.

David & Esta B., Sanibel, FL

This law firm has helped me for several years now.  If I have any questions, I always get an answer and they help me understand everything.  I trust them to handle everything for my family and if something should happen to me and I cannot take care of things myself.

Florence B., Cape Coral, FL

This law firm has helped me for several years now.  If I have any questions, I always get an answer and they help me understand everything.  I trust them to handle everything for my family and if something should happen to me and I cannot take care of things myself.

Florence B., Cape Coral, FL

While reading my local paper, I read an article about estate planning. The article was understandable, humorous and informative. The point was, if you don’t have a plan, make one; and if you have an old one, update it; and if you have a plan from another state and you are now a resident of Florida, have it reviewed. We did just that. We sought the help of the firm of Sheppard, Brett, Stewart, Hersch, Kinsey & Hill, P.A.

Listening, sharing and guiding are the foundations of a good plan. Honesty, integrity and correct knowledge are necessary in order to provide individuals with meeting the goals and future needs of their personal plan.

Craig Hersch and his legal team also added compassion, concern and empathy while assisting in the formulation of our plan. They were available during good times and bad times. They executed our needs and wants in order to give my family a sense of security. They earned our trust and respect. Our work with them has provided us with a tool that has secured our present and our future and can be reviewed and changed if need be at any time.

Barbara E., Sanibel, FL

We found Michael Hill and the firm’s legal team to be outstanding professionals, exceedingly knowledgeable, extremely thorough and expeditious, easy to understand, and very warm and caring. Without reservation, we enthusiastically recommend this wonderful team of advisors.

Tom & Ellen K., Fort Myers, FL

Many thanks to Mr. Hersch and the firm of Sheppard, Brett, Stewart, Hersch, Kinsey & Hill, PA for the expeditious creation of the new Trust for my grandson. The creativity they exhibited in these regards along with that in the original Trust formulated for me speaks volumes to me about the wide range of Mr. Hersch’s professional abilities, which, combined with the ongoing follow-ups provided by the legal staff, represent and outstanding service. Mr. Hersch and the legal team are to be saluted for staying current of all developments affecting estate planning, tax laws and accounting procedures and I can truthfully say that in my 64 years in business, I’ve never worked with a more informed and well rounded professional. To find time to stay on top of business demands while maintaining a close and loving relationship with his family and participating in athletic events, to me, is wondrous. My wife joins me in expressing how much we value having them taking care of us and are comforted knowing that they are there to serve our ongoing needs.

George S., Fort Myers, FL

Working with the entire staff at Sheppard, Brett, Stewart, Hersch, Kinsey & Hill, PA has been a pleasure.  Everyone I dealt with was prompt, professional and courteous.  They developed wills and trusts unique to my needs rather than just fitting me into a cookie cutter approach.  I would highly recommend them for anyone’s needs.

Michael K., Cape Coral, FL

The entire staff is highly efficient and professional.  We appreciate the annual estate review and plan summary that are part of the annual maintenance program.

Nancy & John P., Fort Myers, FL

I was amazed when Maria Reimer remembered my name and former occupation during the last maintenance workshop. This supports my statement that it provides us with a feeling of being secure that our wishes for our estate will be in good hands.

Marvin & Judy W., Fort Myers, FL