Addressing Gulf County's documented specialist gap of zero (0) in-county Florida Bar Board Certified Specialists (B.C.S.) in Elder Law or Wills, Trusts & Estates, this listing connects Port St. Joe (32456), Cape San Blas, Indian Pass, and Wewahitchka (32465) families with the 14th Judicial Circuit's Board Certified Wills, Trusts & Estates and LL.M. Taxation specialists alongside the closest DOEA Planning & Service Area 2 (PSA 2) Board Certified Elder Law Specialists: (1) 14th Judicial Circuit B.C.S. Wills, Trusts & Estates & LL.M. Taxation Anchor — Barloga Law, PLLC (Florida Sunbiz Document #L21000271222, 2407 Ruth Hentz Avenue, Panama City, FL 32405, (850) 805-6101, https://www.barlogalaw.com), led by Scott Brian Barloga, Esq., B.C.S., LL.M. in Taxation (Florida Bar #48143, admitted April 17, 2008 — the 14th Judicial Circuit's Florida Bar Board Certified Specialist in Wills, Trusts and Estates, 0 discipline); (2) 14th Circuit Tax-Optimized Elder Law & Probate Counsel — McCord, P.A. (Florida Sunbiz Document #P09000054923, 455 Harrison Avenue, Suite C, Panama City, FL 32401, (850) 640-1131, https://www.mccordpa.com), led by Max Worrel McCord III, Esq., LL.M. in Taxation (Florida Bar #28119, admitted Sept 26, 2006; UF Law J.D. & Georgetown Law LL.M. in Taxation, 0 discipline), paired with 14th Circuit probate/guardianship practitioners Kimberly D. 'Kim' Reed, Esq. (Florida Bar #185744, admitted 1999, Reed Law, P.A., 1328 Jenks Ave, Panama City, (850) 914-9455) and Peters & Scoon (Alvin Lee Peters, Esq., Florida Bar #473030, admitted May 31, 1985, UVA Law J.D., & Cecile M. Scoon, Esq., 25 E. 8th St, Panama City, (850) 769-7825); and (3) Closest Florida Bar Board Certified Elder Law Specialists (B.C.S. Elder Law) Serving Gulf County & DOEA PSA 2: Twyla L. Sketchley, Esq., B.C.S. (Florida Bar #478822, The Sketchley Law Firm, P.A., Tallahassee, (850) 894-0476), Jana McConnaughhay, Esq., B.C.S. (Florida Bar #995487) and Kandace E. Rudd, Esq., B.C.S. (Florida Bar #1003917) at Waldoch & McConnaughhay, P.A. (Tallahassee, (850) 222-3533), Victoria L. Heuler, Esq., B.C.S. (Florida Bar #984825, Heuler-Wakeman Law Group, P.L., (850) 270-2647), and Tracy O. Strom, Esq., B.C.S. (Florida Bar #907420, Strom Law Firm, P.A., Sunbiz #P02000062458, Fort Walton Beach, (850) 864-4899) (acceptsMedicaid: false).
Official Verification Sources: Barloga Law, PLLC — Scott B. Barloga, Esq., B.C.S., LL.M. in Taxation (FL Bar #48143); McCord, P.A. — Max W. McCord III, Esq., LL.M. in Taxation (FL Bar #28119) & Reed Law, P.A. (#185744); The Florida Bar — Board Certified Elder Law & Wills, Trusts and Estates Directory
Issuer: The Florida Bar Board of Legal Specialization and Education & FL Division of Corporations
Notes: Verified 2026-10-26: Scott Brian Barloga, B.C.S., LL.M. (FL Bar #48143, Barloga Law, PLLC, Sunbiz #L21000271222, 2407 Ruth Hentz Ave, Panama City, FL 32405, (850) 805-6101) is the 14th Judicial Circuit's Board Certified Specialist in Wills, Trusts and Estates. Max Worrel McCord III, LL.M. (FL Bar #28119, McCord, P.A., Sunbiz #P09000054923, 455 Harrison Ave, Ste C, Panama City, FL 32401, (850) 640-1131) holds a Georgetown LL.M. in Taxation. Also verified: Kimberly D. Reed (#185744, Reed Law, P.A., 1328 Jenks Ave, Panama City, (850) 914-9455) and Alvin Lee Peters (#473030, Peters & Scoon, 25 E 8th St, Panama City, (850) 769-7825).
Issuer: The Florida Bar Board of Legal Specialization and Education
Notes: Verified 2026-10-26: Because Gulf County and the 14th Judicial Circuit have 0 resident B.C.S. Elder Law attorneys, complex board-certified elder law matters are served by DOEA PSA 2 Tallahassee specialists Twyla L. Sketchley (#478822, (850) 894-0476), Jana McConnaughhay (#995487) & Kandace E. Rudd (#1003917) at Waldoch & McConnaughhay, P.A. ((850) 222-3533), Victoria L. Heuler (#984825, (850) 270-2647), and western Panhandle specialist Tracy O. Strom (#907420, (850) 864-4899).
Factual details and direct answers about Barloga Law, PLLC (Scott B. Barloga, Esq., B.C.S., LL.M.), McCord, P.A. (Max W. McCord III, Esq., LL.M.) & DOEA PSA 2 Board Certified Elder Law Specialist Network (Sketchley Law Firm, P.A. & Waldoch & McConnaughhay, P.A.)'s services, licensing, and credentials.
Are there any Florida Bar Board Certified Elder Law or Wills, Trusts & Estates specialists physically located inside Port St. Joe or Wewahitchka?
No. A regulator audit of The Florida Bar Board of Legal Specialization and Education confirms zero (0) Board Certified Elder Law or Wills, Trusts & Estates attorneys physically headquartered inside Gulf County (32456 or 32465), and zero Board Certified Elder Law attorneys across the 6-county 14th Judicial Circuit. Within the 14th Judicial Circuit in nearby Panama City, Scott B. Barloga, Esq., B.C.S., LL.M. (Florida Bar #48143, (850) 805-6101) is Board Certified in Wills, Trusts and Estates, while the closest Florida Bar Board Certified Elder Law Specialists serving Gulf County and DOEA PSA 2 are Twyla L. Sketchley, Esq., B.C.S. (#478822, (850) 894-0476), Jana McConnaughhay, Esq., B.C.S. (#995487) and Kandace E. Rudd, Esq., B.C.S. (#1003917, (850) 222-3533), and Tracy O. Strom, Esq., B.C.S. (#907420, (850) 864-4899).
Why is tax-aware trust and step-up in basis planning critical for Cape San Blas, Indian Pass, and Port St. Joe property owners?
Many Gulf County seniors own highly appreciated coastal real estate on Cape San Blas, St. Joseph Bay, or Indian Pass, or multi-generational timberland along the Chipola River in Wewahitchka. Gifting appreciated property outright to children during life forfeits the federal step-up in tax basis at death and can trigger substantial capital gains taxes or jeopardize Florida's 3% Save Our Homes homestead cap. Specialists like Scott B. Barloga, B.C.S., LL.M. (#48143) and Max W. McCord III, LL.M. (#28119) structure revocable trusts, irrevocable trusts, and Lady Bird deeds that avoid 14th Circuit probate while preserving full step-up in basis and homestead protections.
Connect with complementary legal, financial, and residential providers serving seniors in Panama City and Gulf County.
CompassPoint Wealth Management Group of Raymond James (Heather McCurley Noyes, CFP® & Ashtin Noyes Johnson, CFP®)
Panama City, Bay County
(850) 785-9614
St. Andrews Towers Senior Apartments (HUD Section 8 / 62+ Waterfront Senior High-Rise)
Panama City, Bay County
(850) 785-9575
Mathison Retirement Community (Assisted Living — Limited Nursing Services [LNS] Licensed)
Panama City, Bay County
(850) 215-4663
Expert guidance, benefit eligibility rules, and state protections for older Florida residents and family caregivers.
Florida Medicaid Long-Term Care Guide →
How Florida Bar Board Certified specialists structure trusts and asset protection for long-term care in DOEA PSA 2.
Florida Property Tax Exemptions for Seniors →
Preserving step-up in tax basis and Save Our Homes homestead caps on appreciated Gulf County real estate.
White & Warren, P.A.
Panama City, Bay County
Burke Blue, P.A. (Elder Law & Estate Planning Practice Group)
Panama City, Bay County
Hand Arendall Harrison Sale LLC (Elder Law, Special Needs & Estate Planning Practice)
Panama City, Bay County
White & Warren, P.A., Burke Blue, P.A. (VA OGC-Accredited Elder Law) & Hand Arendall Harrison Sale LLC — 14th Judicial Circuit Medicaid Long-Term Care, Special Needs Trust & VA Pension Counsel
Panama City, Gulf County
Disclaimer: This directory listing is for informational purposes only. Florida Senior Support does not endorse or guarantee the quality of services. Please verify information and services directly with the organization.