Serving southeastern Gulf County retirees and coastal property owners in Indian Pass (32456 — located just 12 miles west of Apalachicola on CR-30A/US-98), Cape San Blas (32456), and Port St. Joe (32456 — 22 miles west on US Highway 98), this Forgotten Coast border listing connects Gulf County families with three established, zero-discipline probate, estate planning, and coastal real property law firms immediately across the Gulf/Franklin county line: (1) Law Office of Kristy Branch Banks, P.A. (Florida Sunbiz Document #P07000089395, 171 US Highway 98 West, Suite A, Eastpoint / Apalachicola, FL 32328, (850) 670-1255, https://www.kbblawfl.com), led by Principal Attorney Kristy Branch Banks, Esq. (Florida Bar #517143, admitted October 2001 — 25 years of active practice with 0 disciplinary actions), focusing on Florida estate planning, Last Wills and Testaments, revocable living trusts, probate administration, Enhanced Life Estate ('Lady Bird') deeds, and Forgotten Coast real estate title closings; (2) Donna Duncan, P.A. / Duncan Law & Title Services (Florida Sunbiz Document #P04000023068, 109 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue, Apalachicola, FL 32320, (850) 653-8976), led by Donna R. Duncan, Esq. (Florida Bar #63869, admitted April 2009 — 17 years of active practice with 0 disciplinary actions), providing wills, estate administration, powers of attorney, and coastal title insurance; and (3) The Law Offices of Thomas M. Shuler, P.A. (Florida Sunbiz Document #P10000005877, 34 4th Street, Apalachicola, FL 32320, (850) 653-5166 / (850) 653-1757), led by 34-year practitioner Thomas M. Shuler, Esq. (Florida Bar #947891, admitted 1992; 0 disciplinary actions), counseling Forgotten Coast families on probate estates, heirs' property quiet-title actions, and multi-county coastal real estate succession across Gulf (14th Judicial Circuit) and Franklin (2nd Judicial Circuit) Counties (acceptsMedicaid: false).
Official Verification Sources: Law Office of Kristy Branch Banks, P.A. — Official Website (Forgotten Coast Estate Planning & Probate); The Florida Bar Member Profiles — Kristy Branch Banks (#517143), Donna Duncan (#63869) & Thomas M. Shuler (#947891); Florida Sunbiz Entities — Kristy Branch Banks, P.A. (#P07000089395), Donna Duncan, P.A. (#P04000023068) & Thomas M. Shuler, P.A. (#P10000005877)
Issuer: The Florida Bar & Florida Department of State, Division of Corporations
Notes: Verified 2026-10-26: Kristy Branch Banks, Esq. (FL Bar #517143, admitted 2001, 0 discipline) is President of Kristy Branch Banks, P.A. (Sunbiz Doc# P07000089395, 171 US Hwy 98 W, Ste A, Eastpoint / Apalachicola, FL 32328, (850) 670-1255, https://www.kbblawfl.com), serving the Forgotten Coast corridor across Gulf and Franklin Counties.
Issuer: The Florida Bar & Florida Department of State, Division of Corporations
Notes: Verified 2026-10-26: Donna R. Duncan, Esq. (FL Bar #63869, admitted 2009, Donna Duncan, P.A., Sunbiz Doc# P04000023068, 109 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Ave, Apalachicola, FL 32320, (850) 653-8976) and Thomas M. Shuler, Esq. (FL Bar #947891, admitted 1992, The Law Offices of Thomas M. Shuler, P.A., Sunbiz Doc# P10000005877, 34 4th St, Apalachicola, FL 32320, (850) 653-5166). Both hold 0 disciplinary actions.
Factual details and direct answers about Kristy Branch Banks, P.A., Donna Duncan, P.A. & The Law Offices of Thomas M. Shuler, P.A. — Forgotten Coast US-98 East Border Probate, Estate Planning & Coastal Real Property Counsel (Serving Indian Pass, Cape San Blas & Port St. Joe)'s services, licensing, and credentials.
Why do retirees in Indian Pass, Cape San Blas, and Port St. Joe frequently retain probate and estate planning attorneys in neighboring Apalachicola?
Indian Pass and the C-30A / Cape San Blas peninsula sit on the southeastern edge of Gulf County just 12 to 22 miles west of historic downtown Apalachicola along US Highway 98, and both counties share the same Eastern Time Zone and Forgotten Coast real estate market. Because Port St. Joe has only five resident private law offices, families often retain Kristy Branch Banks, P.A. ((850) 670-1255), Donna Duncan, P.A. ((850) 653-8976), or The Law Offices of Thomas M. Shuler, P.A. ((850) 653-5166) when conflict-of-interest rules arise or when an estate holds property across both Gulf and Franklin Counties.
Can these Forgotten Coast firms file probate cases and record Lady Bird deeds with the Gulf County Clerk of Court in Port St. Joe?
Yes. As active members in good standing of The Florida Bar, Attorneys Kristy Branch Banks (#517143), Donna Duncan (#63869), and Thomas M. Shuler (#947891) file formal, summary, and ancillary probate administrations directly with the Gulf County Clerk of the Circuit Court in Port St. Joe via the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal and record Enhanced Life Estate ('Lady Bird') deeds and revocable trust conveyances in Gulf County Official Records.
Connect with complementary legal, financial, and residential providers serving seniors in Apalachicola and Gulf County.
Centennial Bank — Apalachicola, Eastpoint, St. George Island & Carrabelle In-County Branches, Centennial Financial Services (Crowley Wealth / Ameriprise) & PeoplesSouth Bank (Apalachicola)
Apalachicola, Franklin County
(850) 653-2301
Apalachicola Housing Authority (HUD PHA #FL036) & Northwest Florida Regional Housing Authority (#FL046) — Franklin County Senior Public Housing & Section 8 Registry
Apalachicola, Franklin County
(850) 653-9304
George E. Weems Memorial Hospital (AHCA #4173 — Critical Access Swing-Bed Skilled Nursing, 24/7 Emergency & Weems Medical Centers East & West) & Ascension Sacred Heart Gulf Border Hospital
Apalachicola, Franklin County
(850) 653-8853
Expert guidance, benefit eligibility rules, and state protections for older Florida residents and family caregivers.
Florida Property Tax Exemptions for Seniors →
Using Lady Bird deeds and revocable trusts to protect coastal homesteads in Indian Pass, Cape San Blas, and Port St. Joe.
Free Legal Help for Seniors in Florida →
Navigating multi-county and out-of-state ancillary probate administration on Florida's Forgotten Coast.
Franklin County Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller — Probate, Guardianship & Small Estates Division (Hon. Michele Maxwell, Judge Jay Gordon Shuler, County Attorney Thomas M. 'Michael' Shuler, Esq. & 2nd Circuit Public Guardian)
Apalachicola, Franklin County
Law Office of Kristy Branch Banks, P.A. (Eastpoint / Apalachicola), Donna Duncan, P.A. (Apalachicola), Forgotten Coast Law / Gellis Law, PLLC (Sean W. Gellis, Esq., B.C.S.) & Manausa, Shaw & Minacci, P.A. (St. George Island Office) — In-County Probate, Estate Planning & Coastal Real Property Counsel
Apalachicola, Franklin County
2nd Judicial Circuit Board Certified Elder Law Specialists (B.C.S.) — The Sketchley Law Firm, P.A. (Twyla L. Sketchley, B.C.S.), McConnaughhay & Rudd, P.A. (Jana E. McConnaughhay, B.C.S. & Kandace E. Rudd, M.S.W., B.C.S.) & Heuler, Wakeman, Solomon Law Group, P.L.L.C. (Victoria E. Heuler, B.C.S., Max J. Solomon, B.C.S. & Mary L. Wakeman, B.C.S.)
Apalachicola, Franklin County
Legal Services of North Florida, Inc. (LSNF) — 2nd Judicial Circuit & DOEA PSA 2 Title III-B Senior Legal Helpline & Apalachicola / Carrabelle Senior Center Mobile Outreach
Apalachicola, Franklin 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.