Experience
Brandon D. Bellew, a partner at Johnson Pope Bokor Ruppel & Burns, LLP, provides outstanding representation in the areas of trust, estate and guardianship litigation and has done so during his entire career. He represents clients throughout Florida in all types and phases of contested issues relating to trusts, estates and guardianships.
He frequently writes articles and lectures on trust, estate and guardianship litigation topics. He is very active in the Florida Bar’s Real Property, Probate, and Trust Law Section where he serves on its Executive Council, is active on the Trust Law, Probate Law and Procedure and Probate & Trust litigation committees and currently serves as a Vice Chair of the Guardianship, Power of Attorney and Advanced Directives Committee. Brandon is also currently serving as the President of the Clearwater Bar Association, 2018-2019.
Brandon has been recognized for his professional accomplishments by being named Best Lawyers® 2019 Litigation Clearwater – Trusts and Estates – “Lawyer of the Year”, listed in The Best Lawyers® in America for Litigation- Trusts and Estates (2018, 2019), recognized as a Rising Star in the practice area of Estate and Trust Litigation by Super Lawyers (2010, 2015-2018) and by earning an Avvo “Superb” 10.0 rating.
Brandon’s cases are often highly emotional and sensitive because they involve family disputes relating to the recent death or incapacity of a loved one. He approaches his cases with a problem solver mindset. While he is an experienced trial attorney and aggressively pursues his clients’ desired outcomes, he believes that most cases should be resolved outside of the courtroom because often, that is the most efficient and cost-effective way to give his clients the best results possible.
When Brandon is not practicing law, he spends his time with his family and coaching youth basketball and flag football.
Distinctions
- The Best Lawyers in America® “Lawyer of the Year” 2019 for Clearwater – Trusts and Estates
- The Best Lawyers in America® for Litigation – Trusts and Estates, Since 2018
- Super Lawyers Rising Star (2015-2018) Estate and Trust Litigation
- Super Lawyers (since 2023) Estate and Trust Litigation
- Graduate of the Florida Fellows Institute of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (2017)
- Avvo “Superb” 10.0 rating.
- Leadership Pinellas Class of 2013
Memberships
- The Florida Bar’s Probate Rules Committee, 2018- present
- President of the Clearwater Bar Association, 2018- 2019
- President Elect of the Clearwater Bar Association, 2017- 2018
- Clearwater Bar Association Board of Directors, 2013-2016
- Chair of the Clearwater Bar Probate and Guardianship Section, 2014-2016
- Vice Chair, Guardianship, Power of Attorney and Advanced Directives Committee of the Florida Bar’s Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section, 2017- present
- Former Chair of Sixth Judicial Circuit Grievance Committee 6E
- Admitted to The Florida Bar in 2006
- U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida (2006)
- The Florida Bar (Real Property, Probate and Trust Section)
- Executive Council of the Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section of the Florida Bar
- Clearwater and St. Petersburg Bar Association (Probate and Real Property)
- American Bar Association
Personal
- Head Coach of back to back East Lake Flag Football 5th and 6th Grade Division Spring League champions
- Head Coach for Safety Harbor Recreation Basketball League, 11 to 13-year-old division, 2018 Summer League champions
- Former youth basketball coach, Sun Coast YMCA
- Member of the Board of the Dunedin Fine Arts Center Planned Giving Committee
Education
- University of South Florida B.A. 2003
- Stetson University J.D., 2006; M.B.A., 2006
Articles
- ‘Twas The Season: A Gift Or Not A Gift
- Is My Interest In The Trust Protected From Creditors?
- Know The Probate Rules To Keep Your Case Alive When The Defendant Dies
- Survivorship Rights in Joint Bank Accounts
- HOMESTEAD, you may own it but that does not mean you control it.
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Can You Admit A Copy Of A Last Will And Testament To Probate?
News
- 32 Lawyers From Johnson, Pope, Bokor, Ruppel & Burns, LLP Recognized In “The Best Lawyers In America®” 2019 – Three Recognized As “Lawyer Of The Year” In Their Respective Practice Areas
- Brandon D. Bellew Sworn In As Clearwater Bar Association President for 2018-2019 Term
- Brandon D. Bellew Named To Florida Bar Probate Rules Committee
- 30 Lawyers from Johnson, Pope, Bokor, Ruppel & Burns, LLP Recognized in “The Best Lawyers in America®” 2018 and Two Partners as “Lawyer of the Year” in Their Areas of Practice
- Brandon D. Bellew accepted into the Florida Fellows Institute of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel
- Brandon Bellew Named Partner
Articles
- Florida’s 2024 Super Lawyers and Rising Stars Recognizes 28 Johnson Pope Attorneys
- Florida’s 2023 Super Lawyers and Rising Stars Recognizes 22 Johnson Pope Attorneys
- Seven Johnson Pope Partners Recognized as Florida Legal Elite
- Injunction for Protection Against Exploitation of a Vulnerable Adult
- Waiver Of Spousal Inheritance Rights And New Statute Affecting Homestead
- Determining Mental Capacity Required to Make a Will or Trust, Gift, Contract or Deed
- Rights Of A Surviving Spouse In A Florida Probate
- Brandon D. Bellew’s Trust and Estate Litigation Blog
- Can You Admit A Copy Of A Last Will And Testament To Probate?
- Grounds To Contest A Last Will And Testament Or A Trust Agreement In Florida
- ‘Twas The Season: A Gift Or Not A Gift
- Is My Interest In The Trust Protected From Creditors?
- Know The Probate Rules To Keep Your Case Alive When The Defendant Dies
- Survivorship Rights in Joint Bank Accounts
- HOMESTEAD, you may own it but that does not mean you control it.
News
- 55 Johnson, Pope, Bokor, Ruppel & Burns LLP Lawyers Recognized by Best Lawyers® 2025
- Florida’s 2024 Super Lawyers and Rising Stars Recognizes 28 Johnson Pope Attorneys
- 48 Johnson, Pope, Bokor, Ruppel & Burns LLP Lawyers Recognized by Best Lawyers® 2024
- Florida’s 2023 Super Lawyers and Rising Stars Recognizes 22 Johnson Pope Attorneys
- 48 Lawyers from Johnson, Pope, Bokor, Ruppel & Burns, LLP Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® 2023—Four recognized as “Lawyer of the Year” In Their Respective Practice Area
- Seven Johnson Pope Partners Recognized as Florida Legal Elite
- 46 Lawyers from Johnson, Pope, Bokor, Ruppel & Burns, LLP Recognized In The Best Lawyers In America® 2022—Five Recognized as “Lawyer of the Year” In Their Respective Practice Area
- Five Johnson Pope Partners Recognized as Florida Legal Elite
- 47 Lawyers From Johnson, Pope, Bokor, Ruppel & Burns, LLP Recognized By Best Lawyers® 2021 – Four Recognized As “Lawyer of the Year” In Their Respective Practice Area
- Florida Super Lawyers Recognizes 23 Attorneys from Johnson Pope
- 36 Lawyers From Johnson, Pope, Bokor, Ruppel & Burns, LLP Recognized In Best Lawyers In America® 2020 – Three Recognized As “Lawyer Of The Year” In Their Respective Practice Area
- Florida Super Lawyers Recognizes 24 Attorneys From Johnson Pope
- 32 Lawyers from Johnson, Pope, Bokor, Ruppel & Burns, LLP Recognized in “The Best Lawyers in America®” 2019 – Three Recognized as “Lawyer of the Year” in Their Respective Practice Areas
- Brandon D. Bellew Sworn In As Clearwater Bar Association President For 2018-2019 Term
- Brandon D. Bellew Named To Florida Bar Probate Rules Committee
- 30 Lawyers from Johnson, Pope, Bokor, Ruppel & Burns, LLP Recognized in “The Best Lawyers in America®” 2018 and Two Partners as “Lawyer of the Year” in Their Areas of Practice
- Brandon D. Bellew accepted into the Florida Fellows Institute of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel
- Brandon Bellew Named Partner
By Brandon D. Bellew — March 2019
There is now a procedure for obtaining an injunction for protection against exploitation of a vulnerable adult under Florida Statute Section 825.1035. This statute was enacted on July 1, 2018. It creates a cause of action for an injunction (and other relief) for protection against exploitation of a vulnerable adult. […]
Categories: Blogs, Trusts & Estates
By Brandon D. BellewBrandon D. Bellew — December 2018
There is a new statute, effective July 1, 2018, that provides more clarity for a waiver of Florida Constitutional spousal homestead inheritance rights through a deed. The Florida Constitution, under Article X, Section 4(c), states: “the homestead shall not be subject to devise if the owner is survived by spouse […]
Categories: Blogs, Trusts & Estates
By Brandon D. BellewBrandon D. BellewBrandon D. Bellew — September 2018
A person must be of “sound mind” when he or she makes a will.1 This standard also applies to a trust. Florida case law defines “testamentary capacity” as “the ability to mentally understand in a general way (1) the nature and extent of the property to be disposed of, (2) […]
Categories: Blogs, Trusts & Estates
By Brandon D. BellewBrandon D. BellewBrandon D. BellewBrandon D. Bellew — August 2018
There is a long list of rights and benefits that a surviving spouse is entitled to receive from a deceased spouse’s (“decedent”) estate (or trust) under the Florida Probate Code. A surviving spouse may be entitled to all or some of the following probate rights upon the death of his/her […]
Categories: Blogs, Trusts & Estates
By Brandon D. BellewBrandon D. BellewBrandon D. BellewBrandon D. BellewBrandon D. Bellew — July 2018
Welcome to my Trust and Estate Litigation blog where I will discuss legal issues that frequently arise in my cases and provide updates and analyses of statutory and case law development in the areas of trust, estate and guardianship law. I am a partner at Johnson, Pope, Bokor, Ruppel, […]
Categories: Blogs, Trusts & Estates
By Brandon D. Bellew — May 2018
The most common issues that I handle as a probate and trust litigation attorney relate to the grounds to contest a last will and testament or a trust agreement. The grounds to contest the validity of a will or trust generally fall into three basic categories: 1. A formality—i.e. the […]
Categories: Blogs, Trusts & Estates
Disclaimer: The purpose of this blog is to share information and opinions of the author about Florida law related to estates, trusts and guardianships. Reading this blog does not create an attorney-client relationship between the reader and the author and its contents are not legal advice. Although, the author will use best efforts to ensure that the case law and statutes referenced are up to date when a blog entry is posted, it is possible that the case law and statutes are or will become outdated, repealed or overruled over time. This blog discusses general situations and is not a substitute for legal advice that relates to your specific situation. This blog is not intended to be advertising.
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