Wills, Trusts & Estates

I do not view estate planning as planning for death, but rather as planning for living. As such, I enjoy working with clients who want to focus on providing for their families in a unique and tax-efficient manner. Therefore, I do not use a "cookie-cutter" approach to practicing law; I give my clients the time that they need to create a special plan for their loved ones.

• Estate Taxes & Gift Taxes
• Power of Attorney
• Tax Planning

• Charitable Giving
• Charitable Trusts
• Drafting Trusts
• Drafting Wills
• Estate Administration
• Estate Planning
• Living Trusts
• Living Wills
• Probate
• Asset Protection
• Power of Attorney
• Business Succession Planning

WI, Aug 1999
Bar Number: 1034608

FL, Apr 2002
Bar Number: 548472

Supreme Court of Wisconsin; Supreme Court of Florida.

State Bar of Wisconsin; Florida State Bar; Hillsborough County Bar Association; Tampa Bay Estate Planning Council.

I attend continuing legal education seminars on the topics of Estate Planning, Business Succession Planning, and Estate and Trust Administration. Because I am a member of two State Bars, I always exceed the required amount of education hours.

In addition to publishing a quarterly firm newsletter, I have published articles in the World of Westchase Newsmagazine on estate planning topics including the use of Revocable Trusts and Advanced Health Care Directives.

I assisted a young couple with their Wills after the birth of their first son, focusing our attention on naming an appropriate guardian for him and determining the appropriate trust terms to ensure that he would be provided for in the event of the untimely deaths of his parents.

I provided counsel to a widowed client whose adult child was addicted to illicit substances. After learning about the extent of her daughter's drug use, we created a plan designed to incentivize productive behavior and protect my client's daughter from herself and her addictions.

I worked with a client who desired a smooth transfer of his business to one of his two children without significant tax consequence while providing equally for his second child who was not involved in his business. This plan involved the use of an installment sale of the business for the benefit of one child and an irrevocable life insurance trust for the second child.

1

Wisconsin; Florida.

The firm was formed in 2007 to fulfill my dream to follow in the footsteps of my late grandfather, Earle L. Christ, who practiced as a sole practitioner in my hometown for more than 50 years. My grandfather was instrumental in teaching me old fashioned professionalism and legal counsel by example and through stories from years' past. These teachings are what drive the practice to follow the advice of my grandfather to "put your clients first and everything else will take care of itself."

Joshua T. Keleske, P.A. is a "boutique" law firm located in the Tampa Bay area devoted to assisting its clients and their families with their estate planning, estate and trust administration and business planning needs. These three areas of the firm's focus are intertwined with one another. Estate Planning involves advising clients regarding the use of Wills, Trusts, Powers of Attorney, Advanced Directives and related documents. Estate and Trust Administration is the process of advancing an individual's directions and wishes, either through the Court process of probate or privately if assets are owned by the individual's trust, at the time of death. Business Planning includes counseling clients in the organization, operation and transitioning of their businesses endeavors.
I approach my clients' needs from a unique perspective, actively listening and engaging in meaningful dialogue, to assist my clients in accomplishing their goals. This approach reminds my clients that everyone in the firm believes that their needs are of primary importance. In doing so, I employ a "team approach" in providing personalized advice and legal counsel to my clients. This team should not only include the firm's entire staff, but also other outside professionals, such as accountants and insurance and financial advisors that are engaged from time to time.

Joshua T. Keleske, P.A., Tampa, Florida - managing shareholder 2007 - present
Keleske & Van Eepoel, P.A., Tampa, Florida - managing shareholder 2004 - 2007
Ward, Rovell & Van Eepoel, P.A., Tampa, Florida - associate attorney 2002-2004
Gray Harris & Robinson, P.A., Lakeland, Florida - associate attorney 2001-2002
Foley & Lardner, Milwaukee, Wisconsin - associate attorney 1999-2001

I am active in several charitable organizations in the Bay area including the H. Lee Moffitt Foundation, the Community Foundation of Tampa Bay Planning Giving Committee and the Tampa Bay Research Institute.

Office Manager - Dawn Keleske; Assistant - Lisa Medina; Paralegals - Karen Grammer & Brenda Hughes

(813) 254-0025

Monday through Thursday
8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Friday
8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

No

Assistant - Spanish

I believe that estate and corporate planning is best accomplished by using fixed fee billing whenever possible. This permits my clients to feel comfortable taking the time necessary to properly plan for their families without feeling concerned that I might take advantage of them if hourly billing is used. I do not bill my clients for traditional overhead expenses such as photocopies, facsimile and mailing expenses.

$275.

Initial one-hour consultations are billed a flat rate of $275. If I am retained to perform legal services, this amount will be included in the fixed fee quote for those services.

I ask that my clients provide a retainer equal to one-half of the quoted fixed fee, with the balance due when the draft documents are submitted to my clients for review.