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Barry A. Nelson, a Florida Bar Board Certified Tax and Wills, Trusts and Estates Attorney and author of Estate Planning and Asset Protection in Florida: A Plan to Survive Unexpected Financial Threats is a shareholder in the law firm of Nelson & Nelson, P.A. in North Miami Beach, Florida. He practices in the areas of tax, estate planning, asset protection planning, probate, partnerships and business law. He provides counsel to high net worth individuals and families focusing on income, estate and gift tax planning, and assists business owners to most effectively pass their ownership interests from one generation to the next. As the father of a child with autism, Barry combines his legal skills with compassion and understanding in the preparation of Special Needs Trusts for children with disabilities.

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Barry received the Distinguished Planner Award 2021 presented by the Estate Planning Council of Greater Miami. He is a Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel and served as Chairman of its Asset Protection Committee from 2009 to 2012. Mr. Nelson has been named in Chambers USA High Net Worth Guide as a Tier 1 leading estate planning attorney in Florida since the inaugural edition in 2016. He has been listed in Best Lawyers in America® since 1995 in the practice areas of Trusts and Estates and Tax Law; and has been a Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent® Rated Lawyer for over 25 years. Mr. Nelson was named by Best Lawyers in America® as the 2015 Trusts and Estates “Lawyer of the Year” in Miami.


As the founding chairman of the Asset Preservation Committee of the Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section of the Florida Bar from 2004- 2007, Barry introduced and coordinated a project to write a treatise authored by committee members entitled Asset Protection in Florida (Florida Bar CLE 2008, 7th Edition 2022). Barry wrote Chapter 5 of Asset Protection in Florida, entitled “Homestead: Creditor Issues” which is now co-authored by Barry Nelson and Cassandra Nelson.

Barry Nelson is a co-founder and serves as board co-chairman of The Victory Center for Autism and Behavioral Challenges (a not-for-profit corporation). In May 2024 Binghamton University Alumni Association recognized Barry's exemplary contributions through his work at The Victory Center by awarding him the Edward Weisband Distinguished Alumni Award for Public Service or Contribution to Public Affairs along with his wife, Judi Nelson.

Contact & Links
Location
  • 2775 Sunny Isles Boulevard, Suite 118
    North Miami Beach, FL 33160
Languages
  • English
Education
  • University of Miami School of Law, J.D., graduated 1981
  • University of Miami School of Law, LL.M, graduated 1987
Bar Admissions
  • Florida, The Florida Bar
Affiliations
  • American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC) - Member
  • Asset Preservation Committee of the Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section of The Florida Bar - Founding Chairman
  • The Victory Center for Autism and Behavioral Challenges - Co-Founder, Chairman Emeritus and current Board Member

Nelson & Nelson, P.A.
Headquarters: North Miami Beach, Florida

2 The Best Lawyers in America® awards

1 Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America award

Best Law Firms Badge Visit Website View Firm Profile

Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2015 - Trusts and Estates
Named "Lawyer of the Year" by Best Lawyers® for:
  • Trusts and Estates, Miami (2015)
Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® 2025 for work in:
  • Tax Law
  • Trusts and Estates
Special Focus:
  • Asset Protection
  • Estate Planning
  • Planning for Closely Held Businesses
  • Probate
  • Special Needs
  • Succession Planning
  • Tax
  • Tax Planning
  • Trusts and Estates
Awards:
  • AV Preeminent Martindale-Hubbell Lawyer
  • The Best Lawyers in America© - Miami Trusts and Estates & Tax Law (since 1995)
  • Best Lawyers in America® 2015 Miami Trusts and Estates "Lawyer of the Year"
  • Chambers USA: High Net Worth Guide - Private Wealth Law Florida (Since 2016)
  • Chambers & Partners USA, 2010-2015
  • South Florida Legal Guide, listed as top lawyer consecutively since 2003
  • Wall Street Journal Top Attorneys in Florida 2011
  • Florida Trend's Legal Elite, listed as top lawyer 2004-2008, 2011
  • South Florida's Top Rated Lawyers 2013, AV Preeminent Martindale-Hubbell Lawyer Ratings
  • Florida Super Lawyers, listed as top lawyer consecutively since 2006

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Review Your Estate Plan in Light of Tax Act


As published in South Florida Legal Guide and Miami Herald Business Monday in March 2018.

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Barry A.

Nelson

6 Question 2018 Gift Suitability Analysis


As published in Steve Leimberg's Estate Planning Email Newsletter #2631 on 3/22/18

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Barry A.

Nelson

Florida Homestead - Property Tax, Chapter 4


Florida Homestead - Property Tax, Chapter 4

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Barry A.

Nelson

Florida Homestead - Limitations on Ability to Devise, Chapter 5


Florida Homestead - Limitations on Ability to Devise, Chapter 5

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Barry A.

Nelson

Florida Homestead - Loss of Homestead Status by Abandonment, Sale, Criminal Acts, Inter Vivos Transfers, and Death, Chapter 3


Florida Homestead - Loss of Homestead Status by Abandonment, Sale, Criminal Acts, Inter Vivos Transfers, and Death, Chapter 3

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Barry A.

Nelson

Florida Homestead - Securing The Homestead Exemption For Asset Protection, Chapter 2


Florida Homestead - Securing The Homestead Exemption For Asset Protection, Chapter 2

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Barry A.

Nelson

Florida Miscellaneous State Exemptions, Chapter 6


Florida Miscellaneous State Exemptions, Chapter 6

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Barry A.

Nelson

Year-End Estate, Charitable/IRA and Gift Tax Planning 2019


Client informational letter regarding 2019 gift and estate tax planning techniques.

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Barry A.

Nelson

How Your Estate Plan May Be Affected by Potential Changes to Income and Transfer Taxes Under the House Ways and Means Committee Tax Proposal


As published in: Steve Leimberg's Estate Planning Email Newsletter, Archive Message #2984, 09-29-22.

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Barry A.

Nelson

CAUTION: Not All Donor Advised Funds Are Created Equal


Published In: Steve Leimberg's Charitable Planning Email Newsletter, Archive Message #330, 11-06-23

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Barry A.

Nelson

2022/2023 Legislative and Case Updates and How They May Impact Your Estate Plan


Published In: Steve Leimberg's Estate Planning Email Newsletter, Archive Message #3082, 11-27-23

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Barry A.

Nelson

Implementation of the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) - March 2024


In this letter to our clients, we discuss two important changes on the horizon. The implementation of the Corporate Transparency Act (“CTA”), which will impose significant new reporting requirements on many businesses, and the sunsetting of the increased estate and gift tax exemption amounts at the end of 2025.

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Barry A.

Nelson

Florida Golf Cart Owners Should Beware of Huge Potential Liability


Published In: The Florida Bar Journal, July/August 2024

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Barry A.

Nelson

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