Back to Directory
Debra Ann Faulkner
10 Rating15 Years Licensed

Debra Ann Faulkner

Estate Planning Lawyer at Burke Faulkner Law, P.A.

Estate PlanningBusinessMergers and AcquisitionsProbateDebt and Lending Agreements

About Debra

At 19, Debbie graduated from Stetson cum laude and earned the distinction of being Stetson's youngest graduate since its founding in 1883.      After graduating, Debbie worked full-time as assistant to the CEO of a local 400+ employee company. She was responsible for locating international investment properties for company expansion, organizing and participating in team-building and morale development meetings for key employees, and providing customer service to corporate clients. She worked closely with management to streamline activities, increase productivity, and effectuate change in the office atmosphere to promote employee development and growth. Through her experience Debbie became intimately familiar with the challenges and demands of running a small business including accounts receivable, accounts payable, mail solutions, invoicing, responding to customer demands, morale boosting, budgeting, and file & client management.     Debbie attended Cornell Law School - one of the five Ivy League law schools - and became the first person in her family to obtain a graduate-level education.  Upon graduating, Debbie accepted an appellate clerkship with the Court of Appeals of Virginia.  In 2012, Debbie returned to school and obtained a Master of Laws (LL.M.) in Taxation from Washington University in St. Louis.  In the Taxation program, Debbie focused her coursework on sophisticated personal estate and tax planning.   Debbie currently serves on the Executive Council of the Florida Bar's Real Property, Probate and Trust Committee and serves on the following sub-committees: Real Estate Structures & Tax, Asset Protection, Probate Law. Debbie was selected to teach a Certified Legal Education class by the Florida Bar Asset Protection Committee and her article on taxation implications of structuring real estate transactions has been published in the statewide publication, Actionline

Awards & Recognition

2019

Rising Star - Rising Star, Super Lawyers

2019

Top 40 Lawyers Under 40 - Trust & Estates - Top 40 Lawyers Under 40 - Trust & Estates, American Society of Legal Advocates

2018

Rising Star - Rising Star, Super Lawyers

2018

Top 40 Lawyers Under 40 - Top 40 Lawyers Under 40, American Society of Legal Advocates

2017

Rising Star - Rising Star, Super Lawyers

2017

Top 40 Lawyers Under 40 - Top 40 Lawyers Under 40, American Society of Legal Advocates

2016

Rising Star - Rising Star, Super Lawyers

2013

Up and Comer Award - Up and Comer Award, Tampa Bay Business Journal

2012

Merit Scholar - Merit Scholar, Washington University in St. Louis

2006

Scholarship Recipient - Scholarship Recipient, Cornell Law School

2005

Youngest Known Graduate - Youngest Known Graduate, Stetson University

2003

Presidential Scholarship - Presidential Scholarship, Stetson University

2003

Presidential Service Award for Community Service - Presidential Service Award for Community Service, White House

2001

Everyday Hero Award - Everyday Hero Award, Bay News 9

Education & Memberships

  • 2017 - Present - Gulf Coast Estate Planning Council - Co-Founder and President
  • 2016 - Present - Florida Bar, Asset Protection Committee - Member
  • 2015 - Present - Florida Bar Membership and Inclusion Committee - Member
  • 2015 - Present - Florida Bar Real Property Structures and Taxation Committee - Board Member
  • 2013 - Present - Florida Bar, Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section - Member
  • 2012 - Present - Missouri Bar - Member
  • 2011 - Present - Florida Bar - Member
  • 2011 - Present - United States Parachute Association - B-licensed Skydiver
  • 2009 - Present - Virginia State Bar - Associate Member
  • 2015 - 2017 - American Cancer Society Relay for Life of Palm Harbor/Tarpon Springs - Chairman
  • 2014 - 2014 - Clearwater Bar Association, Young Lawyers Division - Chair, Oyster Roast Committee
  • 2014 - 2016 - East Lake Library Foundation Board - Chairman
  • 2014 - 2015 - Ruth Eckard Hall Planned Giving Council - Board Member
  • 2013 - 2016 - Morton Plant Mease Planned Giving Advisory Council - Attorney Member
  • 2013 - 2014 - Gulf Coast Legal Foundation - Volunteer Attorney
  • 2013 - 2015 - Charles Schwab Select Investor Advisory Group - Investor Advisor
  • 2013 - 2014 - Clearwater Bar Association, Young Lawyers Division - Member
  • 2013 - 2017 - Clearwater Bar Association - Member
  • 2007 - 2009 - Cornell Law School Moot Court Board - Member
  • 2006 - 2009 - Lawyers in MENSA - Member
  • 2017 - American College of Trust & Estate Counsel - Florida Fellows Program Graduate
  • 2013 - Washington University School of Law - LL.M - Master of Laws
  • 2009 - Cornell Law School - JD - Juris Doctor
  • 2005 - Stetson University - B.A.
  • 2004 - American University - Semester in Washington

Bar Licenses

  • Florida (2011) - Member in Good Standing
  • Texas (2019) - Not Eligible to Practice - Administrative
  • Missouri (2012) - Inactive
  • Virginia (2009) - Associate

Get in Touch

Burke Faulkner Law, P.A.

3937 Tampa Road #2, Oldsmar, FL

(813) 560-8461

Areas of Practice

Estate PlanningBusinessMergers and AcquisitionsProbateDebt and Lending Agreements