Megan Flynn McAteer

My practice is devoted to estate planning, estate, gift and generation-skipping transfer tax planning, and the administration of trusts and probate estates. Protecting and efficiently transmitting clients’ assets to loved ones and, if desired, charities, is my primary focus.

I received a Law Degree (J.D.), with honors, from the University of Florida College of Law and a Master of Laws (LL.M.) in Taxation, with honors, with a concentration in estate planning, from Boston University School of Law. The LL.M. in Taxation with a concentration in estate planning provides me with the in-depth knowledge necessary to advise individuals and families regarding the obligations and opportunities under the federal tax laws in connection with their estate plans.

A well-structured and implemented estate plan that provides flexibility to address changes in a client’s life and family circumstances over time is invaluable. I work one-on-one with individuals and families, including those with young children, blended families and those with grandchildren, to create estate plans that are unique to their circumstances.

Well-structured estate plans often involve a combination of strategies necessary to properly care for the personal and financial well-being of individuals and families. In addition to custom designed estate planning documents, such as last will and testaments, revocable trusts, durable powers of attorney, living wills and health care surrogate designations, clients often benefit from the use of more complex planning strategies. These include trusts for minors, lifetime trusts for children and grandchildren, life insurance trusts and a variety of other complex irrevocable planning trusts, wealth preservation, lifetime gifting, charitable gifting and succession planning for closely-held businesses.

The manner in which a client owns an asset, whether it be a Florida homestead, secondary residence, business or rental property, investment asset or closely held business, is an important part of an estate plan. I advise clients regarding the advantages and disadvantages of the different options for owning assets to align with the clients’ objectives.

In addition to planning, I help families and fiduciaries navigate the probate and trust administration processes. I work with family members, beneficiaries and fiduciaries, such as trustees, attorneys-in-fact, health care surrogates and personal representatives, regarding their rights and duties in a broad range of estate, probate and trust administration matters, including post-mortem tax issues.

I have practiced exclusively in the area of estate planning for almost twenty years, in both urban and rural communities, in both large and small law firms. These experiences provide me with the ability to appreciate the needs of clients with differing backgrounds and life experiences. I understand that not all clients or their communities are alike.

Prior to attending law school, I worked in both the financial services and consulting industries, which enriched my understanding of the relationships clients develop with their service providers. I welcome a team approach of working together with clients and their accountants, financial advisors and other service providers to implement estate plans that meet the clients’ goals.

I am a member of the Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section of the Hillsborough County and Florida Bar Associations. I am a sustaining member of The Junior League of Tampa, a volunteer with the End 68 Hours of Hunger Tampa Chapter, an active member of the H.B. Plant High School PTSA and Academic Foundation, and a member of St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, Tampa.