ABOUT US

ROBERT H. EARDLEY

PRINCIPAL ATTORNEY

ROBERT H. EARDLEY is a Florida Bar Board Certified Wills, Trusts and Estates specialist and holds a Master of Laws (LL.M.) degree in Estate Planning. Mr. Eardley also holds an AV® (preeminent) peer rating from LexisNexis, Inc., a 9.5 rating from AVVO®, and has been designated a Florida Super Lawyer® by Thomson Reuters. Mr. Eardley’s law practice is concentrated in the areas of estate and trust planning, probate and trust administration, prenuptial agreements and Florida tax residency planning.

Mr. Eardley graduated from the University of Kentucky with a Bachelor of Science degree (cum laude) in 1986. Thereafter, Mr. Eardley received a commission in the United States Navy and served 7 years on active duty. While in the Navy, Mr. Eardley served as a Senior Airborne Intelligence Officer assigned to an intelligence reconnaissance squadron based in Spain. During this assignment, Mr. Eardley held a top secret clearance and logged over 1,000 hours of flight time, including 11 missions in Operation Desert Storm.

Mr. Eardley then attended the University of Kentucky College of Law, graduating in the top 10% of his class (Order of the Coif). While at the University of Kentucky College of Law, Mr. Eardley served as Assistant Editor for the Kentucky Law Journal and as President of the Christian Legal Society. After graduating from law school, Mr. Eardley joined the Louisville, Kentucky based top 150 law firm of Wyatt, Tarrant & Combs, LLP, as a member of its Estate Planning Practice Group. During his tenure at that firm, Mr. Eardley was awarded an Academic Fellowship to attend the graduate program at the University of Miami School of Law and subsequently received a Master of Laws (LL.M.) degree in Estate Planning from the University, graduating as the top student in his class. Prior to founding the firm, Mr. Eardley was a partner in a prominent Naples law firm.

Mr. Eardley is a frequent speaker on estate planning issues and has authored a number of estate planning articles and publications. He has also served as a legal columnist for the Naples Daily News. Mr. Eardley’s more recent works include The Second Marriage Estate Planning Dilemma – Spousal Inheritance Rights ©2024 for the Naples Daily News, Establishing a Florida Domicile for the Seasonal Resident ©2023 for the Naples Daily News, and Avoiding Probate and Court Guardianship – The Revocable Trust ©2022 for the Naples Daily News. Mr. Eardley has also had estate planning articles published in Lifestyles After 50 magazine, the Kentucky Bar Association’s Bench & Bar magazine, Health & Wellness Magazine (Collier edition) and, as well, he co-authored Estate Planning for the Florida Resident for Key Private Bank. Mr. Eardley was also the lead attorney behind IRS Private Letter Ruling 201523003 in which he successfully represented a client in an estate tax dispute with the IRS.

Mr. Eardley is married to Holly, for 37 years, and has five children ages 21 to 35. He is an active member of his church and enjoys kayaking with his family in the Florida Keys.

Blake W. Evans

LAW CLERK

BLAKE W. EVANS is a native of Geneva, New York, and currently is a student at Ave Maria School of Law in Naples. He is also a 2017 graduate of Alfred University, Alfred, New York, earning a B.A. in Criminal Justice Studies and separate Minors in Public Law and in Business Administration, finishing Cum Laude with a 3.51 GPA. During his time at Alfred University, Mr. Evans co-captained its rugby team to an undefeated regular season and to the 2017 National Small College Rugby Organization Upstate Championship title. Also, while at Alfred University Mr. Evans was a Jonathan Allen Scholarship recipient for 4 years, a member of International Honors Society Phi Gamma Mu and the Criminal Justice Club.

As a young man, Mr. Evans worked extensively in the trades, including pouring concrete and building elevator shafts, served as an EMT and fireman, and instructed EMT classes at Finger Lakes Community College. He also had the opportunity to serve as ship’s medical technician during a Caribbean cruise on an 80-foot Schooner sailboat.

In 2019, Mr. Evans moved to Sarasota where he owned Evans Painting, LLC, a high-end finishing company specializing in hand-crafted finishes in painting, staining and epoxy. Also, while in Sarasota, he served as an assistant basketball coach at Sarasota Middle School.

Mr. Evans is engaged to be married, is an active member of Faith Bible Church and enjoys spending time with his family, church activities, sports and giving back to the community.

JULIE K. YAMIN

PARALEGAL/OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR

JULIE K. YAMIN serves as Paralegal/Office Administrator. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Michigan State University and a Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) degree from Arizona State University.

Prior to joining the firm, Ms. Yamin worked in a variety of professional capacities at organizations including the Internal Revenue Service, Ford Motor Company and Bank of America (formerly known as Michigan National Bank). In addition, Ms. Yamin is a Florida Licensed Sales Associate.

As a child and young adult, Ms. Yamin lived in Peru, Brazil, Venezuela and France. She has traveled extensively throughout the United States, Latin America and Europe, and is fluent in Spanish, French, and Portuguese.

She is the proud mother to two daughters, ages 28 and 32. Ms. Yamin enjoys taking long walks, reading, and serving in various Christian ministries in her church.

DEBORAH L. PHILIPS

ESTATE & TRUST ADMINISTRATOR

DEBORAH L. PHILLIPS serves as an Estate and Trust Administration Paralegal. Debbie holds an A.A. degree in Paralegal Studies with honors and has worked extensively in estate and trust administration for 20 years, settling hundreds of estates.

Debbie was born and raised in Flint, Michigan, and she and her husband, James, live on 5 remote acres with their 3 canine "kids," 6 cows and 16 chickens. In her spare time, Debbie serves as a Florida Registered Guardian, zealously advocating for the health and welfare of south Florida's most vulnerable citizens.

MICHELLE L. TAYLOR

ESTATE & TRUST ADMINISTRATOR

MICHELLE L. TAYLOR serves as an Estate and Trust Administration Paralegal. Michelle is a cum laude of Hodges University with a B.S. degree in Legal Studies and has worked extensively in the legal field for nearly 20 years. Michelle also has been designated a Florida Registered Paralegal and an Advanced Certified Paralegal by the National Association of Legal Assistants. Michelle has significant experience in all aspects of estate and trust administration, including the supervision of complex probate estates and the preparation of statutory trust accountings and IRS estate and gift tax returns.

Michelle was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, and she and her husband have two beautiful children, ages 26 and 24. Outside of work, Michelle enjoys spending time with her husband and family and training and running agility with her dogs.