John C. Moran

• Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC)
  • ACTEC Fiduciary Litigation Committee
• AV Preeminent Rated as independently determined by Martindale-Hubbell
• The Best Lawyers in America®
  • Trusts & Estates "Lawyer of the Year", West Palm Beach, 2022
  • Trusts & Estates Litigation, 2020-25
• The Best Lawyers in America® Business Edition: The Litigation Issue, 2021
• Florida Super Lawyers, 2009, 2011-23
• Florida Trend, "Legal Elite," 2016, 2021-22
  • “Up & Comer,” 2011
• Palm Beach Illustrated, "Top Lawyers", Trusts & Estates, 2021-24
• Jupiter Magazine, "Top Lawyers," Trusts & Estates, 2021, 2023
• Phi Beta Kappa
• Phi Kappa Phi
• Omicron Delta Epsilon (International Honor Society in Economics)

Presentations

• "Take a Dive Into the Sunshine State (Law) - The Essential Update on Florida Law," 59th Annual Heckerling Institute on Estate Planning, 2025
• “Navigating Ethical Challenges When Representing Clients With Diminished Capacity,” Estate Planning Council of Greater Miami, 11^th Annual Symposium, 2023
• "Understanding and Managing the Rights of Lifetime Creditors Following Death," ACTEC: Trust and Estate Podcast, speaker, January 2023
• "Take a Dive Into the Sunshine State (Law) - The Essential Update on Florida Law," 57th Annual Heckerling Institute on Estate Planning, 2023
• “You Can Take Your Creditors With You: Understanding and Managing the Rights of Lifetime Creditors After Death,” American College of Trust and Estate Counsel Fall Meeting, 2022
• "Creditors' Rights vs. Trustee Protections," ACTEC - Trust and Estate Talk Podcast, speaker, 2021
• "2021 Florida Legislative Update," 39th Annual Attorney/Trust Officer Liaison Conference, 2021
• "Resolving Trustee Deadlocks," ACTEC - Trust and Estate Talk Podcast, speaker, 2020
• “Passing the Torch: A Guide to Fiduciary Succession in Estate and Trust Matters,” Florida Bar Probate Law Seminar, 2020
• “Hello Goodbye: Resignation, Removal, and Succession of Personal Representatives and Trustees,” 38th Annual Attorney/Trust Officer Liaison Conference, 2019
• “Florida Probate Practice and Procedure,” Florida Bar 2019 Wills, Trusts and Estates Certification Review and Advanced Practice Update, 2019
• “Changing or Unwinding Irrevocable Trusts: Modification, Decanting, Reformation, and More,” American College of Trust and Estate Counsel Annual Meeting, 2019
• “Estate and Trust Administration,” Florida Fellows Institute of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel, seminar coordinator, 2019
• “Remote Notarization and Electronic Wills,” Florida Bar Real Property, Probate & Trust Law Section Seminar, 2018
• “The Nuts and Bolts of the Florida Probate Code,” Florida Bar 2018 Wills, Trust and Estates Certification Course & Advanced Practice Update, 2018
• “Probate Law 2017 Seminar,” Florida Bar Probate Law Seminar, seminar coordinator, 2017
• “What Would the RPPTLS Say? 10 Things Divorce Lawyers Should Know About Probate and Estate Planning,” American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, Florida Chapter, 2017
• "The Florida Electronic Wills Act: Thoughts on Making Sausage with Uncle Veto,” Florida Bar 37th Annual RPPTL Legislation and Case Law Update, 2017
• “Ethical Considerations for Trust and Estate Litigators,” Florida Bar Litigation and Trust Law Symposium, 2017
• "Sunshine on a Cloudy Day: History and Highlights of the Florida Probate Code," Collier County Bar Association, Estate Planning Symposium, 2017
• "It's a Matter of Life and Death: The Florida Probate Code," Florida Fellows Institute of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel, 2017
• “Probate Law 2016 Seminar,” Florida Bar Probate Law Seminar, seminar coordinator, 2016
• "Developments in the Florida Probate Code: Disposition of Florida Real Property and Elective Share Tweaks," Florida Bar 36th Annual RPPTL Legislation and Case Law Update, 2016
• “Estate Planning: Anticipating Probate Litigation and Estate Dealing with Vulnerable Clients,” Palm Beach County Bar Association, Probate Boot Camp, 2016
• "Estate Administration and Probate," Florida Bar 2016 Wills, Trusts and Estates Certification Review Course and Advanced Practice Update, 2016
• "Probate Law 2015," Florida Bar Probate Law Seminar, Seminar Coordinator, 2015
• "The Probate Code," Florida Fellows Institute of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel, 2015
• "Pitfalls in the Sunshine State:Top 10 Estate Planning and Probate Tips for Out-of-State Practitioners," Florida Bar Seminar, 2015
• "Got Civility?" Palm Beach County Bar Association Bench Bar Conference, 2015
• "Probate and Trust Administration: Hot Topics and Update," Florida Bar Elder Law Annual Update and Hot Topics, 2015
• "Probate Law 2014," Florida Bar Probate Law Seminar, Seminar Coordinator, 2014
• “Current Development in Florida Probate Law: Probate Rules and Case Law Update, ” Palm Beach County Bar Association's 31st Annual Estate and Probate Seminar, Part II, 2014
• “The Reliance Defense for Fiduciaries,” Florida Bar Litigation and Trust Law Symposium, 2014
• “Breaking the Glass: The Fiduciary Reliance Defense,” Collier County Bar Association Trust and Estates Section, 2014
• “Current Issues in Legal Ethics,” Community Foundation Professional Advisors Roundtable Network of Palm Beach County, 2014
• “Take this Job and Shove It: Navigating the Successful Transition of Fiduciaries, ” Greater Miami Estate Planning Council, 2014
• “Probate, Homestead, and Elective Share: Recent Developments,” Florida Bar Elder Law Annual Update and Hot Topics, 2014
• “Probate Law: Essential Issues and Developments,” Florida Bar Probate Law Seminar, seminar coordinator, 2013
• “The Advice of Counsel Defense for Fiduciaries,” Palm Beach County Bar Association’s 31st Annual Estate and Probate Seminar, Part I, 2013
• “With A Little Help from My Friends: The Advice of Counsel Defense in Theory and Practice,” ACTEC Florida Fellows Meeting, 2013
• “The Changing of the Guard: Resignation, Removal, and Succession of Fiduciaries, ” Florida Bar Trust and Litigation Symposium, 2013
• “Probate Law 2013, ” Florida Bar Probate Law Seminar, seminar coordinator, 2013
• “Will the True Intent of the Grantor be Honored? Modification and Reformation of Trusts,” Florida Bar Litigation and Trust Law Symposium, 2012
• “Fulfilling the Duties of the Personal Representative,” Florida Bar Probate Law Seminar, 2012
• “Walking a Tightrope…Legal Ethics for Estate and Trust Counsel,” Florida Bar Trust and Estate Symposium, 2011
• “Let the Sunshine In: Recent Changes to Florida Homestead and Post-Death Challenges to Spousal Rights,” New York State Bar Association’s Trust and Estates Law Section Spring Meeting, 2011
• “Till Death Do Us Part: Challenging Marriage and Spousal Rights Procured by Fraud, Duress or Undue Influence,” Palm Beach County Bar Association’s 28th Annual Estate and Probate Seminar, 2011
• “2010 Case Law and Legislative Update,” Florida Bankers Association Wealth Management Conference, 2010
• “Savages Beware: Post-Death Challenges to Spousal Rights Procured by Fraud, Duress, or Undue Influence,” Florida Bar 30th Annual RPPTL Legislative and Case Law Update, 2010
• “Post-Death Spousal Rights Litigation,” 29th Annual Attorney/Trust Officer Liaison Conference, 2010
• “Till Death Do Us Part: Post-Death Challenges to Marriages and Spousal Rights,” Collier County Bar Association Trust & Estates Section, 2009
• “Trusts in Florida: The Outer Limits,” Florida Bar Trust Law Seminar, seminar coordinator, 2009
• “Out of the Frying Pan and Into the Fire: Post-Death Challenges to Marriages and Spousal Rights,” Palm Beach County Bar Association’s 26th Annual Estate and Probate Seminar, 2009
• “Professional Development & Ethics for Paralegals,” Paralegal Association of Florida, Inc. Annual Meeting & Seminar, 2009
• “Don’t Get Stiffed by a Gift: Drafting, Enforcing and Challenging Charitable Pledges,” Florida Bar Trust and Estate Symposium, 2009
• “Designated Representatives Under the Florida Trust Code,” Panel Discussion, Martin County Estate Planning Council, 2009
• “A Primer on Directed Trusts,” Palm Beach County Bar Association’s 25th Annual Estate and Probate Seminar, 2008
• “The Nuts & Bolts of Probate, Trust and Guardianship Litigation,” National Business Institute, 2007
• “Avoiding Conflicts of Interest: Who is My Client?” Paralegal Association of Florida, Inc., Annual Meeting & Seminar, 2007
• “That Could Never Happen to Me: Ethics Issues Affecting Estate Planners & Probate Litigators,” Palm Beach County Bar Association, 2007
• “Ethical Challenges in Estate Administration,” National Business Institute, 2006-08
• “Common Issues to be Prepared for in Litigation and Probate,” National Business Institute, 2006
• “Ethical Challenges Regarding the Estates of Quarreling Families,” National Business Institute, 2006

Publications

• "Intestate Succession," Litigation Under Florida Probate Code, The Florida Bar, 6th - 13th Edition, Co-Author
• "Will Construction," Litigation Under Florida Probate Code, The Florida Bar, 6th - 13th Edition, Co-Author

Professional Associations & Memberships

• The Florida Bar's Real Property, Probate & Trust Law Section (RPPTL)
  • Chair, 2024-present
  • Chair-Elect, 2023-24
  • Probate & Trust Law Division Director, 2021-23
  • RPPTL Legislation Committee, Co-Chair, 2020-21
  • RPPTL Continuing Legal Education Coordination Committee, Co-Chair, 2018-20
  • Probate Law and Procedure Committee
    • Chair, 2013-18
    • Vice-chair, 2011-13
  • Trust Law Committee, Vice-chair, 2009-2011
  • Probate and Trust Litigation Committee
  • Guardianship, Power of Attorney, and Advance Directive Committee
• The Florida Bar Probate Rules Committee
  • Co-Chair, 2011-12
  • Committee Member, 2011-17
• Craig S. Barnard American Inn of Court LIV
  • Emeritus Member
  • President, 2011-12
  • Board Member, 2007-13
• Palm Beach County Bar Association
  • Probate & Guardianship Practice Committee
  • Estate & Probate Law CLE Committee, Vice Chair, 2007-09
• American Bar Association
  • Member of the Real Property, Trust and Estate Law Section