Mary Karr

Overview

Mary Karr is a shareholder in the Private Wealth Services group in Gunster's Miami office. She is a fellow at The American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC).

Mary has extensive experience in domestic and international estate planning, probate and trust administration, trust and estate litigation and tax controversy.

Mary represents high net worth individuals in all aspects of estate planning, including tax planning, gift giving, all types of trusts, family limited partnerships, charitable planning, charitable foundation and other transactions. She also has extensive experience with judicial and non-judicial trust modifications, trust reformations, trust decanting transactions, all aspects of complicated trust administrations, will contests and disputed guardianship matters.

Honors

  • AV Preeminent Rating by Martindale-Hubble
  • The Best Lawyers in America®
    • Tax Law, 2013-22
    • Trusts & Estates, 2013-25
    • Trusts & Estates Litigation, 2023-25
  • Florida Trend’s “Legal Elite,” Trusts and Estates
  • Florida Super Lawyers, 2010-23
    • Estate Planning and Probate, 2010-21
    • “Rising Star,” Estate Planning and Probate, 2010-12
  • Aventura Magazine, “Top Lawyers,” Trusts and Estates, 2021-22
  • Florida Trend’s “Legal Elite, Up and Comer,” Trusts and Estates, 2004
  • “Best of the Bar,” South Florida Business Journal, Taxation and Trusts and Estates

News & Insights

  • "Conflicts of Laws and Other Jurisdictional Issues in Trusts and Estates Practice," presenter, The American College of Trust and Estate Council, 2023 Florida Fellows Meeting, July 2023
  • "Conflict of Law Issues in Probate," presenter, Florida Bar RPPTL Section, RPPTL Probate Law Seminar, November 2022
  • "Directed Trusts," presenter, Florida Banker's Association, 62nd Annual Trust and Wealth Management Conference, September 2021
  • "Protecting an Inheritance in the Event of Divorce," presenter, Estate Planning Council of Greater Miami & Coral Gables Estate Planning Council, May 2021
  • "Protecting an Inheritance in the Event of Divorce," Florida Bar Journal, July 2020
  • "Revocable Trust Execution Requirements: A Notary is Not Needed," 2020-04-24- RPPTl COVID-19 - Execution of Revocable Trust and Notary.pdf, April 2020
  • "Multi-Jurisdictional Issues in Probate," presenter, Florida Bar RPPTL Section, RPPTL Probate Law Seminar, November 2019
  • "International Trusts & Estates," presenter, ABA Section of International Law, International Law 101 Bootcamp Program, July 2018
  • "Great News: We can Finally Decant Those HEMS Trusts," presenter, Florida Bar RPPTL Section, 38th Annual RPPTL Legislative & Case Law Update, June 2018
  • "Off the Beaten Path: Unique and Complicated Issues in Probate," presenter, Florida Bar RPPTL Section, RPPTL Probate Law Seminar, December, 2014
  • "Will the True Intent of the Grantor be Honored? Modification and Reformation of Trusts," presenter, Florida Bar RPPTL Section, RPPTL Litigation and Trust Law Symposium, May 2012
  • “Virtual Representation: Is It Just Smoke and Mirrors,” Litigation and Trust Law Symposium, May 2013
  • “Will the True Intent of the Grantor Be Honored? Modification and Reformation of Trusts,” Florida Bar, May 2012
  • “Florida Probate, Trust and Estate Case Law Update,” Collier County Bar Association and The Corporate Fiduciaries of Southwest Florida, co-authored written materials, May 2012
  • “Irrevocable Trusts,” Estate Planning Council, November 2011
  • “Florida Probate, Trust and Estate Case Law Update,” Collier County Bar Association and The Corporate Fiduciaries of Southwest Florida, co-authored written materials, May 2011
  • “Directed Trusts and Delegation of Duties to Agents and Trustees,” Florida Bar, December 2008
  • “Directed Trusts: The Statutory Approaches to Authority and Liability,” 35 Estate Planning 7, co-authored, September 2008
  • Guest lecturer in “Certified Financial Planning” course, Barry University, 2003-07 annually
  • “New Trust Code Law in Florida,” continuing legal education course, July and September 2007
  • “Wise Women — Creating a Family Heirloom,” presented by Gibraltar Bank, October 2006
  • “Overview of Estate Planning,” continuing legal education course, 2005 and 2006
  • “Tax Shelter Rules,” Holland & Knight Private Wealth Services CLE, presented with Andrew H. Weinstein and Jonathan Strouse, April 2004
  • “Implications of Proposed Circular 230,” Holland & Knight Institute, presented with Andrew H. Weinstein, February 2004
  • “Tax Shelters — The Ethical Dilemma,” Philip E. Heckerling Institute on Estate Planning, co-authored, January 2004
  • “Family Limited Partnerships — Legitimate Tax Planning is Approved,” Holland & Knight Private Wealth Services Newsletter, co-authored, Winter 2004
  • “Cross-Border Exchanges under Code Section 367,” NYU Institute on Federal Taxation, co-authored, November 2002
  • “Tax Considerations in Structuring Mergers and Acquisitions,” Holland & Knight Institute, co-authored, October 2002

Involvement

Professional Associations & Memberships

  • Florida Bar
    • Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section
      • Executive Council, member, 2006-10, 2015-present
      • Ad Hoc Committee on Decanting, chair, 2020-present
      • Ad Hoc Committee on Decanting, co-chair, 2016-18
      • Ad Hoc Committee on Morey v. Everbank, member, 2013
      • Diversity Committee, vice-chair, 2006-10
      • Probate and Trust Litigation Committee, member, 2006-15
      • Probate Law Committee, member, 2006-15
      • Trust Law Committee, co-vice chair, 2015-present
        • Revocable Trust Subcommittee, chair, 2019-present
        • Trustee Resignation Subcommittee, chair, 2020
        • Directed Trust Subcommittee, member, 2018-19
        • Joint Subcommittee on Limitations Applicable to Trustee's Failure to Account (in light of Corya v. Sanders), member, 2014-15
        • Multiple Trustee Fees Subcommittee, member, 2013-15
        • Directed Trust Subcommittee, member, 2013-14
        • Use of the word "distributee" subcommittee, member, 2012
  • American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC)
    • Private T&E Practice, Fellow, 2022-present

Education

  • New York University School of Law, LL.M., Taxation, 2001
  • Nova Southeastern University, J.D., summa cum laude, 2000
  • Florida Atlantic University, B.A., 1996

Admissions

  • Florida, 2000

News & Insights

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