Jeffrey S. Goethe

Personal

Jeff Goethe was raised in Bradenton and graduated from Manatee High School in 1982. Jeff was a member of the 1981 District Championship football team at Manatee and continued to play football for four years at Maryville College in Tennessee, while maintaining a Presidential Scholarship for academics. After earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in History at Maryville College, Jeff attended the University of Tennessee College of Law from 1987 to 1990. He enlisted in the U.S. Army Reserves in 1986 and transferred to the Florida Army National Guard where he served until 1992. Jeff lives in Bradenton with his wife, Jeannie. Together, they have raised seven children.

Community

Jeff's community involvement has included:

• The Hernando DeSoto Historical Society;
• The Board of Directors of the Manatee County Boys and Girls Clubs;
• Volunteer Pop Warner football coach;
• Volunteer Manatee County Family YMCA Coach; and
• Catechist, St. Joseph Catholic Church's Parrish School of Religion.

Professional Organizations

Jeff strongly believes in the value of active participation in professional organizations as a way to stay current on developments in the law, to share experiences with highly skilled lawyers in Florida and across the county, and as a way to help younger lawyers and his clients. His memberships, including committees and leadership positions within those organizations, include:

• The American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (2014 to present)
  • Elder Law Committee
  • Asset Protection Committee
• The American Bar Association
  • Real Property, Trusts and Estates Section
  • Fellow, The American Bar Foundation (2020-present)
• The Florida Bar (1990 to present)
• Member, The Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section
  • 2023 Robert C. Scott Memorial Award
  • 2016 John Arthur Jones Annual Service Award
  • Executive Council (2010 to present)
  • Florida Bar Journal Committee (2013-2021; Co-Editor 2015-2021)
  • Wills, Trusts and Estates Certification Review Course Committee (2012-2021; Chair 2015-2021)
  • Probate Law and Procedure Committee (2009 to present; Co-Vice Chair 2010-2011 and 2019-2020)
  • Homestead Issues Study Committee (2007 to present; Co-Chair 2016-2020; Chair 2020-2022)
• Member, Elder Law Section
• Author, Chapter 14 – Final Distribution and Discharge, Practice Under the Florida Probate Code, 12th edition (The Florida Bar 2024)
• Co-Author, Chapter 11 – Compensation Disputes, Litigation Under the Florida Probate Code, 14th Edition (The Florida Bar 2024)
• Author, 2020 – A Challenging Year for Keeping Up With Changes to Probate and Guardianship Rules and Statues (The Florida Bar Journal, March 2021)
• Co-Author, Homestead Planning Under Florida's New “Safe Harbor” Statute (The Florida Bar Journal, May 2019)
• Author, Trust Protectors Under Current Florida Law (The Florida Bar Journal, June 2017)
• The Florida Probate Rules Committee
  • Member (2006-2012; 2014-2020; and 2026 to present)
  • Chair (2010-2011 and 2019-2020)
• The Florida Rules of Judicial Administration Committee (2020-2026)
• The Manatee County Bar Association
  • Member (1991-present)
  • President (2014-2015)
• Lecturer and author for various professional groups in the areas of probate and estate planning.

Jeff has attained several professional ratings based upon his experience and reviews from his peers:

• Board-Certified by The Florida Bar as a specialist in Wills, Trusts and Estates (2010-present)
• “Superior” rating from the AVVO attorney rating service
• “AV-Preeminent” peer review rating through Martindale-Hubbell
• “Super Lawyer” recognition by Thomson Reuters through its peer review process. (2017-present)
• 2025 edition of The Best Lawyers in America® for: Litigation – Trusts and Estates; and Trusts and Estates.  His profile can be viewed here:  www.bestlawyers.com

To schedule an initial appointment, please call 941-741-8224.

Military

U.S. Army Reserves (1986); Florida Army National Guard (1986-1992)

Admission Details

• 1990, Florida

Education

• University of Tennessee College of Law, Class of 1990, J.D.
• Maryville College, Class of 1986, B.A.

Associations & Memberships

• Manatee County Bar Association
• The Florida Bar, Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section
• The Florida Bar, Elder Law Section
• Past Chair, Florida Probate Rules Committee

Certifications

• Board Certified by the Florida Bar as a specialist in Wills, Trusts & Estates Law
• Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel