Judi Cowart
Judith L. Cowart was born and raised in Wilmington, Delaware. In 1985 she graduated from Seton Hall University in South Orange, New Jersey with Bachelor of Arts degrees in Asian Studies (concentration in Japanese language) and Classical Studies. She received her Juris Doctor from Florida Coastal School of Law in 2003. The years between her undergraduate and law school studies were spent devoting herself to her family.
Ms. Cowart has helped provide security and peace of mind to hundreds of families and individuals by protecting assets from the high cost of long-term care in her planning practice: elder law, trust and estate planning and administration, guardianship, special needs planning, and business succession planning. Ms. Cowart has also assisted countless families in fulfilling their adoption dreams in her adoption practice. Ms. Cowart views her law practice as a ministry and seeks to serve her clients through the ethical practice of law, ministering to the poor, reconciling people in conflict, and defending life. She became an Allied Attorney with the Alliance Defending Freedom in 2009 to further this goal.
Judi is a member of the Florida Bar and admitted to practice before the United States Middle District of Florida. She is a member of the Real Property, Probate & Trust Law, Elder Law, and General Practice sections of the Florida Bar. Ms. Cowart is a member of the Society of Financial Service Professionals and the Northeast Florida Planned Giving Council. Ms. Cowart served as president and on the Board of Directors of the Florida Coastal Alumni Association from 2006-2013, the Society of Financial Service Professionals from 2012 to present and the Jacksonville Christian Legal Society.
Her community involvement includes the Jacksonville Christian Legal Society Pro Bono Project at the City Rescue Mission and various ministries at her church.
Outside the practice of law, she maintains a busy training schedule and has competed in long distance running and cycling events including the Desert R.A.T.S.6-day stage race in Utah in 2012, 2013, and 2017, the Raid Alpinein 2014, and the Tour de Francetour in 2015.
Frederick R. Short, Jr.
Officially retired at the end of 2018, Fred remains invaluable as our senior know it all Of Counsel. Fred was in private practice for over 50 years and was a frequent speaker estate planning, probate, and asset protection planning. As a Florida Bar Board Certified Tax Lawyer for over 35 years Fred concentrated his practice in the areas of estate planning, probate, taxation, business law, and asset protection strategies. Fred is a graduate of DePauw University and Vanderbilt University Law School and held countless leadership positions at the local and State Bar level throughout his career. He is now enjoying time with his beloved wife Janet.