Taso M. Milonas
Top rated Estate & Trust Litigation attorney in Sarasota, Florida
Taso M. Milonas, PA
Practice areas: Estate & Trust Litigation, Estate Planning & Probate, Consumer Law; view more
Licensed in Florida since: 1985
Education: Stetson University College of Law
Selected to Super Lawyers: 2007, 2019 - 2026 Call today:
941-491-9692
Taso M. Milonas, PA
1348 Fruitville RoadSuite 202
Sarasota, FL 34236 Visit website
Details 
TASO M. MILONAS practices principally in the area of estates and trusts. A significant portion of Mr. Milonas' practice is devoted to will and trust disputes in complex litigation throughout Florida, representing both fiduciaries and beneficiaries. He has been qualified and testified as a subject-matter expert in State and Federal Courts in the areas of tax, estate planning and estate administration. Mr. Milonas received his Master of Laws in Taxation (LL.M. Tax) from the University of Florida Frederic G. Levin College of Law and law degree (J.D.) from Stetson University College of Law. He is admitted to practice before all courts in Florida, the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida and the U.S. Tax Court. Mr. Milonas is a Florida Bar Board Certified Tax Lawyer. Currently, less than 5% of all attorneys admitted to practice in Florida are Board Certified. He has consistently achieved the highest peer-review ratings, including: Martindale-Hubbell’s AV Preeminent* peer review rating. This is the highest available rating presented to attorneys demonstrating high legal ability and a ethical integrity; Florida Trend’s Legal Elite; and Florida Super Lawyers. Mr. Milonas has served in leadership roles on the Executive Council of the Florida Bar Tax Section for many years and was recently appointed by the President of the Florida Bar to serve on the Florida Bar Tax Certification Committee. He is a published author frequent lecturer on probate litigation, estate planning and tax.
*AV®, AV Preeminent®, Martindale-Hubbell Distinguished and Martindale-Hubbell Notable are certification marks used under license in accordance with the Martindale-Hubbell certification procedures, standards and policies. Martindale-Hubbell® is the facilitator of a peer review rating process. Ratings reflect the anonymous opinions of members of the bar and the judiciary. Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Rating™ fall into two categories – legal ability and general ethical standards.
Practice areas
Estate & Trust Litigation, Estate Planning & Probate, Consumer Law, Tax: ConsumerFocus areas
Auto Dealer Fraud, Consumer Protection, Fraud, Identity Theft, Probate & Estate Administration
- 50% Estate & Trust Litigation
- 30% Estate Planning & Probate
- 10% Consumer Law
- 10% Tax: Consumer
First Admitted: 1985, Florida
Professional Webpage: https://www.wealthlawgroup.com/biography
Bar / Professional Activity
- Member, Executive Council, Florida Bar Tax Section; Former Director, Federal Tax Division; Editor, Tax Section Articles to Florida Bar Journal; Member, Florida Bar Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section; Qualified as subject-matter expert on tax, trust and estate matters in state and federal court; Certified Circuit Court Mediator
- Member, Sarasota County Bar Association
- Vice-Chair of the Gratuitous Transfers (Estate and Gift Tax) Committee
- Chair of the Taxation of Business Organizations & Individuals Committee
- All state courts in Florida
- U.S. Tax Court
- Florida Bar, Member
Representative Clients
- Mr. Milonas has represented a diverse group of individuals and industries during his career, including: trustees and trust beneficiaries; personal representatives and estate beneficiaries; professionals and corporate executives; closely-held family businesses; physicians and medical groups; agribusinesses (including cattle, ranching, citrus, sugarcane, sod & timber); manufacturing; retail; financial services; real estate developers, owners and investors; technology and start-ups; petroleum marketers; convenience store chain operators; automobile dealers (foreign & domestic); mobile home park owners; and professional athletes (NFL, MLB, tennis, & golf)
Transactions
- Experienced in a wide range of tax, business and estate planning matters. Representative cases include: $1 Billion IPO. Tax and estate planning counsel in connection with pre-IPO planning for closely-held family hospitality and entertainment business. $500,000,000 agribusiness. Tax and estate planning counsel to closely-held family agribusiness engaged in cattle, ranching, citrus, sugar, timber, sod and land development. $350,000,000 estate administration. Estate counsel for mega-estate during four year period of administration, including, but not limited to: monthly meetings of family members and other advisors; coordination with family office; advice in connection with sale of $200 million block of publicly-traded stock; sale of $80 million art collection; administration and sale of family’s personal aircraft; administration and distribution of megayacht; administration of multiple family residences located throughout the U.S. and abroad; advice in connection with allocation of income and expenses under Florida Uniform Principal and Income Act; estate litigation; and reformation of irrevocable trust to correct adverse tax consequences. $200,000,000 business sale. Tax advisor in connection with sale of closely-held technology company, including, but not limited to: meeting with owner and other advisors; analysis and review of purchase and sale agreements; and related tax planning. $200,000,000 family foundation. Tax advisor in connection with establishing and funding family foundation, including, but not limited to: meeting with donor and other advisors; selection of executive director and board of directors. $150,000,000 estate plan. Tax and personal counsel to seller of closely-held manufacturing business, including, but not limited to: regular meetings with family members and other advisors; coordinate with family office; preparation of all personal and estate planning documents; formation of business and investment entities for various assets, including 25,000 acre ranch, personal aircraft, and multiple residences. $150,000,000 automobile dealership sale. Tax and corporate counsel in connection with owner’s proposed sale of large automobile dealership and related real estate holdings, including, but not limited to: regular meetings with family members, business brokers, and other advisors; preparation of sales and purchase agreements; and negotiations with prospective buyers. $130,000,000 estate plan. Tax advice in connection with estate plan, including, but not limited to: meeting with client and other advisors; proposed $100 million real estate development; and expatriation of client to foreign jurisdiction for tax planning purposes. $100,000,000 estate plan. Tax and corporate counsel for closely-held insurance business and its principal owner, including, but not limited to: meetings with client and other advisors; pre- and post-IPO planning; preparation of all personal estate planning documents. $100,000,000 pre-nuptial agreement. Tax planning in connection with structuring pre-nuptial agreement for principal owner of large chain of retail stores. $100,000,000/year family business. Tax and corporate counsel to multi-brand franchised gasoline retailer, including, but not limited to: quarterly meetings with family members and other advisors; formation of state-wide convenience store and mini-mart operations; personal and estate planning for principal owners; and administration of majority owner’s estate following his death. $100,000,000/year family business. Tax and corporate counsel for chain of closely-held retail stores, including, but not limited to: regular meetings with family members and other advisors; various corporate restructuring matters; personal and estate planning for principal owners; and administration of majority owner’s estate following his death. $80,000,000 stock swap. Tax and personal advisor in connection with exchange of owner's stock in private technology company with stock in public technology company and subsequent sale. $75,000,000 business sale. Tax and corporate counsel for closely-held marketing and advertising group, including, but not limited to: meetings with client, other advisors; meetings with prospective purchaser (a venture capital group) and purchaser's legal counsel; draft contract for purchase and sale; formation of various entities; all personal and estate planning for sole owner; and personal security planning for family, including interview former Secret Service personnel. $70,000,000 estate plan. Tax and legal counsel in connection with estate planning for commercial real estate owner and developer, including, but not limited to: regular meetings with client and other advisors; preparation of all personal and estate planning documents; advice in connection with second marriage and pre-nuptial planning; charitable gift and personal family foundation planning. $50,000,000 tax audit. Tax counsel in connection with "Son of BOSS" tax shelter audit and related litigation, including, but not limited to: meetings with client, IRS personnel, and litigation counsel; analysis and review of tax shelter promoter documents; and related tax planning. $50,000,000 insurance trust. Tax and legal counsel in connection with acquisition of large life insurance policy, but not limited to: meetings with client/insured, trustee and financial advisors; preparation of multiple trusts to be owner and beneficiary of policy; and gift and estate tax planning. $50,000,000 divorce. Tax counsel in connection with divorce of large real estate developer, including, but not limited to: meetings with client and divorce counsel; analysis and review of proposed marital settlement agreement; and related tax planning. $50,000,000 estate plan. Tax and personal counsel in connection with estate planning for principal owner of closely-held waste management business, including, but not limited to: regular meetings with client and other advisors; preparation of all personal and estate planning documents; charitable gift and personal family foundation planning; $35,000,000 mobile home park sale. Tax counsel in connection with sale of family-owned mobile home park, including, but not limited to: meetings with owner and other advisors; contract review; and tax planning to minimize capital gains taxes. $25,000,000 insurance trust. Tax and legal counsel in connection with acquisition of large life insurance policy, including, but not limited to: meetings with client/insured, trustee and financial advisors; preparation of irrevocable life insurance trust to be owner and beneficiary of policy; and related gift and estate tax planning. $20,000,000 insurance trust. Tax and legal counsel in connection with acquisition of large life insurance policy, including, but not limited to: meetings with client/insured, trustee and financial advisors; preparation of irrevocable life insurance trust to be owner and beneficiary of policy; and related gift and estate tax planning. $20,000,000 estate administration. Estate counsel for administration of estate of deceased business owner, including, including, but not limited to: meetings with co-personal representatives, co-trustees, family members, and other advisors; prepare all probate pleadings; prepare all federal and state estate tax returns; handle all phases of IRS estate audit and examination; and structure deferred payment plan for unpaid estate taxes under Internal Revenue Code §6166. $17,000,000 insurance trust. Tax and legal counsel in connection with acquisition of large life insurance policy, including, but not limited to: meetings with client/insured, trustee and financial advisors; preparation of irrevocable life insurance trust to be owner and beneficiary of policy; and related gift and estate tax planning. $15,000,000 insurance trust. Tax and legal counsel in connection with acquisition of large life insurance policy, including, but not limited to: meetings with client/insured, trustee and financial advisors; preparation of irrevocable life insurance trust to be owner and beneficiary of policy; and related gift and estate tax planning. $10,000,000 mobile home park sale. Tax and legal counsel in connection with sale of family-owned mobile home park, including, but not limited to: meetings with owner and other advisors; contract review; and tax planning to minimize capital gains taxes. $10,000,000 guardianship. Legal counsel in connection with determination of incapacity of real estate developer, including, but not limited to: meetings with family members and out-of-state counsel; preparation of court pleadings; attendance at all court proceedings; advise family in connection with ongoing business operations. $9,000,000 ranch sale. Tax and legal counsel in connection with sale of family-owned cattle ranch, including, but not limited to: meetings with owner and other advisors; preparation of purchase and sale agreement; and tax planning to minimize capital gains taxes. $9,000,000 insurance trust. Tax and legal counsel in connection with acquisition of large life insurance policy, but not limited to: meetings with client/insured, trustee and financial advisors; preparation of irrevocable life insurance trust to be owner and beneficiary of policy; and related gift and estate tax planning. $5,000,000 gift. Tax counsel in connection with gift to client's alma mater, including, but not limited to: meetings with donor and development officers; research state matching grants; and related tax planning
Special Licenses / Certifications
- Florida Bar Board Certified Tax Lawyer, 2017
- Certified Circuit Court Mediator, 2017
Pro bono / Community Service
- Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (North Florida, Central Florida and Southwest Florida Chapters) as a Board Member, Executive Board Member, and Co-Chair of the Planned Giving Committee, 2017
- Johns Hopkins All Children's Foundation Planned Giving Committee, 2017
Educational Background
- University of Florida Frederic G. Levin College of Law, Master of Laws (LL.M.) in Taxation
- University of Tampa, B.A.
Scholarly Lectures / Writings
- Mr. Milonas is a published author and has spoken extensively before professional and other groups on tax, business and estate planning
Honors
- AV Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell, 2019
- Recipient, Who’s Who in American Law
- 10/10 Rating, Avvo
- Recipient, Florida Super Lawyers
- Florida Trend's Legal Elite, Florida Trend, 2017
Office location for Taso M. Milonas
1348 Fruitville Road
Suite 202
Sarasota, FL 34236
Phone: 941-491-9692
Selections
9 Years Super Lawyers
- Super Lawyers: 2007, 2019 - 2026
