How Not to Worry About Death & Taxes
Benjamin Franklin wrote in 1789… “Nothing in this world can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.”
Margaret Mitchell said in Gone With the Wind, circa 1936, “Death, taxes and childbirth! There’s never a convenient time for any of them.” Little has changed over the years except now we can be better advised.
Paradise NEWS is proud to introduce a local law firm with specializations in areas that most of our readers are either dealing with already, or will deal with in coming years. We are excited to introduce Samantha Chechele as the newest “advice columnist” for Paradise NEWS. In coming issues, Samantha will write with advice about the subjects in which her firm specializes. Many of our readers are of an age where planning involves creating trusts, living wills and more. It just seems to make sense for her firm to be handling filing federal forms for us, to help take away our worries about death and taxes.
She is also certified in Veteran’s Aid and Attendance Care, a benefit for senior Veterans, spouses, or surviving spouses of Veterans, over 65, (with qualifying dates of service), who are in need of assistance with some activities of daily living. She has helped veterans or their surviving spouses obtain substantial monthly payments under this benefit.
Twenty-six years ago, as a young and idealistic attorney, she decided to leave the large firm where she’d been since graduating from law school to launch her own law firm! The large firm structure had been great for learning and experience but Samantha wanted to be able to provide more personalized service to clients and have a flexible schedule to allow her to spend quality time with her daughter. She also wished to have time and resources to participate in charitable endeavors and organizations through volunteering and board membership. Chechele Law was launched in January 1991 in a one-room office in the Icot Center in Clearwater, serving a handful of clients with a part-time staff member.
Today the firm has evolved in staff and services, and now there are four Chechele daughters. While much has changed in the world and in the practice of law since 1991, Samantha’s original mission and motivations have remained the same.
Samantha prepared a living will for us 10 years ago. In the meantime Chechele Law has emerged as one of the most respected transactional law firms in St. Petersburg. They provide services in three main areas, tax, real estate, and estate planning/asset protection.
The tax services offered by the firm include tax return preparation of all types, IRS representation, QuickBooks and accounting support, payroll tax return preparation, and tax planning.
Chechele Law is an attorney title agent, and through that designation, and affiliation with Attorney’s Title Fund Services and Old Republic National Title Insurance Company, provides closing and title services for all types of real estate transactions. The firm also facilitates 1031 exchanges, purchases through self-directed IRA’s, and purchases and sales by foreign individuals.
Chechele Law serves clients who are in need of estate planning – wills, trusts, power of attorney, and other advanced life planning strategies, as well as clients who feel they may be vulnerable targets for lawsuits and want to protect their assets. It is Samantha’s belief that an appropriate estate and life plan is vital for every individual who is over the age of eighteen. Because of the firm’s commitment to helping individuals complete appropriate advance planning, prospective clients can receive a free initial consultation to review their needs, and discuss their concerns about every aspect of estate planning and asset protection. Chechele Law also handles probate matters, for individuals who did not plan ahead, or whose trusts were not adequately funded. The firm also assists clients in setting up corporations, LLC’s, not-for-profit organizations, and by consulting on when it is appropriate to set up a company for business endeavors or for asset protection purposes. Recently, Samantha became certified as an accredited Veterans Association (V.A.) benefit, attorney.
She assists Veterans in obtaining the benefits to which they are entitled because of their service. She specializes in the benefit called Veteran’s Aid and Attendance Care. It is available to Veterans, spouses of Veterans, or surviving spouses of Veterans, over the age of 65, (with qualifying dates of service), who are in need of assistance with some activities of daily living. Individuals who are interested in learning if they qualify for this benefit can contact Chechele Law and receive more information about the benefit and the application process.
Chechele Law has several other team members, who provide services to clients in the various areas of practice. Susan Wendt is the firm’s accounting and tax professional, and assists Samantha with all areas of accounting and tax. Samantha’s daughter, Faith Chechele is an intern, who assists clients with accounting and tax matters, and works for the firm part time while she majors in accounting at USF.
Mary Lou Diehl and Deborah Ralph are legal assistants who work in the areas of real estate closings and probate. They help clients work through these complex processes with diligence and tenacity, while each maintains their calm, cool and collected demeanor!
Subrina Driggers is the firm’s office manager, and also assists in the areas of estate planning, trust funding, and new company setup. She is most often the friendly voice on the phone that sets up an appointment, makes friendly reminders, and assists clients to navigate to the appropriate team member to handle their needs.
Alicia Chechele is another second-generation Chechele working at the firm. A USF grad, Alicia assists clients with estate planning and asset protection, and is coordinator for the Veteran’s Aid and Attendant Care services for the firm.
Samantha’s passion for community service is evident in the many charitable endeavors that she supports. She is a graduate of the St. Petersburg Chamber of Commerce’s Leadership St. Pete Program. She serves on the board of directors of two related organizations, Florida Dream Center and the U.S. Institute Against Human Trafficking, both faith-based organizations which serve individuals who are experiencing life-altering challenges and who need a hand up to become productive members of society. A breast cancer survivor, Samantha is also a committee chair for the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer event taking place on October 14, 2017, in Vinoy Park, St. Petersburg. This event raises money and awareness in support of breast cancer prevention, assistance to those who are on the journey of fighting breast cancer, and supporting research to eradicate this disease. Samantha also serves on the Alumni Board of Governors for her alma mater, Washburn University School of Law.
Their comfortable office is located in a repurposed home at 7127 1st Ave. S., one block south of Central Ave. at 72nd St. in St. Petersburg.
What does the future hold for Chechele Law, we asked Samantha? “Undoubtedly, continuing to provide excellent service to clients all over the State of Florida and beyond, to serve the community with involvement in many charitable organizations and endeavors, and to develop the next generation of the family to take over the firm and continue the legacy.”
“The team at Chechele Law would welcome the opportunity to meet you and your family when the need arises and you need a law firm that cares deeply about their clients and the community they have served for over a quarter of a century.”
If you have a question or a topic that you would like to see covered in an upcoming column, please contact Samantha at her office at 727-381-6001, or by email at Samantha@chechelelaw.com, or visit online at www.chechelelaw.com.
Article By Peter Roos