Brett C. Barner

Principal Attorney Brett C. Barner is a native Floridian, born and raised in Palm Beach Gardens. He attended The Benjamin School from kindergarten through 12th grade. After a brief stint at Washington & Lee University in Lexington, Virginia—where he played football—Brett graduated from The University of Florida with a degree in business. Excelling academically, he put himself through law school at Nova Southeastern University Shepard Broad Law Center, supplementing his education by clerking at Freeman Barner & Associates, P.A.

Unlike many attorneys, Brett did not go directly to law school after undergrad. Instead, he gained extensive sales, management, and leadership experience during his successful tenure at Fidelity Federal Bank & Trust (now PNC Bank) and e-Numerate Solutions, Inc. (a startup software company in McLean, Virginia). This real-world business background informs his pragmatic approach to law.

Well-rounded and at ease with clients, attorneys, and judges alike, Brett brings a refreshingly transparent style to client service and representation. Brett concentrates his practice in estate, trust, guardianship, and fiduciary litigation, helping clients achieve outstanding results in complex cases before Florida trial and appellate courts, and various federal courts. His representations include trust companies and prominent American families, as well as the profound honor of advocating for two survivors of the Auschwitz concentration camp.

Selected by his peers as a “Super Lawyer” in estate and trust litigation—a recognition for the top 5% of attorneys in each state based on a patented process and peer reviews. Brett also holds the prestigious AV Preeminent® rating from Martindale-Hubbell, reflecting the highest level of professional excellence in ability and ethics.

A graduate of the Florida Fellows Institute of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC), Brett is an active member of the Florida Bar's Real Property, Probate, and Trust Law section (RPPTL). He participates in drafting new legislation and attends quarterly meetings statewide, serving on the guardianship, probate procedure, and real property litigation committees. He regularly joins discussions in probate litigation, trust law, and other committees.

Locally, Brett has co-chaired the Palm Beach County Bar Association's (PBCBA) Estate and Probate CLE Committee and Elder Law Committee. He has twice served as co-chair of the Probate and Guardianship Committee for the Bench-Bar Conference, an annual event fostering dialogue between attorneys and probate judges. He is a member of the PBCBA's Elder Law and Probate/Guardianship Practice committees. Currently, Brett is President-Elect of the Board of Directors for the North County Section of the Palm Beach Bar Association, with approximately 600 attorney and judge members; he has served on its board for several years.

Brett is also a former member of the Craig S. Barnard American Inn of Court LIV in West Palm Beach, part of the American Inns of Court, which promotes skills, professionalism, and ethics in the legal community.

As Principal Attorney, Brett stewards Barner & Barner as the living professional legacy of Freeman Warren Barner, Jr. He welcomes the opportunity to assist you with your estate, trust, guardianship, and fiduciary litigation needs—contact him today to discuss how he can help.