James Willis (ret.)
James Willis devotes his practice primarily to real estate, including residential, condominium, and commercial transactions. He is also engaged in estate planning and estate administration, including probate and trust administration. He is currently a member of the Collier County Bar Association and the Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Florida Bar Section.
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His experience in real estate transactions includes Florida Lien Law compliance on the construction of the original Coastland Mall and the Naples Grand Hotel, also handled closings on site acquisitions of The Southland Corporation (7-11 stores), and the legal documentation of the creation of numerous condominiums, and refinancing of the Ritz Carlton.
Mr. Willis won the Lawyers’ Cooperative Publishing Company Book Award for highest grade in Estate Planning at Duke Law School and has also taught Probate & Estate Planning courses at Barry University.
Education
University of the South, B.A. 1969 with Honors in Political Science and Philosophy.
Duke University, J.D. 1972
Duke Post Graduate Studies 2001-2002
University of Oxford, Post-Graduate Studies 2002
Admissions
Florida State Courts
Recent News
From the desk of Willis & Davidow
Florida Construction Liens 2026: A Property Owner’s Guide to Contesting Fraudulent Liens
Fraud is a complete defense to enforcement of a construction lien under Florida law. If you...
The “Small Estate” Affidavit in Florida: Do You Qualify for Simplified Probate in 2026?
While Florida doesn’t have a “small estate” affidavit like some other states, it still has...
Florida Probate Timeline 2026: How Long Does it Take to Settle an Estate in Naples?
When you lose a loved one in Florida, administering his or her estate is a necessary part of the...