Melinda Sue Eggert, Paralegal

Sue is a senior paralegal supervisor who has lived in the Tampa Bay area since 1980 and has worked in the legal field since 1980. Sue previously worked as a legal assistant and paralegal at Holland & Knight and Hill Ward Henderson, two large Tampa-based law firms. She has focused on adoption since 1993 and has been Jeanne’s “right hand” since the inception of the firm with an unsurpassable dedication to her career and the clients we serve.

Sue is primarily responsible for termination of parental rights proceedings, contested matters, and training law firm and agency personnel. Sue has been heavily involved in some of the most significant adoption cases in Florida and has participated in over a thousand adoptions. She is married, has an adult son and daughter, and is enjoying her five grandchildren.

CONTACT DANEILLE
Daneille@jtatelaw.com
Main: 239.594.2838
Fax: 813.258.3373

Daneille Stewart, Paralegal

Daneille joined the firm in 2002 and is a paralegal who works in the Naples office, handling the needs of our clients in Southwest Florida. Daneille has been working in the legal system since 1983 and received her paralegal certificate of completion from Florida International University in 1986. She received her Certified Legal Assistant (CLA) status in 1987 from the National Association of Legal Assistants and in 1988 from the Florida Association of Legal Assistants. Daneille is also a Florida Registered Paralegal.

Daneille received an Associate in Arts Degree in Criminology from Edison Community College in 1996 and received a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Criminology from Florida Gulf Coast University in 2006. Daneille is an associate member of the Collier County Bar Association. Daneille was a founding member of the Adoption Task Force of Southwest Florida, Inc. (ATFSF) and held numerous officer positions of the organization over the years. She has been featured in Florida Legal Assistant Today and the Naples Daily News. Daneille is married with three children, all of whom are adopted, and is a licensed foster parent.

CONTACT Kim
Kim@jtatelaw.com
Main: 813.258.3355
Fax: 813.258.3373

Kim Lewis, Paralegal

Kimberly is a Paralegal in the Tampa office. She is primarily responsible for termination of parental rights cases, stepparent and second parent adoptions, relative and grandparent adoptions, contested adoptions, non-relative cases involving older children, adult adoptions, interventions, search & reunion and name changes. Kimberly began her legal career while simultaneously obtaining her undergraduate degrees. She specializes in complex litigation and brings a wealth of knowledge to the firm having worked in many different areas of law. Kimberly graduated from the University of Central Florida in 2012 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Legal Studies and a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice. Kimberly plans to further her educational pursuits and obtain her Juris Doctorate degree.

CONTACT Jennifer
Jennifer@jtatelaw.com
Main: 407.898.8015
Fax: 407.898.8215

Jennifer Miller, Paralegal

Jennifer joined the firm in May of 2018. She is now our paralegal in the Orlando office. Jennifer previously relocated from the South-Central Pennsylvania area where she had experience working in the child welfare system helping to facilitate adoptions and permanent living situations for children in foster care. She now helps our firm create families by handling termination of parental rights and finalization of adoption cases. Having previously served as our legal assistant/office manager, she is also a stable and skilled asset to our Orlando office.

CONTACT TERESA
Teresa@jtatelaw.com
Main: 813.258.3355
Fax: 813.258.3373

Teresa Anne Green, Paralegal

Teresa is a Paralegal in the Tampa office. She brings a wide variety of experience with her and works closely with Heart of Adoptions, Inc., handling termination of parental rights and finalization of adoptions for infants and older children. She is also responsible for DCF/Chapter 39 adoption finalizations, incoming adoption finalizations, and relative adoptions. Having business and accounting experience, she also assists, as needed, in our Accounting Department.

Over the course of ten years, Teresa was blessed with four children, whom she adopted through Heart of Adoptions, Inc. She has been very involved in the adoption community triad, from co-leading a birth mother support group, to adoption education, to speaking about and advocating open adoption. Teresa is thrilled to be a part of our team and playing a part in the formation of forever families!

CONTACT Lisa Lisa@jtatelaw.com
Main: 813.258.3355
Fax: 813.258.3373

Lisa M. Weiskopf, Paralegal/Administrative Assistant and Paralegal Liaison

Lisa was with the Tampa office of Jeanne T. Tate, P.A. for over 18 years as a paralegal responsible for stepparent, relative, second parent, adult, older child adoptions, name changes, terminations of parental rights and adoption finalizations. In May 2019, she returned as a paralegal/administrative assistant and paralegal liaison. As a paralegal, she is responsible for working in the area of surrogacy and finalization of adoptions, and the liaison to the other paralegals in the Orlando and Naples offices.

CONTACT Alivia
Alivia@jtatelaw.com
Main: 239.594.2838
Fax: 813.258.3373

Alivia Crowl, Legal Assistant

Alivia graduated from Saint Louis University in St. Louis, Missouri, in 2017 with a Bachelor's Degree in Criminology, Criminal Justice, and Psychology. After college, she completed a year of service with Jesuit Volunteer Corps Northwest and AmeriCorps in Sitka, Alaska, where she worked as a domestic violence advocate. Alivia continued to stay in the Pacific North West, by way of Portland, Oregon, where she worked as a property manager providing housing services to those in need. Alivia moved to Naples, Florida, in 2020 and began working at the firm.

CONTACT JUDI
info@jtatelaw.com
Main: 813.258.3355
Fax: 813.258.3373

Judi Martin, Office Manager

Judi is the firm's office manager and works out of the Tampa office. Judi joined the firm in November of 2004 and ensures that operations run smoothly by providing administrative, operational, and facility support to the staff. She is a long term valued employee who keeps all the essential parts of our firm together. Judi was previously the office manager of a local architect firm and has lived in Tampa for over 20 years. She has a wonderful daughter, Ryan.

CONTACT Melanie
Accounting@jtatelaw.com
Main: 813.384.2694
Fax: 407.898.8215

Melanie Dodd, Accountant

Melanie Dodd started with the Firm in 2021 with a strong background in all areas of accounting and budgeting. She brings that experience with her in managing the books at Jeanne T. Tate, P.A.

Melanie moved to the Tampa area in 2021 with her daughter Lucy after living in Springfield, Illinois. She previously worked for the Illinois Department of Agriculture for 20+ years, working 9 of those years in various Fiscal roles. She has vacationed in Florida and is excited to begin this new adventure in the state.

CONTACT Kristin
Accounting@jtatelaw.com
Main: 813.280.6492
Fax: 813.258.3373

Kristin Petersen, Accountant & Executive Assistant

Kristin joined Jeanne T. Tate P.A. in February 2020 as the Accounting and Executive Assistant. Kristin graduated from the University of South Florida with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration. She brings over ten years of administrative experience to our team. As an adoptive parent of two wonderful sons, Kristin is passionate about adoption and loves her role with the Firm.

CONTACT Emma
Emma@jtatelaw.com
Main: 407.898.8015
Fax: 407.898.8215

Emma Bailey, Paralegal Assistant

Emma joined the firm in January of 2021 as an Paralegal Assistant in our Orlando office. Emma is from the small town of Valrico (well it was a small town) and has lived in Florida her entire life. She graduated from the University of Florida with her bachelor’s in Early Childhood Special Education. Emma is passionate about serving others and being involved in her community.

CONTACT Brittney Brittney@jtatelaw.com
Main: 813.258.3355
Fax: 813.258.3373

Brittney Bagiardi, Business Development & Marketing Director

As our Business Development and Marketing Director, Brittney Bagiardi is passionate about promoting purpose-driven, client-centered organizations. At Jeanne T. Tate, P.A., client experience is at the heart of the Firm, and Brittney helps connect the community to the Firm’s dedicated attorneys and staff. She maintains Jeanne T. Tate, PA.’s brand identity, and implements innovative strategies to deliver crucial resources regarding adoption and surrogacy law. Brittney is a member of the Legal Marketing Association. She served as the Tampa Bay Area Chair for 2019 and 2020, Chair-elect in 2018, and Secretary for the 2017 term. She was nominated by her peers for the LMA Future Leaders Program and also received numerous awards for her community outreach within the LMA.