TheFloridaBarLindaAllanGuardianAdLit.pdf

When Guardianship Becomes a Business: My Experience with a Court-Appointed Guardian ad Litem Case 22-10189ES Pinellas Court.

In 2022, after the passing of my husband Frank, our family entered the probate process. As part of that process, the court appointed attorney Linda Ruth Allan to serve as Guardian ad Litem Attorney for my teenage daughter Caroline. Her role was supposed to be simple: represent the best interests of my daughter in matters related to her father’s estate.

The appointment came with a fee of $350 per hour, to be paid not by the court, but directly out of my late husband’s estate—the same estate meant to support me and my daughters as beneficiaries.

Linda Allan later reported that she spent 37 hours on this assignment. That translates into more than $12,000 in fees. Yet the court never established how many hours were necessary to complete her job. No guidelines were provided. No one supervised her time. In the end, she controlled her own clock, and every billable hour came from the estate my husband built for his family.

This raises serious questions:

Who protects the beneficiaries when the “protector” is billing freely from their inheritance?

Why is there no system to supervise or limit the hours of a Guardian ad Litem?

Shouldn’t the court—not the estate—be responsible for paying fees for its own appointees, especially when the beneficiaries are minors?

In my case, what should have been a short and focused role turned into a substantial cost—money that should have been preserved for my daughter’s future. Instead, it became another example of how probate proceedings often turn into a business where attorneys profit first, and families come last.

This experience has left me asking a larger question that affects many families in Florida: Are guardians ad litem truly protecting children, or are they another layer of fees in an already expensive and painful legal process.

1. The Florida Bar

651 East Jefferson Street
Tallanassee, FL 32389-7300
Joshua E, Doyle 8s01861-5600
Executive Director worn floridabar.org
September 17, 2025

Ms. Alessandra O. Kurchinski
969 Sunrise Drive
‘Tarpon Springs, FL 34689

Re: Linda Ruth Allan; RFA No, 26-3085
Dear Ms. Kurchinski

Your correspondence regarding the above-named attomey has been referred to me for
review. The Florida Bar isthe licensing agency for attorneys admitted to practice law in
the State of Florida. The Florida Bar regulates attorney conduct and if disciplinary
action is warranted, itis taken against the attorney's license to practice law.

‘The Supreme Court of.Florida has ruled that the disciplinary process is not to be used
as a substitute for court proceedings and remedies. See The Florida Bar v, Della
Donna, 583 So.2d 307 (Fla. 1986). I appears that the case referenced in your complaint
has already been litigated in a court of competent jurisdiction. The Florida Bars
‘grievance procedures are not an avenue for appeal or reconsideration, and as such, the
Bar does not review substantive issues that could have been raised (or were.
unsuccessfully raised) in an underlying legal proceeding,

‘This determination does not preclude you however, from consulting a private attorney
andlor exercising any legal remedies which may be availabe to you

In ght of te foregoing, is le has been closed fective Sepember 17, 2025
Pursuant toto Bars Bord een schedule. e compet eco! an Re fis
Fedor lo Taped of one jour bane dl eae
—
PO
Late
Chistpher Stephen Wackes, Bar Counsel

‘Attorney Consumer Assistance Program
‘ACAP Hotline [phone]

cc: Ms. Linda Ruth Allan (with enclosure)

2. ‘Alessandra Kurchinski
969 Sunrise Drive
‘Tarpon Springs, FL 34689

‘September 25, 2025

Christopher Stephen Wackes, Bar Counsel
Attorney Consumer Assistance Program
‘The Florida Bar

651 E. Jefferson Street

Tallahassee, FL 32399-2300

Re: Response to Closure of File - Linda Ruth Allan;

Dear Mr. Wackes,

‘Thank you for your letter dated September 17, 2025, regarding my
‘complaint concerning attomey Linda Ruth Allan.

| acknowledge your explanation of the role of The Florida Bar and the
limitations of the disciplinary process, particularly as it pertains to matters already
‘addressed in court. While | am disappointed by the outcome, | appreciate your time
‘and attention in reviewing my concerns.

AL this time, | will consider the option of consulting with a private
attorney to explore any legal remedios that may sill be available to me.

Thank you again for your assistance.

premi
oy

Kurchinski