Gilmore, Alvin Irvin

Erika Dine, the firm’s founding attorney, dedicates her practice to serving the elderly population and their caretakers in Manatee and Sarasota counties. She concentrates her elder law practice in the areas of Guardianship, Probate and Estate Administration, Medicaid, Veterans Administration and Estate Planning, and Litigation involving exploitation of the elderly.

When Erika is retained, she works hard to ensure her clients understand the legal process, and that all alternatives to litigation are explored throughout the life of a case. She takes a common sense and cost-effective approach to resolving issues, but if a matter remains contested, she is fully prepared to zealously advocate for her clients. Her courtroom experience include extensive motion practice, jury and non-jury trials and evidentiary hearings before the Courts of the 12th Judicial Circuit. 

Ms. Dine’s practice focuses on elder care law and special needs planning. She strives to ensure that her client-families are in the best position possible to provide quality care for their loved ones who are aging and/or disabled while maintaining their financial security. Erika has successfully completed training courses in Long term care and public benefits estate planning, VA Aid and Attendance Pension Planning and Elder Care Planning. She is also accredited by the Veterans Administration to assist claimants in the preparation, presentation and prosecution of claims for benefits. 

Erika’s commitment to the community extends far beyond courtrooms and conference rooms. For the past two years, Erika has combined forces with prosecutors in the area to teach a seminar regarding exploitation of the elderly to law enforcement, and in 2010, she taught a course section on the same topic as part of the Florida Bar certification course for elder law attorneys. Assisting indigent and elderly individuals is very important to Erika. In addition to providing hundreds of hours of pro bono legal services each year, Erika dedicated significant time and energy through 2012 by serving as a Director for Aging Safely, Inc., a non-profit organization providing guardianship services to indigent members of Manatee and Sarasota counties.

Erika has been a member of numerous professional organizations throughout her career, and her current memberships include:
- Manatee Chapter of the Florida Association of Women Lawyers
(Member since 2006 and current President)
- Elder Counsel
- Sarasota County Bar Association
- Manatee County Bar Association
- Florida Bar Association
(Young Lawyers Division, Real Property Probate & Trust Law & Elder Law Sections, and formerly co-chaired the Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation Committee of the Elder Law Section)

Erika Dine earned her J.D. from Stetson University College of Law in 2002. Prior to entering private practice, she was the Director of Research for the Elder Consumer Protection Project at Stetson University College of Law and was an Assistant State Attorney for the 12th Judicial Circuit of Florida in Manatee County.