Title: Attorney and Principal
Company: Hapner Law
Location: Tampa, Florida, United States
Elizabeth L. Hapner, JD, Attorney and Principal at Hapner Law, has been recognized by Marquis Who’s Who Top Lawyers for dedication, achievements and leadership in the Estate Planning, Probate and Guardianship Law.
Ms. Hapner has established herself in the field of law with a career spanning more than four decades, marked by her expertise in estate planning, probate and guardianship. For the past 25 years, she has served as an attorney and principal at Hapner Law in Tampa, Florida, where she is responsible for attending court hearings, meeting with clients and managing extensive legal documentation. Ms. Hapner’s commitment to providing responsive and attentive service has been a cornerstone of her professional philosophy, contributing significantly to her reputation and success.
Before her tenure at her practice, Ms. Hapner earned judicial experience as a county judge for the 13th Judicial Circuit Court in Tampa from 1997 to 1998, where she presided over a variety of cases and gained invaluable insight into courtroom procedures and judicial decision-making. As a trial court judge, Ms. Hapner was assigned to one of the busiest county criminal divisions in all of Florida.
Ms. Hapner came from a tenured career as the sole practitioner at Elizabeth L. Hapner, PA, in Tampa from 1986 to 1996. In this capacity, she developed a robust general practice focused on client advocacy and legal strategy, with an emphasis on family law, estate planning and probate matters.
Ms. Hapner began her legal journey as an assistant public defender with the Public Defender’s Office for the 10th Judicial Circuit of Florida in Bartow in 1980. She then advanced to the role of assistant state attorney at the Hillsborough County State Attorney’s Office in Tampa from 1981 to 1986. This role encompassed gaining experience in the juvenile division, the felony division and the sex offenders division, earning the titles of special prosecutor, felony division chief and chief of county courts.
Laying a strong foundation for her legal career, Ms. Hapner earned a Bachelor of Arts in English language and literature and a Doctor of Jurisprudence from the University of Florida in Gainesville in 1978 and 1980, respectively. She continued to expand her expertise through additional credentials, including a certificate in elder tax law from Stetson Law at Stetson University in Gulfport, Florida, in 2025 and a certificate in organizational leadership from the University of South Florida in Tampa in 2020.
Ms. Hapner’s professional affiliations reflect her commitment to both legal excellence and civic engagement. She is a member of the American Bar Association, the Daughters of the American Revolution, and the Economic Club of Tampa, where she is both a member and a former board member. Ms. Hapner’s leadership extends to leadership roles with several organizations, such as the DUI Counterattack, Hillsborough, Inc., where she has held the position of treasurer since 1985, Prep as a longtime member and president, and as a member of the board of directors for the Center for Women and Women in Leadership and Philanthropy since 2019. Moreover, Ms. Hapner has been an active volunteer with The Chiselers since 2000.
Throughout her career, Ms. Hapner has also demonstrated exceptional dedication to pro bono service, which is among her proudest achievements. Her ongoing pro bono work includes serving as an attorney for Crossroads for Florida Kids, Bay Area Legal Services, the American Bar Association and the Florida Bar Association. Earlier, Ms. Hapner contributed as a pro bono attorney for the Statewide Guardian ad Litem Office from 1990 to 1996.
Ms. Hapner’s career has been distinguished by numerous state-level awards recognizing her exemplary pro bono contributions and other outstanding contributions to the field. Eager for future success, she remains committed to advancing access to justice through pro bono work while mentoring younger attorneys and college students. She is also steadfast about continuing her longstanding dedication to community service.
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