A native of Ormond Beach and proud graduate of Seabreeze High School, Matthew Shapiro is a partner at Rice Law Firm, where he leads a comprehensive practice in wills, trusts, estates, and real property law. With over a decade of experience, Mr. Shapiro has guided hundreds of families through estate planning, probate, and trust administration with compassion, clarity, and precision. He assists clients in drafting sophisticated estate plans tailored to their unique family and financial circumstances, ensuring their wishes are honored and their legacies preserved.
Mr. Shapiro also represents personal representatives, trustees, and beneficiaries in probate and trust proceedings, including contested matters. When disputes arise, he is an effective and strategic advocate in litigation involving will contests, trust disputes, and breaches of fiduciary duty. In addition to his estate-focused practice, he counsels clients on a broad range of real estate and property issues, including title disputes, co-ownership disagreements, and partition actions. Whether planning for the future, navigating the court system, or protecting property rights, Mr. Shapiro is known for delivering clear guidance, practical solutions, and strong results.
Mr. Shapiro earned his Juris Doctor, cum laude, from Florida International University College of Law, graduating in the top ten of his class. During law school, he served as a teaching assistant in the legal research and writing program, interned with the Fifth District Court of Appeal, and was awarded book awards in Estate Planning, Legal Research and Writing, and Employment Law. He was an associate member of the FIU Law Review, and his scholarly comment was selected for publication.
In addition to his legal practice, Mr. Shapiro frequently shares his knowledge as a guest speaker. He has appeared on PlanStrongerTV with David Holland, spoken at the Ormond Beach Chamber of Commerce’s Economic Power Hour, and participated in workshops hosted by the Small Business Development Center.
Deeply committed to his community, Mr. Shapiro served for ten years on the Ormond Beach Neighborhood Improvement Advisory Board. He is a past president of both the Dunn Blount Chapter of the American Inns of Court and the Young Lawyers Division of the Volusia County Bar Association. He has also served as general counsel for the Ormond Beach Chamber of Commerce and the Volusia Young Professionals Group. Mr. Shapiro is a graduate of Ormond Beach Leadership IX and Daytona Beach Leadership XXXIII.
