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ROSE SANDRA QUESTEL-MACHADO 5745 SW 19th Street, Miami, Florida

(786) 423-0094

E-mail: [email protected]

LEGAL ASSISTANT/SECRETARY

Experienced, bilingual executive legal assistant/secretary with over 25 years of legal expertise, with excellent office and client relations skills, seeking a position within an estate and trust/real estate department where a working knowledge of legal terminology, general law, and legal proceedings pertaining to the following case types will be fully utilized and expanded. Trusts, Wills & Estates

Real Estate

Corporate

Litigation

Detail-oriented with excellent research, investigative, organizational and reporting skills. Exercise independent judgment and decision-making abilities, and a high level of confidentiality. Uphold the ethical standards of the legal profession. Internet Explorer 7 Office 2003 SBE (Small Business Edition – including Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Publisher) Visio 2003, Acrobat 8 Standard, BNA, ProDoc, GEMS, Fast-Tax, Accurint, AutoTrack AIM (Attorney Information Management)

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE Executive Secretary/Legal Assistant Dunwody White & Landon, P.A.

11/1995 – 07/2009

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Secretary to three Partners and two paralegals with responsibilities in areas of estate planning, estate administration, corporate and real estate.

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Drafting of Quit-Claim deeds, Warranty Deeds, Special Warranty Deeds, purchase and sale contracts, leases, sale documents, letters of intent, exhibits and closing documents; recordation of deeds; preparation of DR-219; processing expense reports, coordinating travel itineraries, arranging meetings and of tracking invoices. Research title information.

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Drafting and preparation of probate documents and forms necessary to open an estate administration proceedings (including meeting with clients to assist with gathering of information, collection of assets and general client assistance) and closing of estate administration proceedings, opening, handling and reconciling of estate bank accounts, preparation of inventory, preparation of accountings, drafting of pleadings for special proceedings, preparation of all other general probate forms, design and customize calendar system for proper monitoring of

deadlines (Estate Administration Significant Date List), calendar and monitor all deadlines (LawDex) pertaining to estate administration; respond to and comply with required court procedures including direct communication with the court’s judicial assistants, preparation of documents for ex parte hearings and/or hearings set with the judges; meet with clients to inventory home/business contents in preparation for moving and sale of property. •

Drafting and preparation of guardianship pleadings including annual accountings, physician’s report, verified inventory of guardian, and all other general guardianship forms.

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Prepare and assist attorneys for trials related to will contests. Assist with all aspects of preparing and finalizing U.S Estate Tax Returns (IRS Form 706) and its exhibits, Fiduciary Income Tax Returns (IRS Form 1041), IRS Form 56, IRS 2848, and all other general tax forms related thereto.

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Assist with the drafting of Last Will and Testament, Living Will, Health Care Surrogate, and other general estate planning documents including preliminary meeting with clients to assist with gathering of information, supervise execution of estate planning documents, and general client assistance.

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Assisted with preparation of firm invoices for clients.

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Research for escheated funds from State of Florida and other U.S. States.

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Trained staff members on updated versions of soft wares, including Word, Excel and Visio.

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Florida Notary Public

Word Processor and Computer Software Trainer Mershon, Sawyer, Johnston, Dunwody & Cole, P.A. •

2/1986 – 10/1995

Process legal documents (bankruptcy, litigation, corporate, real estate and probate). Training of personnel on current soft wares being used in the firm’s three offices. Handled requests for modems, backup of accounting system, help desk for personnel having questions on system soft wares. Some secretarial floating. Setups of special projects on Relational Database Management System. Input of new personnel to system (e-mail and general set-up for use of computer). Development of forms to be used by the various legal departments. Attendance/Research classes on specific soft wares being contemplated for use at firm. EDUCATION

Attended Miami-Dade Community College with a major in criminology. Attended Florida International University (short-term) Completed paralegal courses at Kaplan College, scheduled to take certification exam and real estate specialty exam in December 2009.

REFERENCES Emily Maza 4365 SW 5th Terrace Miami, Florida 33134 (305) 714-1752 Beatriz Lopez-Horta, CLA 3941 NW 13 Street Miami, Florida 33126 (305) 642-9147 Jorge de la Cruz-Munoz, Esq. Dunwody White & Landon, P.A. 550 Biltmore Way, Suite 810 Coral Gables, Florida 33134 William T. Muir, Esq. Dunwody White & Landon, P.A. 550 Biltmore Way, Suite 810 Coral Gables, Florida 33134