Managing Partner

Tom Stanley

Tom Stanley is a Board Certified Attorney in Wills, Estates, and Trusts and Board Certified Attorney in Real Estate. As of 2017, Tom is one of only four attorneys in the State of Florida holding both of these Board Certified Specialist designations.   These certifications by the Florida Bar require peer recommendation, experience, and a written examination. Tom is a third generation attorney and member of the Law Firm of MacMillan & Stanley. The firm was started in 1946 in Delray Beach by his grandfather, Neil E. MacMillan. Tom practices in the areas of trusts and estates, complex residential and commercial transactions, site planning for commercial projects, and closely held business interests.

Education: Tom graduated from Atlantic High School in Delray Beach in 1995. He attained an International Baccalaureate degree. At that time, Tom was the first Atlantic High School student to attend Princeton University since 1977. At Princeton he majored in history and graduated in 1999. Tom devoted his extracurricular hours to the varsity football team where he started at tight end and received the Charles W. Caldwell Memorial Trophy. Tom graduated from Florida State University Law School in Tallahassee in 2002; he was on the Dean’s List and received the “Book Award” in his estate planning class.

Community Involvement: Tom, a life long native of Delray Beach, is active in the local community.  He is currently involved in the following organizations: Town Commissioner of the Town of Gulf Stream; board member of the Boys and Girls Club of Delray Beach; member of Board of Trustees of the Gulf Stream School.  Tom has previously served as President of the Delray Beach Historical Society (a “non profit”) and as Chairman of the Delray Beach Historic Preservation Board (a “city planning board”).

Hobbies:  Tom has actively participated in equestrian activities for over 35 years.  He also enjoys tennis and golf.

Family:  Tom is married to his wife of over 17 years, Kirsten Stanley.

Associate Attorney

Nicholas Ritornato

We are pleased to announce that Nicholas Ritornato has joined the Firm as of July 15, 2022.   

Nicholas will begin practicing in the areas of complex residential and commercial transactions, site planning for commercial projects, and closely held business interests.

Life and Education: Nicholas is a first-generation attorney and a lifelong local of the South Florida community. Born and raised in Coconut Creek, Nicholas graduated from Monarch High School in 2014 before attending Florida State University for his undergraduate degree. Nicholas graduated from Florida State in 2018 with a Bachelor of Science in Political Science, Major in Economics, and Minor in Psychology.

Nicholas then enrolled in the University of Miami School of Law, where he graduated with his Juris Doctor degree in 2022. Nicholas was also a two-year member of the University of Miami Law Review, serving on its Executive Board as an Articles & Comments Editor during his second year with the organization.

Community Involvement: During his four years in Tallahassee while a student at Florida State, Nicholas was involved with many philanthropic endeavors, including Dance Marathon at FSU, Relay for Life, the Florida State Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities, and through the Delta Chi Fraternity. After moving to Miami for law school, Nicholas participated in the Investor Rights Clinic, and as an UPLIFT Community Leader and Student Ambassador for the Miami School of Law. Now, returning closer to his roots in the Palm Beach and Broward County communities, Nicholas is exploring ways to positively impact his communities.

Hobbies: Nicholas enjoys boating and fishing in his leisure time, along with mixing in traveling and golfing when he can. Nicholas also played baseball through high school and enjoys following both professional and collegiate athletics.

Family: Most of Nicholas’ family, including his extended family, live in and around South Florida. Nicholas has been engaged to his fiance, Mikayla Mullinix, since September 2022 and will be getting married in February 2023.

Of Counsel

Carol Stanley

Carol Stanley is a Board Certified Attorney in Wills, Estates, and Trusts. This certification by the Florida Bar requires peer recommendation, experience, and a written examination. Carol has practiced law full time in Delray Beach at same location since 1970. Her father, Neil E. MacMillan, started the firm in 1947 and practiced law in Delray Beach for more than 50 years.   Although Neil MacMillan was a major attorney for local banks (as well as Bethesda Hospital) in the ‘60’s and ‘70’s, the practice today concentrates in the area of estate planning and administration with emphasis on estate tax planning strategies as well as residential and commercial real estate transactions. The firm works with other attorneys who have expertise in other fields, and most clients consider MacMillan and Stanley their family’s primary attorney. The firm prepares simple documents as well as more complex documents and different types of trusts for those with taxable estates and large retirement plans. Prenuptial agreements are also part of the practice. The firm has experience in handling multi-million dollar commercial sales, financing, and title insurance for commercial clients. The firm also handles all types of residential real estate sales including condominiums, cooperatives, single family homes, agricultural properties, and conservation easements.

Professional Memberships: Florida Bar-Section of Real Property, Probate, and Trust Law and Section on Elder Law; American Bar Association, Section of Real Property and Trust; Palm Beach County Bar, South Palm Beach County Probate Committee.

Continuing Education: Attendance each year at the Heckerling Institute on Estate Planning; Several times each year Carol attends pertinent CLE seminars and keeps up to date with Estate and Trust periodicals and subscriptions, including CCH and Practical Drafting (US Trust) and Attorneys’ Title Insurance Fund’s “Concept.”

Martindale Hubbell Lawyer’s Directory–Carol has an A.V. Rating (which is the highest rating for lawyers in America)

Education: Carol attended Sweet Briar College, Virginia; University of Florida; and Florida Atlantic University. In 1970 Carol received her Juris Doctor from University of Miami School of Law, Cum Laude (graduated as one of top 5 graduates); she was a Law Review Associate Editor, was awarded academic scholarships, was on the Dean’s List, etc.

Hobbies and Civic Participation:

Carol enjoys equestrian activities in Martin County, Florida and in Columbus, North Carolina (Tryon area).

Former Member of the Board of Directors of the Delray Beach Historical Society (25+ years)

Former Member of Board of Trustees of the Delray Beach Library (8+ years)

Conservation Activities – United States Dept. of Agriculture/Wetland Reserve Protection.

Cattle Ranching – Martin County, Florida