OUR PARALEGALS AND ADMINISTRATORS
Paula Hathaway, FRP
Criminal/Family FL Reg. Paralegal
Paula has been Philip B. Peterson’s Paralegal since 1993. She earned her AA degree in Paralegal Studies and officially became a Florida Registered Paralegal with the Florida Bar in November of 2008. She enjoys working with Phil’s clients in their family and criminal law cases, but is especially proud of the thousands of adoptions they have had the privilege of assisting with over the years, helping to be a part of making forever homes for all those families.
Carrie Taylor
Real Estate Paralegal/Office Manager
Delaney Ritton, FRP
FL. Reg. Paralegal/Accounting Specialist/ Assistant Office Manager
Delaney graduated from New Smyrna Beach High School in 2015 while also obtaining her Associate’s Degree with Dual-Enrollment at Daytona State College. She enjoys spending time with her family and taking weekend vacations with her kids. Delaney is a great asset to our firm. She officially became a Florida Registered Paralegal with the Florida Bar in November of 2022, focusing primarily in civil litigation. She also is our Assistant Office Manager and Accounting Specialist, handling our accounts payable, accounts receivable, and other accounting and administrative projects.
Deann M Roser
Probate / FL. Reg. Paralegal
Born in Auburn, New York, Deann’s parents moved her to Florida in 1986. Deann has three degrees: an Associate’s in Legal Secretary Studies, a Bachelor’s in Paralegal Studies and a Master’s in Criminal Justice. She enjoys crafting and going paintballing with her family and friends. She has had experience as a Paralegal since 2016, and has been with the firm since 2018, assisting our attorneys in the Probate Division.
Nicole McGill
Real Estate Paralegal
Nicole is originally from Tennessee, where she earned a Bachelor of Business Administration from Austin Peay State University in 2018. She joined our firm when she moved to Florida in 2020 and has since brought efficiency and optimism to our team. Nicole assists our attorneys in residential real estate transactions and business transactions, where she has knowledge in title commitments and policies, loan documentation, contract agreements, and property transfers. In her free time, Nicole frequents Pilates and yoga classes, plays with her Labrador, Vader, and explores the Orlando nightlife.
Wendy Chastain
Estate Planning Paralegal
Raised in Nashville, Wendy has lived in New Smyrna Beach for twenty years. She enjoys cooking and gardening in her spare time and considers herself lucky to be able to walk the beach every day. Wendy works closely with clients in our Estate Planning Department to help give peace of mind for their futures.
Daniel Sand
Civil Paralegal
Dan comes to New Smyrna Beach by way of Philadelphia, where he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Philosophy from Temple University. Of particular interest to him philosophically is the study of political systems, law, and ethics. Here at Peterson Law Group, he is part of our Civil department, where he works on a variety of complex litigation; in particular, litigation involving trusts and probate. When he isn’t busy helping clients resolve pressing issues, Dan enjoys reading, being outdoors, cooking, and exploring New Smyrna and the surrounding area.
Alayna L. Spears
Receptionist
Alayna was born and raised in Florida. She graduated in 2020 from New Smyrna Beach High School where she studied four years in the Criminal Justice Academy. She has a passion for helping others and providing superb customer service for every individual. To keep things interesting, she owns a snake named Castiel and loves to go on motorcycle rides.
