About the firm
Why Legacy Path Law
A boutique firm built around two things most people cannot get elsewhere: a price agreed in writing before any work starts, and a licensed attorney actually doing the work.
Who we are
Legacy Path Law, LLC is a nonprofit and intellectual property firm based in St. Petersburg, Florida, founded by Breanna McCarthy and Channing Thomas. We form 501(c)(3) organizations, churches and private foundations, reinstate revoked exemptions, handle ongoing governance and compliance, and register trademarks.
We are deliberately small. The attorney you speak with on the first call is the attorney who prepares your Form 1023 and answers the IRS when it writes back. There is no intake team handing your file to someone you will never meet.
What makes us different
A price, in writing, before we start
Every nonprofit service is quoted as a flat fee and agreed in writing before any work begins. No hourly billing, no running clock on your questions, and no invoice you did not see coming. If you want to know what something costs, our formation pricing is published on the site.
Attorneys, not a filing service
A great deal of nonprofit formation online is sold by document-preparation companies that cannot give legal advice and are not responsible to you if the advice would have been wrong. We are a law firm. That means an attorney-client relationship, confidentiality, and professional responsibility rules that actually bind us.
This is what we do all day
Nonprofit and tax-exempt law is not a sideline next to personal injury and family law. It is the practice. That is why we can tell you that Florida changed its director rule this year, or that Form 1023-EZ is closed to churches, without looking it up.
Nationwide for federal work
IRS tax exemption and federal trademark registration are federal matters, and we handle them for clients across the country. State-law matters are handled where our attorneys are licensed, and we tell you which is which before you engage us rather than after.
Plain answers
You will get a straight answer about whether you need what you are asking for. Sometimes that answer is that you do not — that fiscal sponsorship fits better than forming an entity, or that a state trademark registration is not worth the filing fee. We would rather tell you that than sell you the filing.
We publish what we know
Our resource library and articles are free, attorney-written, and cite primary sources — the statutes, the IRS publications, the agency forms — so you can check them. Plenty of what circulates about 501(c)(3) status online is wrong, and some of it is confidently wrong.
100% Flat-Fee Pricing
Every nonprofit service is quoted as a flat fee and agreed in writing before any work begins. No hourly billing, and no invoice you did not see coming.
Unused Fees Refunded
If you decide not to continue, we refund 100% of the legal fees we have not yet earned and any filing fees we have not yet paid. Filing fees already submitted to a state or the IRS, and legal work already completed, cannot be refunded.
We Fix Our Own Mistakes
If your application is denied because of an error on our part, we prepare and resubmit it at no additional legal fee. Government filing fees charged on a resubmission are not within our control, and no firm can promise the IRS will approve any application.
Handled by a Licensed Attorney
Your documents are drafted, reviewed and filed by an admitted attorney. Nothing is routed to an intake team or a document-preparation service, and you can ask your attorney a question at any point.
What working with us looks like
- A free 30-minute call. You describe what you are trying to build. We tell you what it actually takes, what it costs, and whether you need us at all. No obligation to proceed.
- A written flat-fee quote. Scope and price, before any work begins, so you can decide with the number in front of you.
- We do the work. Articles, bylaws, EIN, the Form 1023 and its schedules, the state registrations — prepared by an attorney and reviewed with you before anything is filed.
- We handle what comes back. If the IRS sends a request for more information, responding to it is part of the engagement, not a new bill.
- You get a compliance calendar. The annual report, the Form 990, the solicitation renewal, with the dates that apply to your organization.
What Clients Say
Client Review
We came to Legacy Path after experiencing significant difficulties with another firm, including important work that had not been properly completed. Legacy Path stepped in, carefully reviewed what had been done, identified the outstanding issues, and took the necessary action to bring the matters to completion.
What impressed me most was their willingness to take ownership of the process. Rather than making excuses or focusing on the problems created by the previous firm, they focused on solutions, communication, and getting the work done correctly.
Their team has been professional, knowledgeable, responsive, and dependable throughout the entire process. After the experience we previously encountered, it was refreshing to work with a law firm that understands the importance of accountability and client service.
I am extremely pleased with the service we received and sincerely appreciate Legacy Path Law Firm for stepping in and successfully completing work that had previously been left unresolved.
I would confidently recommend Legacy Path Law Firm to anyone looking for a legal team that follows through on its commitments and genuinely takes care of its clients."
Client Review
She took the time to explain complex legal matters in plain language, making sure our board understood every step before moving forward. Her work gave us confidence that our organization was structured correctly and positioned for future growth.
I would highly recommend Breanna to any nonprofit or business looking for an attorney who is professional, thorough, and a trusted advisor. We truly appreciate everything she did to help Latino Professionals in Aerospace get off the ground legally and set us up for long term success."
Client Review
What I appreciate most is that she's not only incredibly knowledgeable, but also someone I genuinely trust. Anytime a legal question comes up, she's my first call. She takes the time to explain everything clearly, provides practical advice, and always has my best interests in mind.
Having someone in your corner who is responsive, professional, and truly invested in your success is invaluable. Breanna has been exactly that for me, and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend her to anyone looking for an outstanding attorney."
Client Review
Breanna is also thoughtful, strategic, and consistently focused on delivering the highest quality work. I would recommend her without hesitation to any organization seeking exceptional legal counsel."
Client Review
Breanna made difficult administrative tasks seem easy, and all of this with a smile. She was a trusted resource for our work, and I'm happy to highly recommend her to others."
Client Review
Client Review
Client Review
The testimonials on this page reflect the experience of those individual clients. Every matter is different, and a prospective client may not obtain the same or similar results.
Straight answers to fair questions
Are you cheaper than doing it myself?
No. Filing on your own costs the government fees and nothing else. What you are paying us for is that the Articles contain the IRS purpose and dissolution clauses the state's own form omits, that the narrative and the financials agree, and that someone answers the IRS when it writes back. For a straightforward organization with time to learn the process, doing it yourself is a legitimate choice, and our free resources exist for exactly that.
Can you guarantee the IRS will approve my application?
No, and nobody can. The IRS decides. What we can tell you is whether your organization looks eligible before you spend the user fee, and if an application is denied for a reason that is our fault, we resubmit it at no additional legal fee.
Do you work with organizations outside Florida?
Yes, routinely. Tax exemption and federal trademarks are federal. For state-level filings we work where our attorneys are licensed, and we are clear about that before you engage us.
What if I change my mind partway through?
We refund 100% of the legal fees we have not yet earned and any filing fees we have not yet paid. Filing fees already submitted to a state or the IRS, and legal work already completed, cannot be refunded.
How long does any of this take?
State incorporation is usually days. The IRS is the long part and commonly takes months for a full Form 1023. We will give you a realistic range rather than an optimistic one, because people plan fundraising around it.
Start with a conversation
Thirty minutes, free, no obligation. Bring your questions and we will tell you what it actually takes.