BUSINESS OWNERS

Estate Planning for Business Owners in Georgia

You built a business. Without a succession plan, your family may not be able to access or run it when you are gone.

A business changes every part of your estate plan. Your LLC or corporation needs a successor. Your family needs authority to step in. And your estate needs a structure that keeps the business running — or winds it down cleanly.

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Your Business Creates Planning Gaps a Standard Plan Cannot Fill

Most estate plans are designed for people with bank accounts, a house, and a retirement fund. If you own a business, your situation is different. Your ownership interest needs to be inside a trust or it goes through probate — potentially freezing the business for 18 months while your family waits for a court to release it.

Incapacity is the more immediate risk. If you are hospitalized or cannot make decisions, someone needs legal authority to sign contracts, make payroll, and access your business accounts. Without a durable financial power of attorney and updated entity documents, no one has that authority. The business can become unmanageable within 72 hours.

Succession is the long-term question. Who takes over? Under what terms? Is the business sold, transferred to a family member, or wound down? Without a succession plan, those questions get answered by default — usually in ways that cost your family money and create conflict.

The Hive Law builds estate plans that account for your business. We review your entity documents, update your operating agreement to name a successor, transfer your ownership interest into a trust, and make sure the people you trust have the legal authority to act when they need to.

$50,000+ Average cost when a business owner dies without a succession plan

72 Hours How quickly a business can become unmanageable without proper incapacity documents

Locked What happens to your business accounts if your family lacks a power of attorney

Keep the Business Running

Succession planning determines who is in charge and under what terms.

SUCCESSION PLANNING Business Succession Plan Determines who takes over your business, under what terms, and whether it is sold, transferred, or wound down when you are gone.

SUCCESSION PLANNING Buy-Sell Agreement Review A buy-sell agreement governs what happens to your ownership interest. Without one, your co-owners may become business partners with your family.

SUCCESSION PLANNING Key Person Planning If the business depends on you personally, your plan needs to address what happens to operations, contracts, and employees when you are gone.

Protect the Structure

Your entity documents and ownership interests must be connected to your estate plan.

ENTITY PLANNING Operating Agreement and Bylaws Review Your entity documents need to name a successor manager or officer. Without it, no one has legal authority to run the business after you die.

ENTITY PLANNING Transferring Business Interests Into a Trust Your ownership interest must be transferred into your trust or it goes through probate — potentially freezing the business for 18 months or more.

Plan for More Than Death

Incapacity happens more often than death. These documents keep your business running if it does.

INCAPACITY PLANNING Durable Financial Power of Attorney Authorizes someone to run your business, access business accounts, and make financial decisions if you are incapacitated and cannot act. See How It Works INCAPACITY PLANNING Healthcare Directive and Living Will Ensures your family can focus on keeping the business running, not on fighting with hospitals, while you are unable to communicate. See How It Works

Protect What You Own

The foundation documents that hold everything together.

ASSET PLANNING Revocable Living Trust Holds your business interests and personal assets so everything transfers to your family without a court proceeding or an 18-month delay. See How It Works ASSET PLANNING Pour-Over Will Catches assets that were not transferred into your trust, including any ownership stakes you forgot to update before you died. See How It Works

Melissa Breyer

Georgia Estate Planning Attorney

Melissa Breyer is a Georgia estate planning attorney who works exclusively on trust-based estate planning and LLC formation. She personally designs every plan at The Hive Law and handles every client consultation herself. Every plan is built from scratch for your specific family, your specific assets, and your specific wishes.

After my father passed away, my mother had to rely on me and my brother for everything. Dad never set up a trust. It took over a year to sort through probate, and during that time, Mom couldn't access most of their money without our help. I promised myself I would never put my wife in that position. This firm set us up with a trust package that does exactly that. My wife is fully protected. She can access every account, manage every asset, and make every decision on her own from day one. No court involvement. No asking anyone for help. My wife said it's the first time she's felt confident about what would happen if I wasn't here. That alone was worth it.

Nicholas Google Review

My biggest fear was that if I died first, my wife would be stuck trying to figure everything out alone. We have accounts at multiple banks, a brokerage account, life insurance, and a house. We got our trust package done with this firm and that fear is gone. Everything is structured so that if something happens to me, she steps right in. No court. No waiting. She will be financially stable and fully in control from day one. They also helped us set up power of attorney and healthcare directives. If you're in the Atlanta area, don't wait.

Tristen Pursley Google Review

We had an outstanding experience working with Melissa Breyer to create our Living Trust. From start to finish, she was knowledgeable, professional, and incredibly easy to work with. She took the time to clearly explain every step of the process, answered all of our questions with patience, and made what could have been a complicated task feel straightforward and stress free. We are so grateful for her help and couldn't be happier with the outcome.

Scott Google Review

We highly recommend Hive Law. They were extremely patient and responsive, answering our many rounds of questions regarding trusts and estate planning. Shawn consistently responded the same day we sent our questions — even while his family was on vacation. Melissa was always available to discuss matters by phone whenever we needed additional clarification. Both are very knowledgeable in estate planning, and we would confidently recommend Hive Law to friends and family.

Daryl Clever Google Review

The Hive Law has been amazing throughout the process of setting up our trust. Every detail is considered and no stone is left unturned. They have been easy and enjoyable to work with. I would absolutely recommend them.

Christy Evans Google Review

The Hive Law made the entire estate planning and trust process clear, organized, and easy to understand. They took the time to explain everything in detail whether by email or over the phone. Their team was professional, responsive, and truly cared about helping us protect our family and assets. Melissa and Shawn are very nice, patient, and easy to talk to. I highly recommend The Hive Law to anyone looking for knowledgeable and trustworthy estate planning services.

Ofeliya Medzhidova Google Review

Ready to Protect Your Family?

Schedule your 60-minute Family Protection Audit with Melissa. $500, credited toward your estate plan.