Elder Law
Elder Law Attorney in Atlanta, Georgia
Helping Georgia families plan for aging, long-term care, and Medicaid before a crisis forces the decision.
Most families wait until there is a crisis.
A parent falls. A spouse is diagnosed with dementia. A doctor says long-term care is needed now. And the family has no plan in place.
When that happens, Medicaid requires a five-year lookback of every financial transaction. Assets that could have been protected are counted. The family home may need to be sold. Spouses are left with minimal income while care drains decades of savings.
The Hive Law helps Georgia families plan before that moment arrives.
What Elder Law Planning Covers
Elder law is about protecting what you have built as you age. It covers Medicaid planning, asset protection, long-term care coordination, and the legal documents that give your family authority to act on your behalf if you cannot.
Most families who come to us have a will. Few have the specific tools needed to protect their home from a nursing home spend-down, or the powers of attorney that allow a spouse or adult child to manage finances and healthcare without going to court.
The Hive Law Approach
Melissa Breyer works exclusively with Georgia families on trust-based estate planning and elder law. She designs every plan herself. Every client gets direct access to Melissa, not a paralegal or intake coordinator.
A plan built through The Hive Law protects your home, coordinates your assets with Medicaid rules, and makes sure your family has the legal authority they need the moment a crisis begins.
Protect Your Assets from Long-Term Care Costs
Long-term care costs in Georgia average $8,820 per month for a nursing home. Without a plan, those costs come directly from your savings and your home. These services help you protect what you have built before a care need forces the decision.
Plan for Incapacity Before It Happens
If you become incapacitated without the right legal documents, your family has no authority to act on your behalf. These services give your family the tools they need before a crisis arrives.
Planning For Your Specific Situation
If you own rental properties or a business, your situation has layers a standard estate plan does not address.
The Difference a Trust Makes
Without a Plan
- Medicaid requires five years of financial records and you may not have them
- Nursing home costs drain savings with no protection in place
- No one has legal authority to make financial or medical decisions for you
- Your home may need to be sold to pay for care
- Your spouse may have no access to accounts or assets while you are incapacitated
- Your family spends months in court trying to gain guardianship
With The Hive Law
- Medicaid Asset Protection Trust shields your home and assets five years before you need care
- A coordinated plan determines exactly how care gets funded without a full spend-down
- Durable financial and medical powers of attorney give your family immediate authority
- Your home stays in your family with the right trust structure in place
- Your spouse retains access to income and protected assets throughout your care
- Your family has clear legal authority from day one no court required
How It Works
Schedule Your Family Protection Audit
Book a 60-minute call with Melissa. She reviews your assets, your family situation, and where you are currently exposed.
Melissa Designs Your Plan
She builds your estate plan from scratch based on your specific assets and family. You get an exact quote before you commit to anything.
Review Every Document With Melissa
Before you sign, Melissa walks through every section of your trust with you in plain language. No legal jargon. No confusion about what you are signing.
We Fund and Finalize Everything
We retitle your property, verify every account is correctly aligned with your trust, and make sure your successor trustee knows exactly what to do when the time comes.
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.
105+ Five-Star Google Reviews
What Our Clients Say
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The average Georgia nursing home costs $8,820 per month. Assisted living averages $3,500 to $5,000 per month. A two-to-three year stay can cost $200,000 to $300,000 or more. Without a plan, these costs come directly from your savings, your home equity, and your retirement accounts.
Yes. Georgia Medicaid covers nursing home care for people who meet both income and asset eligibility requirements. The key is planning early Medicaid has a five-year lookback period that examines financial transfers made before you apply.
A Medicaid Asset Protection Trust (MAPT) is an irrevocable trust that removes assets from your ownership so they are not counted for Medicaid eligibility. Assets placed in a MAPT more than five years before you apply are protected from the spend-down requirement.
Without a durable financial power of attorney and healthcare directive, your family has no legal authority to manage your accounts or make medical decisions if you become incapacitated. They would need to go to court a process that typically costs several thousand dollars and takes months.
Georgia Medicaid has spousal protection rules that allow a community spouse to keep a portion of assets and income. With proper planning, your spouse can retain significantly more than the default minimum.
The best time to plan is at least five years before you expect to need long-term care. If you are in your 60s or early 70s, now is the right time. Planning is still valuable even if a care need is already approaching.
Ready to Protect Your Family?
Schedule your 60-minute Family Protection Audit with Melissa. $500, credited toward your estate plan.
Book Your Family Protection AuditNot Ready Yet?
Join our free live webinar to learn what every Georgia family needs to know about protecting their home, their savings, and their family.
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