Estate Planning

Estate Planning Attorney in Atlanta, Georgia

For Atlanta professionals with equity compensation, business interests, and investment accounts — not a form will.

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How Atlanta Families Keep Their Estates Out of Probate Court

Atlanta families with real estate, business interests, and investment portfolios face probate delays that tie up assets for 9 to 18 months. A revocable living trust transfers everything directly to your family without court involvement. We help Atlanta residents protect what they have built.

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Why Atlanta Families Need More Than a Simple Will

Atlanta is home to the headquarters of Coca-Cola, Delta Air Lines, Home Depot, and dozens of Fortune 500 companies. Residents commonly hold deferred compensation agreements, unvested equity, and concentrated stock positions alongside significant real estate in Buckhead, Midtown, and Inman Park. The median household income in Atlanta exceeds $77,000, and median home values in the city’s core neighborhoods routinely exceed $500,000.

Without a trust, your estate passes through Fulton County Probate Court. Probate in Georgia is a public process that takes 9 to 18 months and costs 3 to 8 percent of the gross estate value. On a $500,000 estate, that is $15,000 to $40,000 in court costs and attorney fees — money that would otherwise go to your family.

A revocable living trust transfers your home, investment accounts, and other assets directly to your beneficiaries without court involvement. There is no waiting period, no public record, and no probate attorney fees. Your family receives what you intended, on the timeline you set.

Atlanta professionals with deferred compensation agreements and unvested equity face additional complexity. A properly drafted trust coordinates with beneficiary designations on employer plans and ensures future assets are captured as they vest or are distributed. A will alone cannot do this.

Second marriages and blended families are common in Atlanta. Without clear legal structure, jointly held property and assets from a prior marriage can create disputes that take years and significant legal fees to resolve. A trust — paired with a pour-over will — eliminates this ambiguity and protects every member of your family.

The Complete Family Trust Package

What's in Your Atlanta Estate Plan

  • Revocable Living Trust

    Holds your assets, avoids Georgia probate, and controls exactly who receives what and when. A pour-over will acts as a safety net for anything not yet titled to the trust.

  • Durable Financial Power of Attorney

    Authorizes a trusted person to manage your bank accounts, real estate, and finances if you become incapacitated, without a court-supervised guardianship.

  • Advance Healthcare Directive

    Documents your medical wishes and names a healthcare agent to speak for you when you cannot. Covers end-of-life decisions, resuscitation, and treatment preferences.

  • HIPAA Authorization

    Gives your designated agents legal access to your medical records so they have the information they need to make informed decisions on your behalf.

  • Trust Funding Guidance

    Step-by-step support to transfer your home, investment accounts, and other assets into the trust. An unfunded trust does not avoid probate. We make sure yours works.

  • One-Year Follow-Up

    A check-in session at 12 months to update your plan if your family, assets, or wishes have changed. Estate planning is not a one-time event.

How It Works

1

A 15-Minute Call With Shawn

Tell us what is going on with your family. Shawn walks you through your options and what each one costs. Free.

2

The Design Meeting With Shawn and Melissa

In a 60-minute meeting, Shawn and Melissa review your assets, your family, and your goals together and confirm your price. This meeting is credited toward your plan if you move forward.

3

Review Every Document With Melissa

Before you sign, Melissa walks through every document with you in plain language. No legal jargon. No confusion about what you are signing.

4

Your Plan Is Complete

Melissa delivers your completed documents and explains exactly what your family needs to do. You leave knowing your plan is in place and your family is protected.

Melissa Breyer

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 and drafts every plan at The Hive Law after the initial call. Every plan is built from scratch for your specific family, your specific assets, and your specific wishes.

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What Our Clients Say

Where We Serve

Other Fulton County Families We Help

We serve families across Fulton County. Select a city to learn more about estate planning where you live.

Find Out Where You Stand

You’ve been meaning to do this for a while now. That’s normal. Most families wait until something happens, then wish they hadn’t.

A 15-minute call tells you exactly what you have, what’s missing, and what your family needs next. No paperwork, no obligation, just a straight answer.

  • No sales pitch. Just a straight answer about where you stand.
  • No confusing terms. We explain everything in plain English.
  • A real next step. You’ll know exactly what to do when we hang up.