Estate Planning Attorney
Estate Planning Attorney in DeKalb County, Georgia
For DeKalb County professionals with AT&T and Emory retirement benefits, Dunwoody and Brookhaven real estate, and complex compensation — not a form will.
Find Out Where You Stand
Estate Planning for DeKalb County Families — Decatur to Dunwoody
DeKalb County families span a wide range of asset profiles — from longtime homeowners in Decatur to professionals in Dunwoody with investment accounts and business interests. DeKalb County Probate Court administers estates for residents who die without a trust, adding months and public exposure to an already difficult time for families. Atlanta Estate Planning helps DeKalb County families build trust-based plans that transfer assets privately and without court involvement.
Why DeKalb County Families Need More Than a Simple Will
DeKalb County is home to some of metro Atlanta’s most affluent communities — Dunwoody, Brookhaven, and Decatur among them — alongside a diverse professional workforce anchored by major employers including AT&T Mobility, Cox Automotive, Emory University, Emory Healthcare, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Median household incomes in north DeKalb cities range from $80,000 in Tucker to $139,000 in Decatur, and home values from $384,000 in Tucker to $701,000 in Decatur. Employees at these institutions hold pension benefits, 403(b) plans, 401(k)s, deferred compensation arrangements, and federal FERS retirement accounts.
Without a trust, every home in DeKalb County titled in your name must pass through DeKalb County Probate Court. That proceeding is public — your assets, debts, and beneficiaries become part of the county record — and takes 12 to 18 months at a cost of 3 to 8 percent of the gross estate. On a $500,000 north DeKalb home, the probate cost is $15,000 to $40,000 before your family controls the asset.
A revocable living trust keeps your DeKalb home and accounts entirely out of DeKalb County Probate Court. Assets held in the trust transfer directly to your named beneficiaries at death — no public proceeding, no waiting period, no court cost. Your family receives your full estate without the delay and expense that probate imposes.
DeKalb County’s major employers create specific estate planning challenges. AT&T’s pension plan and modified Rule of 75 vesting schedule, Emory’s 457(b) deferred compensation and 403(b) savings plan, and the CDC’s federal FERS retirement system all interact with estate planning differently. An improperly structured beneficiary designation on any of those accounts can force an unintended lump-sum distribution or send retirement savings to the wrong person entirely.
The Complete Family Trust Package
What's in your DeKalb County estate plan
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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.
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Durable Financial Power of Attorney
Lets someone you trust handle your money and property if you get sick or hurt. A regular power of attorney can stop working the moment that happens. A durable power of attorney does not. It keeps working, so you will not need a court to name someone for you.
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Advance Healthcare Directive
Writes down your medical wishes. Names someone to speak for you if you cannot. Covers end-of-life care and other treatment choices.
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HIPAA Authorization
Lets the people you choose see your medical records. This helps them make good decisions for you.
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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.
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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
Schedule Your Free Call
Book your 15-minute free strategy call with Shawn. No cost, no commitment.
Meet With Melissa
Melissa reviews your assets, your family situation, and your exposure. Virtual or in-person.
Get Your Plan
Receive a written plan with clear recommendations for protecting your family and your assets.
Move Forward
No pressure, no commitment required. Move forward when you are ready.
Melissa Breyer
Georgia Estate Planning Attorney
Melissa Breyer is a Georgia-licensed estate planning attorney focused exclusively on trust-based planning for individuals and families. She personally meets with every client and designs every plan from scratch. No templates. No associates handling your case. Every plan is built for your specific family, your specific assets, and your specific wishes.
118+ Five-Star Google Reviews
What Our Clients Say
The whole process of creating a family trust felt simple, clear, and stress-free. We really appreciated how patient, helpful, and easy to communicate with the team was throughout everything. Shawn and Melissa gave us great guidance and helped us feel confident every step of the way. We're grateful for their support and would definitely recommend them.
After my father passed away, my mother had to rely on my father's employer to navigate the estate. It was a disaster. After this experience, I knew I needed a plan. I turned to Atlanta Estate Planning Attorneys to set up a trust. I no longer have to worry about my wife and children going through a difficult process if something happens to me. I highly recommend Atlanta Estate Planning Attorneys!
My biggest fear was that if I died first, my wife would have no idea how to navigate the estate and legal system. I reached out to Atlanta Estate Planning Attorneys and they put my mind at ease immediately. Their process is easy to follow and they took care of everything. Atlanta Estate Planning Attorneys is the best decision I've made for my family's future.
Working with Melissa Breyer to set up our Living Trust was one of the best decisions Scott and I have made. We did this so our boys are protected from confusion and chaos if something happens to us. Melissa was knowledgeable, patient, and made what felt overwhelming completely manageable. I would absolutely recommend Melissa Breyer.
Working with Shawn and Melissa at Atlanta Estate Planning Attorneys has been an excellent experience. They asked great questions during our initial call and clearly explained what we needed. We feel confident we're in good hands and would highly recommend them.
Where We Serve
Other DeKalb County Families We Help
We serve families across DeKalb County. Select a city to learn more about estate planning where you live.
Find Out Where You Stand
Whatever brought you here today, the real question underneath it is simple: is your family protected if something happens to you? Without a plan, the people you love could face months in probate court, a fight over what you meant, or bills nobody has the authority to pay.
A clear plan closes every one of those gaps in writing, while you are still here to make the decisions. In one free 15-minute call, you will find out exactly what you have, what is missing, and what it takes to fix it.
- No pressure. This is a conversation, not a sales pitch.
- No jargon. We explain everything in plain language.
- A clear next step. You will know exactly what to do when the call ends.