Estate Planning Attorney
Estate Planning Attorney in Gwinnett County, Georgia
For Gwinnett County professionals with Boehringer Ingelheim benefits, tech park RSUs, and homes above $425,000 — not a form will.
Find Out Where You Stand
Estate Planning for Gwinnett County Families — Lawrenceville to Suwanee
Gwinnett County is one of the fastest-growing and most diverse counties in Georgia, with families across Lawrenceville, Duluth, Suwanee, and Peachtree Corners building significant assets. Many Gwinnett families are first-generation property owners who have not yet thought about what happens to their home, accounts, and business if something happens to them. Atlanta Estate Planning builds estate plans for Gwinnett County families that protect what they have built and keep it out of the Gwinnett County Probate Court.
Why Gwinnett County Families Need More Than a Simple Will
Gwinnett County is Georgia’s second-most-populated county, home to 17 incorporated cities and a workforce that has attracted major employers including Boehringer Ingelheim, Intuitive Surgical, and the more than 7,500 employees at Atlanta Tech Park in Peachtree Corners. The county’s median household income is $89,712, with northern Gwinnett cities like Sugar Hill and Peachtree Corners reaching well above $100,000. A growing technology sector has brought equity compensation — RSUs, stock options, and employee stock purchase plans — into the picture for thousands of Gwinnett households.
A will does not protect your Gwinnett County home from probate. Every asset titled in your name must pass through Gwinnett County Probate Court before it reaches your family. That proceeding is public — your property, debts, and beneficiaries become part of the county record. Probate typically takes 12 to 18 months and costs 3 to 8 percent of the gross estate. On a $425,000 Gwinnett County home, that is $12,750 to $34,000 consumed in court costs and attorney fees before your family takes ownership.
A revocable living trust transfers your home and accounts to your beneficiaries without Gwinnett County Probate Court involvement. Assets held in the trust pass directly at your death — no public filing, no waiting period, no court cost. Your family receives the full estate you built, not the portion that survives probate.
Gwinnett’s technology sector employees face a specific challenge: RSUs, stock options, and ESPPs vest on schedules that continue for years after a grant date. Without clear instructions in a trust for how unvested equity is handled at death, the distribution of those shares may be determined by a brokerage’s default rules, not your wishes. A properly structured estate plan addresses future assets — not just what you hold today.
The Complete Family Trust Package
What's in your Gwinnett 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 Gwinnett County Families We Help
We serve families across Gwinnett 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.