Frequently Asked Questions

You will talk with Shawn for about 15 minutes by phone. He asks about your family and your assets. Then he explains what happens next. The call is free. There is no obligation. If it makes sense, you set up a longer meeting with attorney Melissa Breyer.

Yes. Melissa Breyer is licensed by the State Bar of Georgia, Bar No. 897967. She writes and reviews every plan herself. No paralegal writes your documents. No software fills in a generic form for you.

An online service gives you a form to fill out alone. Nobody checks it against Georgia law or your family. At Atlanta Estate Planning, Melissa looks at your assets and family first. Then she builds a plan around them. She walks through every document with you before you sign.

Yes. Many clients come to us with an old plan. It may have never been finished or funded. It may have been written years ago, for a different life stage. We review what you have. We tell you honestly what still works. We fix what does not. There is no judgment about your old plan. Life changes, and your plan should change too.

No. You can meet in person or by video call. Pick whatever works better for you. Many clients finish the whole process without ever coming to an office.

Most Georgia families finish their plan in two to three weeks. That starts after your first meeting with Melissa. She drafts your documents. Then she reviews every page with you in plain language, before you sign. Nothing is rushed.

Yes. Atlanta Estate Planning charges one flat fee, not an hourly rate. You know the total cost before you sign anything. There are no surprise bills later. See our full pricing guide for real numbers.

It depends on what your family needs. A standard plan usually includes a trust, pour-over will, financial power of attorney, and healthcare directive. Melissa tells you exactly what your plan includes before you pay anything.

A full revocable living trust package starts at $3,500. Your exact price depends on your assets and your family. Melissa gives you the real number before you commit to anything.

A will only works after you die. It still has to go through Georgia probate court. A trust can manage your assets while you are alive. It can avoid probate after you die. It can also plan for what happens if you become unable to make decisions. See our full will vs. trust comparison. Most Georgia families benefit from having both.

Georgia’s intestacy laws decide who gets your things, not you. Your estate goes through probate court, a public process. It usually takes 9 to 18 months. The court picks who manages your estate. The court also picks who raises your minor children, if you have not named a guardian.

Review your plan every three years. Also review it right after a big life change: a marriage, a divorce, a new child, a move to a new state, or a big change in what you own. An old plan can fail exactly when your family needs it most.

Yes. We serve families across Metro Atlanta and the rest of Georgia. This includes remote clients who want to handle everything by phone and video call.

No. Atlanta Estate Planning only handles estate planning, elder law, and probate. If you need a different kind of legal help, we will point you toward an attorney who handles that.