Atlanta Estate Planning Attorney
Serving Atlanta and communities across Georgia, our firm is committed to meeting the distinct needs of both families and businesses. We recognize that every client’s situation is different, and we focus on providing tailored estate planning solutions that reflect your values and long-term goals. Whether you’re protecting assets, preparing for the future, or managing complex legal issues, our experienced team offers practical, strategic guidance designed to support you at every stage.
What Sets the Estate Planning Attorneys at Evans & Davis Apart From Others?
Atlanta has no shortage of estate planning attorneys. Most of them simply draft documents; however, we build relationships. The difference is meaningful. Most attorneys draft your will or trust, hand it to you, and move on. If your situation changes, and it will, you’re stuck figuring out whether your old plan still works. At Evans & Davis, we approach estate planning as the beginning of an ongoing relationship with your family:
We take the time to get to know you so we understand your actual situation. Not a checklist, but genuine understanding of your family dynamics, your values, what keeps you up at night, and what actually matters to you.
Trust-based planning from the start. A trust-based plan places a revocable living trust at the core of your estate strategy rather than relying solely on a last will and testament. While a will only takes effect after death and must go through court, a trust is an active legal entity created during your lifetime to hold and manage your assets.
We’re here as your life changes. Marriage, children, grandchildren, major purchases, business growth- your plan evolves with you. We’re here to adjust it and keep it current.
We operate nationally but serve you locally. Licensed in 47 states, we handle multi-state situations and national reach. But we’re here to help with your Atlanta needs.
What this actually means: Your estate plan is not a document you execute once. It’s a strategy that evolves with your family. That requires someone who knows your situation, understands your family, and is genuinely invested in getting it right.
Over the years, you’ll work with the same attorneys and staff who understand your family, your goals, and your values. That continuity creates better plans and better outcomes for your loved ones.
Why a Trust Matters More Than a Will
Most people think a will is enough. It’s not. In Georgia, a will is just the beginning, and it often creates more problems than it solves. A will is a public document that gets filed with the court and goes through probate. This process is slow, expensive, and transparent. Your family’s finances become part of the public record, the process takes months or years, and court fees and attorney fees can consume thousands of dollars. A trust-based estate plan works differently. Assets held in a properly structured trust pass directly to your beneficiaries outside the court system. No probate, no delays, no judges involved.
Here’s why this matters for Georgia families. You avoid Georgia probate entirely; timelines that can stretch 6-12 months or longer are bypassed completely with a trust. You keep your family’s finances private; probate documents are public record, but trust administration stays confidential. You ensure your family gets what you intended, not what a court decides; if your will is challenged, a judge may override your wishes, but a properly structured trust is much harder to contest. You provide immediate support for your family; in probate, funds are frozen during court proceedings, but in a trust, your family can access funds immediately for living expenses, healthcare, and education.
And you create a plan that works if you become incapacitated; a will only works after you pass, but a trust provides management continuity if you’re unable to handle your affairs. Georgia probate fees, court costs, and attorney fees typically consume 3-5% of your estate; that’s thousands of dollars for many families. A trust costs more upfront but saves your family exponentially more on the back end. This is why we build every estate plan around a trust, not a will. It’s the only way to actually protect your family.
Planning for Your Children's Financial Security and Education
Your most important asset isn’t what you own; it’s what you’re building for your kids. Estate planning is how you protect that future. Without proper planning, three critical things go wrong: if both parents pass and you haven’t named a guardian, a judge decides who raises your kids. Your assets get tied up in probate while your children need immediate support, often taking months or years to become available. And relatives end up fighting over not just who raises your kids, but who controls their money, creating family conflict exactly when your children need stability most.
A proper estate plan addresses all of this. You appoint guardians you trust rather than leaving it to a judge to decide. You ensure immediate funds are available for your children’s support through a revocable living trust, rather than frozen in probate. You specify how money is used: education, healthcare, housing, keeping distributions out of family disputes. And you control when your kids actually receive assets: funds available for college, but withheld until they’re mature enough to handle larger sums responsibly. This is the real reason to plan. It’s not about tax optimization or complex strategies. It’s about making sure your kids are taken care of, raised by people you trust, and supported with the values you care about.
Atlanta Office Details
Address: 3350 Riverwood Pkwy SE, Atlanta, GA 30339
Phone: (770) 769-1587
Services We Offer
We work closely with clients to identify and achieve their goals, from transferring family wealth to preserving family businesses, all while minimizing administrative costs and taxes.
We guide clients through all stages of their business growth, from start-up and early-stage businesses into middle market and, finally, into succession planning and exit strategies.
We assist families with administering trusts after the death of a loved one. Every trust administration is unique and we adapt our representation to the level of assistance needed.
Client Testimonials
Frequently Asked Questions
When Should You Update Your Estate Plan?
You should look at your plan every five or so years, or when you have a big life change, such as birth of a new child or death of a family member.
How Old Do You Need to Be to Have an Estate Plan?
Everyone needs estate planning, no matter their age, and everyone age 18 or older needs his or her own estate plan.
What Documents Should You Include in Your Estate Plan?
For financial documents, we recommend having:
- A revocable trust
- A pour-over will
- A financial power of attorney
On the medical side, we recommend having:
- A HIPAA authorization
- A a healthcare power of attorney
- An end-of-life document
Is an Estate Plan Necessary for Every Married Couple?
A trust-based estate plan is necessary for all married people because we always want to avoid the court system to make things as easy as possible. We need a seamless transfer of power and a seamless transfer of assets when someone becomes incapacitated or dies.
Meet Our Atlanta Estate Planning Team
Serving clients in Atlanta, GA and surrounding areas, you’ll work closely with our dedicated team of experienced estate planning professionals. Some of those team members could include:
