Estate Litigation in Georgia
Whether you do all that you should as a Trustee or Executor or you don’t, there are situations where lawsuits cannot be avoided. In those situations, it is important to get help from an attorney early and quickly. Lawsuits in probate courts have different rules than other courts. It is important to hire an attorney who has experience working in probate courts to help with your lawsuit.
My goal is to help you reach your objective. If your objective is to reach a settlement quickly, we talk about and implement strategies to do just that. If your objective is to push for what is right, I will push for what is right on your behalf. If you objective is simply to defend yourself, we will arm you with the best armor for your defense. At all times, I will make sure that you are aware of the steps in the litigation process and the costs for each step in that process. We will be with you every step of the way whether it involves walking estate property with you, helping you make a list of inventory, assisting you in finding someone to help with an estate sale, getting documents from banks and financial institutions, and, of course, preparing for and making your story heard before a judge or jury.
I tried two felony criminal cases before even graduating from law school and I have tried over 100 cases since becoming a lawyer in 2004. I realized years ago that when families are ready to file a lawsuit, they are already broken. And sometimes they don’t get fixed.
I believe that it is important to protect our families. I believe that planning in advance is a better way to protect families than resorting to lawsuits. I believe that the only winners in lawsuits are the lawyers.
Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote a poem about success and it ends with this phrase: “To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded.” In Rotary, the 4-way test ends with this question: “Will it be beneficial to all concerned?”. Lawsuits are not beneficial to all concerned, planning and working together toward a common goal is the best for families. If lawsuits are necessary, we will work to find the best solution for the client and to defend them until the final judgment is filed. I will champion my client’s litigation and will not hesitate to sue third parties if it is appropriate. But the point in a lawsuit is to do what is best for the client and not to line my own pockets. My father wondered why I wanted to be a “sleazy” attorney when I told him I wanted to go to law school. I told him that it’s because I don’t believe that I have to be “sleazy” to help people in my community find solutions to problems they need an attorney’s help with.
