Estate Planning
Estate Planning & Administration Lawyers in Gainesville, GA
Transfer of assets to loved ones during life and at death with minimal tax consequences requires careful planning. Stewart, Melvin & Frost uses sophisticated planning to achieve clients’ objectives.
Our attorneys are recognized statewide for their expertise in assisting clients with complex estate and trust administration issues. We recognize that the estate settlement process occurs, by its very nature, during an emotionally difficult time and that compassionate and caring legal advice can be of great comfort to our clients. We also understand that there are times when litigation is unavoidable. That’s why we strive to offer an uncommon balance of compassion for our clients and passion for the law.
- Complex estate planning
- Estate administration
- Wills
- Family limited partnerships
- Trusts
- Private annuities
- Will contests
- Probate
- Family business succession planning
- Charitable trusts
- Representation in guardianships
- Retirement planning
- Estate litigation
- Trusts and estates
Steven A. Cornelison
Attorney
Partner Steve Cornelison is known for his attention to detail, thorough knowledge, and wide experience in his practice areas, including ERISA, federal taxation and commercial business transactions in Gainesville, GA.
Steven A. Cornelison
Attorney
Attorney
J.C. Highsmith Jr.
Attorney
Named partner in 1987, Bucky Highsmith has been with Stewart, Melvin & Frost since 1983.
In his practice, Bucky specializes in trust administration, estate settlement, wills, trusts, estate planning, guardianship matters, probate, estate litigation, will contests, estate tax planning and financial protection for older people.
J.C. Highsmith Jr.
Attorney
Attorney
Anna A. Orkins
Attorney
After years of practicing law in the areas of wills, trusts, and estates, Anna Adams Orkins joined the firm’s estate planning and probate section in January of 2019. A partner in the firm, she continues to focus her practice on estate planning and probate, including the preparation of wills and trusts, incapacity planning, probate and administration, guardianships, conservatorships, and real estate issues. Prior to joining Stewart, Melvin & Frost, Anna was an attorney for several years at an estate planning law firm in Roswell, before opening her own estate planning and probate practice
Anna A. Orkins
Attorney
Attorney
T. Treadwell Syfan
Attorney
Tread Syfan, a partner in the firm, specializes in municipal bond law, securities law, commercial real estate matters and commercial lending.
As bond counsel, Tread assists local governments in Northeast Georgia in obtaining tax-exempt financing for infrastructure projects, primarily schools and water and sewer improvements.
T. Treadwell Syfan
Attorney
Attorney
Eric P. Wilborn
Attorney
Eric is a Georgia native from Buford in Gwinnett County. He joined Stewart, Melvin & Frost’s probate and estate planning section in 2016. Eric previously practiced law with Hollberg & Weaver, LLP in Buckhead, a litigation law firm specializing in personal injury, federal court litigation, business and complex litigation, divorce defense, and estate planning. Previously, Eric practiced in Gwinnett County primarily in the areas of probate, guardianship and conservatorship issues.
Eric P. Wilborn
Attorney
Attorney
John P. Strupe
Attorney
John Patrick Strupe, an associate in the firm’s probate and estate planning section, joined the firm in 2018 after earning his Master of Laws in Taxation from the University of Florida. As a Certified Public Accountant, John worked in various accounting roles for both large public companies and small privately-held businesses. After several years in the accounting profession, he attended law school at Georgia State University where he earned his law degree.
John P. Strupe
Attorney
Attorney
Whitney S. Brown
Attorney
Whitney S. Brown, a partner, has been with our firm since 2017. A Gainesville native, Whitney moved back to her hometown to practice law after working in Atlanta. She focuses her practice on public finance, offering both bond counsel and underwriter’s counsel services. In addition to public finance, Whitney has expertise in local government law, general business law, commercial real estate matters, commercial lending, estate planning and probate.
Whitney S. Brown
Attorney
Attorney
Brook A. Davidson
Attorney
Brook joined the firm’s probate litigation practice in February of 2015. She works with clients to develop estate plans and provide representation through the probate, administration, guardianship and conservatorship process.
Brook A. Davidson
Attorney
Attorney
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Estate Planning Legal Team
Trusted Estate Planning Attorneys in Gainesville, GA
