Top Estate Planning Lawyers Near Me in Knoxville Area

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Ryan N. Shamblin, originally a native of Miami, Florida, moved to Blount County, Tennessee in the mid 1980’s where he attended and graduated with honors from William Blount High School. Following graduation from high school, Mr. Shamblin attended the University of Tennessee, Knoxville where he pursued a double major in Political Science and History. While attending the University of Tennessee, Mr. Shamblin was actively involved in the Student Government Association and was inducted into numerous honor societies including: the Golden Key National Honor Society; Phi Alpha Theta, National History Honor Society; and Pi Sigma Alpha, Political Science Honor Society. In 1997, Mr. Shamblin graduated with honors from the University of Tennessee with a Bachelor of Arts in both Political Science and History. Following graduation from the University of Tennessee, Mr. Shamblin spent two years in pursuit of a Masters degree in Political Science where he maintained a 3.73 G.P.A.. While preparing to complete his post-graduate studies, Mr. Shamblin was admitted to the University of Tennessee, College of Law. While in law school, Mr. Shamblin was selected to serve as a student member of the Hamilton Burnett American Inn of Court; represented indigent defendants in the school’s legal clinic and was accepted into Phi Delta Phi International Legal Fraternity. In law school, Mr. Shamblin academic excellence was recognized by his induction into several honor societies including: Who’s Who: American Law Students; Phi Kappa Phi National Honor Society and his receipt of various awards including: Dean’s List: Highest Honors; Highest Section Grades in Evidence, Advocacy Clinic & Pretrial Litigation. In 2002, Mr. Shamblin graduated with honors from the University of Tennessee, College of Law with a J.D., Doctor of Jurisprudence, having graduated 25th in his class (top 17%).. Upon graduation from law school, Mr. Shamblin decided to trade the azure ocean and sun-soaked beaches of South Florida for the grassy meadows and stately mountains of East Tennessee and took up the practice of law in Knoxville, Tennessee. Mr. Shamblin was licensed to practice law in courts of the State of Tennessee in November 2002 and was admitted to United States District Court for the Eastern District in May of 2003. Mr. Shamblin is a member of the Knoxville Bar Association; the American Association for Justice (formerly Association of Trial Lawyers of America) and is a licensed Notary in the State of Tennessee.. Since his admittance to the bar, Mr. Shamblin has represented clients throughout East Tennessee in numerous counties including, but not limited to: Anderson, Blount, Campbell, Cocke, Grainger, Greene, Hamblin, Hamilton, Jefferson, Knox, Loudon, Monroe, Roane, Sevier, Sullivan, Union, and Washington counties. Mr. Shamblin has handled or otherwise participated in cases in General Sessions, Probate, Chancery, Circuit and the Appellate Courts of Tennessee as well as in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee. Although Mr. Shamblin has practiced primarily in state courts located in the Central and Southern portions of East Tennessee, he has represented clients in Middle Tennessee, as far West as Maury County in Federal Court, and was admitted to practice pro hac vice in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee, Columbia Division.. Straight out of law school, Mr. Shamblin was fortunate enough to be hired by a small close-knit law firm, comprised of two experienced attorneys with successful, albeit very different areas of practice. During this formative period, Mr. Shamblin had the rare privilege of being mentored by a highly skilled litigator whose practice focused on wrongful death/ catastrophic personal injury cases and a prominent attorney who served as local counsel for a large multi-state financial institution.. While working closely with these two exceptional attorneys, Mr. Shamblin expanded on his knowledge of tort law, while at the same time developing an understanding and appreciation for the complexities of bankruptcy, corporate, banking and commercial law. Making the most of his opportunity, Mr. Shamblin gained valuable real-world experience by working extensively on a number of complex commercial and business cases involving issues such as lender liability; breach of commercial construction contracts; breach of depository agreements; forgery and embezzlement.. Today, Mr. Shamblin’s law practice is focused primarily on civil litigation involving: wrongful death; loss of limb; serious/ catastrophic personal injury; automobile accidents; products liability; toxic torts; medical malpractice; will contests/ will construction; breach of contract cases; property line/ boundary disputes and some employment law.. Aside from a growing litigation practice which includes counseling clients; motion practice; conducting hearings, depositions and trials; and participating in mediations, Mr. Shamblin represents various corporate clients and devotes a significant portion of his time to transactional work, such as drafting contractual agreements, deeds or wills. In 2016, Mr. Shamblin successfully completed mediation training and was listed as Rule 31 General Civil Mediator.. Mr. Shamblin has proven himself to be a skilled researcher and an adept legal writer through numerous extensive research and writing projects. On a number of occasions, Mr. Shamblin’s researching and brief writing skills have meant the difference between winning or losing close cases and on more than one occasion his compelling briefs, have led to an involuntary dismissal/ directed verdict of an opponent’s case without having to even present a case.. Mr. Shamblin is an avid Big Orange fan and a National Association of Underwater Instructors (NAUI) certified scuba diver. His hobbies include photography, growing scorching hot exotic chili peppers and being a fresh water aquarist (raising tropical Amazonian fish). In 2008, capitalizing on his experience growing and cooking with exotic chili peppers, Mr. Shamblin formed a team of family and friends which won First Prize at the East Tennessee Chili Cook-Off which is held annually in Knoxville, Tennessee to benefit Second Harvest Food Bank. In 2014, Mr. Shamblin's team was the first team to win First Prize at the East Tennessee Chili Cook-Off a second time.

Practices in the areas of estate planning and probate, elder law, and business and non-profit law.. Helps individuals in planning their estate, drafting wills, and setting up trusts, as well as personal representatives in the administration of estates in probate court. Helps individuals qualify for Medicaid and SSI, and has represented numerous clients in TennCare administrative hearings. Also helps small businesses and non-profits such as churches and religious organizations on issues ranging from formation and governance, taxes, fundraising, employment issues, property rights, and litigation, including constitutional issues (ecclesiastical abstention, ministerial exception, etc.)

My name is Rebecca D. Abbott, and I am a licensed attorney with over 34 years of experience. Licensed in both Tennessee and Texas, I have a solo law practice located in West Knoxville. My legal expertise is estate planning, including Wills, Trusts, Powers of Attorney, Living Wills, and Prenuptial Agreements. I also assist families with probate and post-death planning issues. Originally from Tennessee, I practiced law in Dallas, Texas for ten years after I received my undergraduate degrees from Southern Methodist University and law degree from SMU School of Law. I enjoy speaking about probate and estate planning at local senior centers and churches. I have two grown children, and in my free time, I enjoy photography, cooking and reading.

My goal is to continue practicing law for as long as I continue to enjoy it.  Some of my greatest pleasures are in counseling clients regarding their business and personal affairs where I often am able to solve important problems for clients.  In the event I do not have the expertise for solving their problems, most often I am able to guide them to one or more appropriate persons who can do so.. There is not a single label for my law practice.  My law practice consists of business transactions, tax planning and resolution of tax disputes, estate planning and probate.  In that context I prepare and review numerous contracts ranging from pre-nuptial agreements to real estate purchases and sales, business purchases and sales, financing, leases, franchise documents and others.  In both the business transaction context and in estate planning, I may form, restructure or dissolve entities, prepare trusts, wills, powers of attorney, and other business,  estate planning and tax planning documents.. Assisting clients in the administration of the estate of a deceased loved one often involves many areas of law including those noted above.  Likewise, assisting people with conservatorships and guardianships of people who have become disabled or unable to manage their own affairs is sometimes an appropriate or necessary undertaking.. Building long lasting professional relationships with clients has provided me with wonderful  personal and professional rewards

I am a Tennessee attorney who has been practicing since 2012.  I currently handle estate planning, real estate law, and litigation, and have extensive experience with workers' compensation matters.  Prior to starting the Otten Law Firm, I worked with two statewide insurance defense firms and obtained my real estate license..  In my free time, I enjoy being a dad, biking, and spending time with my family in Knoxville.

Daniel is approachable, easy to talk to and a great listener.  These are just a few of Daniel’s most outstanding qualities – crucial elements that make it easy for him to keep an open dialogue with his clients as he guides them through challenging situations.. Daniel’s practice focuses on estate planning, probate administration, banking and contract law. In addition to providing estate planning and probate services to clients, Mr. Wilkins has assisted businesses and financial institutions in regulatory compliance and transactional issues, and has advised both creditors and debtors in loan transactions and debt restructurings. Mr. Wilkins has represented businesses and individuals in state and federal courts, as well as in mediations. Mr. Wilkins is admitted to practice in all Tennessee state courts and in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee. He is a member of the Tennessee and Knoxville Bar Associations.. Mr. Wilkins is a native of Knoxville, having graduated from Farragut High School. He remained in east Tennessee to earn his B.A. from Carson-Newman College in 1996, where he graduated magna cum laude with majors in History and ancient Greek & Hebrew languages. Mr. Wilkins earned his M.A. in Theology from Southwestern Seminary in 1999, after which he spent four years teaching and drafting curricula in secondary education. Mr. Wilkins then returned to Knoxville to attend University of Tennessee School of Law, where he earned his J.D. in 2006 while serving as president of the International Law Society and working in the Mediation Clinic and Non-profit Corporations Clinic.. Mr. Wilkins is an active member of the community, coaching his children in youth sports and assuming various leadership roles in his church. Most of all, he enjoys spending time with his wife and three children.

Carolyn Levy Gilliam is an attorney and member at McDonald, Levy & Taylor, PLLC. She is a graduate of the University of Tennessee College of Law. She primarily practices in the areas of wills, trusts, elder law, conservatorships, probates, business matters, and litigation regarding these areas. She was named as a Top Attorney for 2023 in the Knoxville Cityview Magazine in Elder Law, Estate Planning, Trusts, Wills/Probate, Social Security Disability, and Adoption. She was also selected as Ones to Watch by Best Lawyers in America in the practice areas of Elder Law, Trusts & Estates & Litigation - Trust & Estates. This recognition is awarded to lawyers who exhibit "Outstanding professional excellence in private practice." Ms. Gilliam also serves in a fiduciary capacity for her clients, as a trustee of a trust, personal representative/executrix of a will, power of attorney, or a court-appointed conservator. Carolyn has worked at McDonald, Levy & Taylor since her senior year at Farragut high school. She received her Bachelors in Business Administration with a concentration in Financial Management from Mercer University in Macon, Georgia and had the highest GPA of Management majors in her class. She has been selected into the Academic Honor Society of Phi Eta Sigma and is also a member of numerous bar associations, including the Knoxville Bar Association, the Tennessee Bar Association, and the Tennessee Association for Justice. Carolyn is married and the mother of a young daughter and son. She and her husband, Eric, live in Farragut. Carolyn loves to play golf and played Division I college golf at Mercer University. She is a member at Fox Den Country Club in Farragut, Tennessee. Carolyn is a Board Member and past Co-Treasurer of the Dream Connection, Inc., an all-volunteer organization that fulfills the dreams of children that have life-threatening illnesses. She is also the President and Chair of the board of Legacy Housing Foundation whose mission is to provide innovative programs, life-enhancing services, and strong affordable housing communities for everyone in need. She is also an active partner of Shoreline Church.

Call to schedule a FREE CONSULTATION with me.  I look forward to helping you.. Wills/Estate Planning. Do you want to decide who receives your property at your death and who takes care of your children, or do you want to let the state decide?  If you do not have a Will, you are letting the state of Tennessee choose.  If you think you should make that decision, call me to schedule a consultation.. Probate. Has someone you know passed away and left you in charge of their estate?  Instead of trying to navigate the hurdles of probate by yourself, let me help you.  I will take the burden off of you and explain the process in simple, easy to understand terms.. Business. Have a great idea but don't know how to start a business?  Already have a business but need legal advice to deal with a new situation?  I will work with you to solve your business problem, from simple to complex.. Elder Law. Are you or a family member in need of planning for long-term healthcare or end of life decisions?  Do you need to give someone the power to make financial and healthcare decisions for you? I will help you with these situations by preparing the necessary legal documents to respect your or your loved one's wishes.. Tennessee law requires that I tell you that this is an advertisement.  It also requires me to tell you that I am not certified as a specialist by the Tennessee Commission on Continuing Legal Education and Specialization in the areas of practice listed on my profile.