PARTNERS

Debra A. Robinson represents individuals and small businesses in estate planning, probate, elder law, veterans benefits, charitable giving, and business law. In her practice, Debbie prepares wills, revocable and irrevocable trusts, health care directives, charitable giving documents, and related business agreements such as shareholder and split dollar agreements. She also represents clients in probate matters, guardianships for minors, and guardianships for incapacitated adults. In her elder law practice, Debbie advises senior citizens and their families regarding estate and long term care planning and is accredited by the Veterans Administration to advise on VA benefits. As a woman widowed at a young age, Debbie offers her clients a unique understanding of the importance of estate planning in easing the legal, financial and emotional difficulties that result from the loss of a loved one.

Debbie is a frequent lecturer on estate planning and elder law issues, speaking at continuing education seminars for lawyers, pre retirement seminars for corporate employees, as well as educational seminars for charitable organizations and community groups. She has taught classes on legal issues for women in the continuing education programs at Georgia State and Oglethorpe Universities, and has been a guest speaker for several associations of insurance professionals, such as The Life Insurance Leaders of Georgia, sharing with them her unique perspective as an estate planning attorney who is also a widow.

Debbie graduated from Adelphi University, cum laude, in 1973, and The University of Chicago Law School in 1979, and she has been practicing law in Atlanta since 1985. She is a member of the Fiduciary and Elder Law Sections of the State Bar of Georgia, the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, the Georgia ElderCare Network, the Real Property, Probate and Trust Section of the American Bar Association, and the Atlanta Estate Planning Council.

Debbie is a regular hospice volunteer, and also volunteers at special events for the Georgia Special Olympics.

J. Christopher Miller focuses his time in the areas of trusts and estates, taxation, and business law. His experience with all angles of estate administration informs his common sense style of practicing law and helps him to form estate plans that suit each client’s situation.  Chris has helped to broker reasonable settlements in a number of intra-family disputes, and has successfully guided clients through estate tax filings and audits. He currently works with accountants throughout Atlanta to prepare for the modified carryover basis reporting due for estates of decedents passing away in 2010.

Chris enjoys his work in the special needs community, regularly discussing the use of Special Needs Trusts at the seasonal conferences of the Down Syndrome Association of Atlanta.   He also serves on the faculty of several annual CLE seminars regarding Georgia’s Limited Liability Company (LLC) Act.  He uses his experience in counseling small businesses as a basis for workshops on drafting strong, flexible Operating Agreements for use in a variety of family business and commercial situations.  In 2001, he co-wrote a chapter titled “Asset Protection Planning” for a guidebook written for physicians and healthcare professionals.

Chris received both his B.A. degree, magna cum laude, and his J.D. degree, with honors, from Emory University. He was admitted to the State Bar of Georgia in 2000, and is a member of the Atlanta Bar Association’s Section of Estate Planning and Probate, as well as the Estate Planning Council of North Georgia.  He serves his community by his active involvement in the Kiwanis Club of Alpharetta, serving as its President for the 2008-09 year, and its Secretary for the 2010-2011 year.  He resides in Johns Creek with his wife, Sharon, and a 3-year-old daughter.