Estate planning is the attorney-assisted process that examines your needs and assets and helps you realize your goals. There are two major goals in most estate planning: to keep costs down and to make it as efficient as possible. By utilizing wills and trusts our firm prevents unfortunate probate situations and assists in creating a peaceful environment upon the passing of a loved one.

Probate is the judge-supervised process of paying a decedent's legitimate bills, inventorying and appraising a decedent's assets, and distributing the assets to the decedent's heirs or beneficiaries. William J. Edgar takes pride in allowing our clients to address more personal issues by speedily resolving any lingering questions.

Appellate procedure consists of the rules and practices by which appellate courts review trial court judgments. Appellate review performs several functions, including: the correction of errors committed by the trial court, development of the law, achieving a uniform approach across courts, and the pursuit of justice, more generally. Argument in appellate court centers around written briefs prepared by the parties. These state the questions on appeal and enumerate the legal authorities and arguments in support of each party's position.

William J. Edgar provides the highest quality written and oral advocacy at every level of the federal and state appellate courts. Whether a client seeks to overturn an unfavorable verdict or preserve a favorable result, we bring to bear our extensive appellate expertise to counsel on the prospects of a successful appeal. That expertise includes a comprehensive understanding of the procedural and jurisdictional nuances of appellate practice, as well as the nuts and bolts of meeting the diverse requirements of the various courts in which we practice.

It is nearly impossible to drive a lifetime without being involved in a car accident. Insurance companies and their adjusters deal with thousands of auto collisions every year. Their motivation is to make a profit and keep costs down. That means it is not in the insurance company's best interests to help you. You should make sure you are adequately and responsibly represented before negotiating any claim with the insurance company.

It is important when involved in a car collision to make sure a police report is filed, not to give any recorded or written statements to an insurance adjuster, and not to sign anything, especially a medical authorization without first consulting a lawyer. The sooner you seek legal representation, the sooner your rights and your claim will be adequately protected.

A business or property owner bears the responsibility to exercise reasonable care in the maintenance of their property, as well as to notify or warn visitors to the property of any hazards that exist and might cause a slip, trip or fall.

A business or property owner is liable for a 'slip and fall' accident when they are negligent in failing to reasonably maintain their property or in properly warning visitors of latent dangers.

Determining liability in a 'slip and fall' accident can be difficult, involving many contributing factors. William J. Edgar will assure your rights are protected.

Malpractice occurs when one person is injured by the acts or admissions or a professional. Generally we think of malpractice being medical malpractice, but it also includes actions against attorneys, accountants, or any other person listed as a license professional under Georgia Law. Malpractice claims are generally more involved and specialized than any other types of litigation. As a result we will often associate another law firm that specializes in that type of practice.

The law of products liability involves the liability of a manufacturer, wholesaler, or retailer of a product for injuries caused by that product. Consumers have rights which protect them from defective products, and manufacturers have a legal obligation to provide safe products.

Product liability law involves only items marketed for sale or lease and only injuries which occur as a result of a defect or deficiency in the quality or performance of the product. A products liability claim can be brought against anyone in the marketing chain, from the manufacturer to the retailer. While repair persons, installers, and inspectors may not be liable for the actual failure or defect of a product, they may be liable for negligence or breach of warranties for faulty repairs, installation, or inspection which causes personal injury or property damage.

When faced with an injury caused by a product which was improperly designed, manufactured, or maintained, it is important that you choose a law firm experienced in handling products liability cases. The proper handling of a products liability case requires a thorough investigation by an experienced legal team to determine which organizations should be named as defendants and which legal theories should be pursued. Also, knowledgeable experts must be engaged in the case to provide testimony at trial. Our products liability team has the experience to conduct a thorough investigation to make your products liability case the strongest possible.

While our commercial litigation courtroom skills are second to none, the ability to try and win a lawsuit is only part of an effective legal representation of a business. We understand that often the greater challenge, and more important service, is to ascertain and achieve the out-of-court result that best advances the client's interests. When engaged to represent a business client, our first task is to determine what goals and interests are truly vital to the client. We then explore all avenues (creative settlements, mediation, arbitration and trial) to meet them.

Our commercial litigators also understand that, in business, it's the bottom line that counts. The best legal advice and representation in the world is useless if the resulting legal fees bankrupt the company. We are committed to cost-effective service and to performing only the work necessary to accomplish the client's goals. We will work with business clients to define value from their (and not our) point of view, and then structure a fee arrangement based on that value.

Unlike civil law, which involves private law suits between two or more private entities, criminal law attorneys represent clients who are being prosecuted by the state or federal government for an act that has been classified as a crime. Any act or failure to perform an act as designated by public law is considered a crime. With the exception of strict liability crimes, most crimes consist of three elements: an act (actus reus), a mental state (mens rea) and the intent to do social harm. Crimes are classified as 'misdemeanors' (less serious offenses that are normally punishable by a fine like some traffic violations, petty theft, or possession of a small amount of marijuana) and 'felonies' (more serious offenses that warrant imprisonment of one or more years, such as rape, grand theft, assault and battery, assault with a deadly weapon, or homicide/murder).

In criminal law, the suit is initiated by the state or federal government through a prosecutor rather than being initiated by the victim, as it is in civil law. Plaintiffs in a civil law suit only need to show by a preponderance of the evidence that a defendant is 51% or more liable (responsible) for the damages. But, the prosecutor in a criminal law case has to prove to the judge or jury 'beyond a reasonable doubt' that the defendant is guilty of the crime charged.

Family law is often perceived as pertaining mainly to divorce and child custody matters. However, this is only part of the picture. In addition to divorce and custody, we also offer expertise in areas such as prenuptial agreements, paternity actions, and post-judgment proceedings.

We are also actively involved in alternative dispute resolution proceedings, such as mediation and arbitration. These mechanisms enable parties to resolve their problems in a private setting, away from the emotional trauma and anxiety often present in a courtroom.

We understand that each client's case is unique and important, and demands a complete view of all of the issues involved. We do not believe in the 'cookie cutter' approach to divorce. Our clients deserve and receive the personal service and attention they need, at what might be the most difficult point in their life.

Today's business environment is one of constant change, of rethinking how business is conducted and how businesses can meet the challenges of a global economy. Traditional ways of conducting a business practice provide guidance, but they are only a starting point for creative development of business transactions. Similarly, whether the real estate market is in a 'boom' or 'bust' phase, there is substantial money to be made or lost. The objective of our business and real estate focus is to help our clients minimize risk and maximize opportunity, regardless of the cycle. Our lawyers have many years of experience in structuring purchases and sales of businesses, buy-sell agreements, and other corporate arrangements and real estate transactions.

What makes our business and real estate practice particularly well-suited to our clients' needs is our experience. We are able to act as business counselors in suggesting alternate ways of accomplishing goals, and in assisting our clients to achieve their goals in the optimum way. We can also provide assistance in all forms of business and real estate transactions, including loans and other financial arrangements, joint ventures, and strategic alliances. That is because we are large enough to have attorneys with practical expertise not only in business and real estate acquisitions and finance, but also in the critical allied fields of taxation, estate planning, bankruptcy, and commercial litigation. However, our firm is also small enough that we can communicate effectively with each other to solve our clients' problems. The result? Business and real estate problems are resolved efficiently and in their totality, resulting in significant savings for our clients. An important part of our business group involves planning to minimize state and local taxes such as sales and use tax, corporate net income tax, capital stock/foreign franchise tax, personal income tax, business privilege tax, use and occupancy tax, liabilities and real estate assessment and real estate exemption determinations. We assist business with restructuring activities in order to take advantage of existing tax law provisions. And if a state or local governments asserts that a business owes taxes, we are able to review the taxing authority's determination and, if appropriate, challenge the determination through an administrative appeal or, if necessary, in court. Simply put, we will provide the practical advice you need to make your next business or real estate venture as profitable as possible.

Often, litigation does not present the most efficient means of resolving a dispute. In this instance, we are prepared to pursue arbitration or alternate means of settlement in order to swiftly and amicably find a solution. Awards are made in writing and are enforceable in court under state and federal statutes. We view arbitration not as a concession, but as a creative and economical medium to achieve awards commiserate to those won in litigation.

Injuries occurring in the workplace are governed by specific laws in Georgia known as the Georgia Workers' Compensation Act. If you have been injured while you were working and the injury arose out of and in the course of your job, you may be entitled to compensation for loss wages, medical expenses, and any permanent or temporary disability

Personal injuries not only cause physical pain, but also cause emotional and financial hardship through loss of work, medical bills and stress placed upon individuals and families. Whether caused by an automobile accident, a defective product, or other negligent, careless or reckless conduct, injuries alter lives forever. Dealing with insurance companies and their vast resources can be frustrating and intimidating to many individuals. Despite what insurance adjusters may tell you, insurance companies do not represent the interests of the injured party. We will aggressively fight for you to obtain a settlement or trial verdict that fairly reflects all your damages, including medical bills, lost wages, emotional stress, pain and suffering, and other damages.