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James Blount Griffin
Estate Planning, Wills, Trusts, Probate, Real Estate
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Biography
Almost every adult needs an estate plan: will, powers of attorney, and sometimes, a trust. When someone dies, a close relative usually needs to open an estate in order to settle the deceased's affairs and make distributions to the heirs. Please call me if I might help you, and if I cannot, I'll try to find someone who can.
Practice Areas
- Estate Planning
- Guardianship & Conservatorship Estate Administration, Health Care Directives, Trusts, Wills
- Probate
- Probate Administration, Probate Litigation
- Real Estate Law
- Commercial Real Estate, Condominiums, Easements, Eminent Domain, Homeowners Association, Land Use & Zoning, Mortgages, Neighbor Disputes, Residential Real Estate, Water Law
- Gov & Administrative Law
- Administrative Law, Election Law, Government Contracts, Government Finance, Legislative & Government Affairs
Fees
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Free Consultation
I can usually discern during the initial telephone call if I can help you. If I can help you, we will meet to discuss your problem and goals. - Credit Cards Accepted
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Rates, Retainers and Additional Information
Because every situation is different, standardizing fees is very hard unless it is a high-volume practice (e.g., title searches). Just as you would not select a surgeon based upon price alone, your search for a lawyer involves asking good questions. For instance: 1. What cases or matters have you handled that are similar to mine, what did you decide to do, and what were the results? The answer to this question should tell you if you were in the right lawyer’s office. 2. May I contact some of your clients or former clients? The answer to this question will tell you whether his clients love, like, or dislike him. 3. What is your preferred way to keep in touch with me, and how fast could you or a member of your staff get back to me? Poor communication is the most common complaint by clients of the legal profession. Feel free to call and ask me these questions.
Jurisdictions Admitted to Practice
- Alabama
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- Georgia
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Languages
- English: Spoken, Written
Professional Experience
- Principal
- James B. Griffin, LLC
- - Current
- Help clients find the peace of mind re: family and property through estate planning, wills, trusts, probate law, real estate law, property law, and business succession planning. Focus directly on the clients and prefer to bill by the task than by the hour.
- Associate
- Bishop Colvin Johnson & Kent, LLC
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- Represented cities, school boards, and state agencies in land use, land acquisition, code enforcement, zoning, employment, annexation, civil rights, constitutional, and intergovernmental relations matters. Litigated appellate matters and land-use matters. Advised public officials on privacy, open records, employment, civil rights, statutory, and constitutional issues.
- Associate
- Law Offices of Wm. Thomas Craig
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- Represented county commission, development authority, and sheriff in fast-growing Atlanta metro area; litigated land-use, environmental, civil rights, and zoning matters. Acquired dozens of parcels of property for roads, public facilities, and water reservoirs. Advised elected officials on wide variety of legal matters.
- Associate
- Morris Manning & Martin, LLP
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- Practiced in real estate group of large Atlanta firm working on large commercial developments, land sales, leases, and timber leases. Assisted with defense in litigation of a Fortune 500 company facing shareholder suits.
Education
- Vanderbilt University Law School
- J.D. (2001) | Law
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- Honors: Associate Editor, Vanderbilt Journal of Transnational Law Phi Delta Phi
- Activities: St. Thomas More Society, Federalist Society
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- University of Alabama - Tuscaloosa
- M.A. (1990) | History
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- Studied European and American history; wrote thesis on religion and constitutional development during the Revolutionary and Republican periods.
- Honors: Colonial Dames Essay Award
- Activities: Graduate Teaching Assistant, Graduate Research Assistant
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- Gordon College
- B.A. (1984) | Economics & History
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- Wrote economics thesis on the impact of land-use regulations on housing markets (which became one of my practice areas in law) and a history thesis on John F. Kennedy's effectiveness as chief executive.
- Honors: Honor Society in Economics
- Activities: Student Union President
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Professional Associations
- Environmental Law Section of State Bar of Georgia
- Chairman
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- Activities: Served as officer for four years and then as chairman. Organized annual conference and edited publications.
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Publications
Articles & Publications
- A Predictive Framework for the Effectiveness of International Criminal Tribunals
- 34 VAND. J. TRANSNAT’L L. 405 (2001)
Speaking Engagements
- "Handling Ethical Issues in Engineering and Surveying Practice", Legal Issues for Civil Engineers and Land Surveyors, Birmingham, AL
- HalfMoon Education, Inc.
- Discussed the ethics code for engineers and its practical applications.
- "Land Use Law", Legal Issues for Civil Engineers and Land Surveyors, Birmingham, AL
- HalfMoon Education, Inc.
- Explained how zoning law works and how you can get in trouble when requesting or making land-use decisions.
- "Take a Comprehensive Look at Land Use Law", Land Use Law: Current Issues in Subdivision, Annexation, & Zoning, Birmingham, AL
- National Business Institute
- "Stay On Top of Environmental Considerations", Land Use Law: Current Issues in Subdivision, Annexation, & Zoning, Birmingham, AL
- National Business Institute
- Explained how zoning law works and how you can get in trouble when requesting or making land-use decisions.
- "Zoning Concerns and Planning Issues", Legal Issues Involving Local Governments, Birmingham, AL
- National Business Institute
- Explained how zoning law works and how you can get in trouble when requesting or making land-use decisions.
Websites & Blogs
- Website
- James B. Griffin, LLC Main Site
Legal Answers
26 Questions Answered
- Q. Can a retired pastor in AL legally sell a church without congregation's consent?
- A: The first question is: in what name is the title to the land held? It could be corporation, private party, religious non-profit, and passed to the church by a happy widow who never signed a deed. A seller cannot sell without title. No title insurance company would insure it, and no fire insurance company should either. Go to the courthouse on a quiet day and ask the clerk to help you find the "chain of title" to the land on which the church sits.
The second question is: what is the governing structure for the church? If it's Episcopalian or Methodist, then there is likely a bishop. If it is a congregational church, e.g., almost all Baptist churches and independent churches, ... Read More
- Q. How can I adjust my property line to include land I maintained for 25 years after the owner's death?
- A: There is a complex legal procedure known as "adverse possession by prescription" which "requires actual, exclusive, open, notorious, and hostile possession under a claim of right for a 20-year period." There is a ton written about it; it is essentially a squatter's law; every case is by definition a mess. If you have paid the taxes on the adjoining land, the procedure is shorter and cleaner. Adverse possession involves filing a claim for such, sending notice to everyone possibly of interest in the property to offer opportunity for defense of rights, and having a hearing or trial on the matter.
- Q. How do I keep my mom's home after her passing without a will in Alabama?
- A: When someone dies without a will, the estate is settled through the laws of intestate succession. If you were an only child, you are the sole heir if your mother died without a husband. You need a Mobile attorney to help you. The attorney would draft for you a Petition for Letters of Administration. You would need to be bonded (in case you flee to Brazil with money owed to your mother's creditors). When your attorney files the petition, the court would likely issue Letters of Administration fairly quickly. The estate's opening would be advertised in the local paper so that any creditors might make a claim against the estate. If there are debts filed properly against the estate, ... Read More
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