Practice areas
- Estate Plans & Probate
- Business Law
Admitted
- Georgia Court of Appeals
- Supreme Court of Georgia
- U.S. District Court, Northern District of Georgia
Education
- J.D., University of Georgia, School of Law, 1989
- B.B.A. in Finance., cum laude with high honors, University of Georgia 1986
Civic Leadership
- Professor of Business Law at Georgia Highlands College (2017)
- President of the Cartersville-Bartow County Chamber of Commerce (2010-2015)
- Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Shorter University (2012-2013)
- Cartersville Rotary Club President (2005-2006)
- Century Bank of Georgia Board of Directors (1999-2005)
- Chairman of the Cartersville-Bartow County Chamber of Commerce, Inc. Board of Directors (1997)
- Leadership Georgia (1995)
- Leadership Bartow (1994)
- Aflac NW Georgia Regional Sales Team Leader (2001-2010)
EXPERIENCE
Joe has practiced law for more than 37 years. During this time, he has represented clients in almost every area of law. Joe’s vast experience and understanding are a great benefit to his clients as they plan their estates.
Kilpatrick & Cody hired Joe as a corporate and securities associate in their Atlanta office in 1989. In 1992, Joe returned to Cartersville to help people and practice law, and began his exciting career as a “small town” attorney. Although Joe’s practice is focused on Estate Planning and Probate, he has a broad range of experience across several areas of law. During his tenure as an attorney, he has:
- Searched land titles, drafted deeds, and closed real estate transactions;
- Served as a Court Appointed Criminal Defense Attorney in Juvenile and Superior Courts;
- Set up Corporations, Limited Liability Companies, and Partnerships;
- Assisted with small and large business sales and acquisitions;
- Represented clients in civil litigation (small claims, evictions, and garnishments);
- Argued before the Georgia Court of Appeals and the Georgia Supreme Court;
- Represented individuals in their divorces;
- Represented Bank of Adairsville (now Unity Bank);
- Served on the organizational Board of Directors for the Century Bank of Bartow County (now FirstBank);
- Organized numerous churches and non-profit organizations;
- Handled countless contested and uncontested Probate Court matters;
- Drafted countless Last Wills and Testaments, Revocable Living Trusts, Powers of Attorney, and Healthcare Directives.
Joe took a break from practicing law from 2001 to 2016. During this time, he served as CEO of the Cartersville Bartow County Chamber of Commerce, where he learned the importance of small businesses and economic growth, and as a District and Regional Sales Coordinator for Aflac, where his team earned many national and state Aflac Sales awards.
EDUCATION
Joe graduated from Cartersville High School in 1982; earned a BBA in Finance, Cum Laude, with High Honors from the University of Georgia; and, in 1989, graduated from the University of Georgia School of Law with a Juris Doctor Degree. In law school, he taught a Business Communications Class and served as Chief Justice of the Honor Court. Joe later taught a Business Law class at Georgia Highlands College.
ABOUT JOE
Faith and family are the centers of Joe’s life. Joe’s wife is a career educator, and they have two grown children. Joe and his wife are active members of Crosspoint City Church in Cartersville, Georgia.
Learn to do what is good. Seek justice. Correct the oppressor. Defend the rights of the fatherless. Plead the widow’s cause.
Isaiah 1:17 HCSB
