Family Law

• Divorce
  A couple’s decision to divorce can begin a lengthy and painful process, both financially and emotionally. Stewart Melvin & Frost’s divorce and family law team has the experience, expertise and (most importantly) the compassion to successfully guide the divorcing husband or wife through the legal steps toward dissolution of their marriage.
• Child Support
  A common issue between unmarried, divorcing or separated parents is the cost of child support. No matter what the calculation method, many parents find themselves in a situation where they must pay more than they think they can afford for child support to the other parent. read more
• Adoption
  As a staff attorney and private practitioner, Kristin became involved with hundreds of adoption cases and gained vast experience assisting her clients in navigating the often-complex adoption process. It was during this time that Kristin discovered her deep love for helping families, agencies, and various church ministries with many different types of adoptions, including relative, independent, adult, and stepparent adoptions. Kristin worked closely with the Georgia Division of Family & Children Services (DFCS) in the Augusta area to help children find their forever homes in Columbia County, Richmond County, and Burke County.
• Guardianship
  Brook joined the firm’s probate litigation practice in February of 2015. She works with clients to develop estate plans and provide representation through the probate, administration, guardianship and conservatorship process.

Criminal Law

• Criminal Defense
  Chuck is a frequent speaker on workers’ compensation law and related topics, including Medicare Set Asides, workplace safety, etc.  He is experienced in workers’ compensation litigation, personal injury litigation subrogation, criminal defense and domestic relations.
• Wrongful Death
  While many different kinds of accidents can result in a wrongful death, one common factor is that the fatality was caused by another party’s negligent actions or behavior.

Business and Corporate Law

• Corporate Law
  Brook comes to Stewart Melvin & Frost after serving two years as Deputy Director, Chief Clerk and Hearing Officer for the Gwinnett County Probate Court. Earlier, she was an attorney with Andrew, Merritt, Reilly & Smith in Lawrenceville, Ga., where she managed all phases of litigation from client intake to appeals in the firm’s probate and corporate litigation practices. In 2013, 2017 and 2018, she was named a Super Lawyer Rising Star.
• Mergers and Acquisitions
  Steve provides qualified intermediary services and tax advice for clients with deferred like-kind exchanges, often receiving referrals for these services. He also helps clients with business sales, mergers and acquisitions. Steve advises individuals and business clients on a wide variety of tax and estate planning issues and provides representation in IRS contested matters. He also assists clients with private offerings of securities.
• Business Formation
  Partnerships, joint ventures, limited liability companies and other business entities in a broad scope of matters, including general business representation, business formation and organization of business entities, non-competition agreements and mergers and acquisitions. We also have extensive experience in a variety of services for financial institutions, medical groups and other business entities throughout North Georgia.
• Business Disputes
  From our senior partners to our legal assistants, Stewart, Melvin & Frost is a firm of specialists. Each of our attorneys and staff members has significant experience and expertise in his or her specialty within the areas of business law, tax and estate planning, real estate, mediation and arbitration transactions and litigation.
• Business Transactions
  Partner Steve Cornelison is known for his attention to detail, thorough knowledge, and wide experience in his practice areas, including ERISA, federal taxation and commercial business transactions in Gainesville, GA.
• Limited Liability Companies
  At Stewart, Melvin & Frost, we offer a range of experience representing public and private corporations, partnerships, joint ventures, limited liability companies and other business entities in a broad scope of matters. We also have extensive experience in providing a variety of services for financial institutions, medical groups and other business entities throughout North Georgia.
• Intellectual Property
  A graduate of the University of Georgia School of Law, Ron served as an editor on the Journal of Intellectual Property Law and was a member of several of Georgia Law’s Moot Court teams. One of his teams was invited to the International Chamber of Commerce pre-moot in Paris, France, prior to competing in Vienna, Austria in the Wilhelm C. Vis International Arbitration Moot competition. Ron’s team tied for fifth out of 311 teams and was the highest ranked U.S. team.

Employment Law

• Workers Compensation
• Employment Litigation
  During her government service, Kristin represented federal and state agencies in civil litigation regarding torts, constitutional violations, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission claims, civil rights, and immigration matters. Kristin has also advised government agencies on matters of local and federal law, risk management, intergovernmental contracts, employment disputes, and collective bargaining agreement grievances.
• Non-compete Agreement
  Stewart Melvin & Frost’s lawyers in Gainesville, Georgia., provide legal services to corporations such as incorporation, bond financing, real estate acquisition and development, federal and state tax help, equity financing, leasing agreements, mergers and acquisitions, compliance, and non-compete agreements.

Property Law

• Real Estate Litigation
  Tom LeFevre joined the firm in 1996 as a partner focusing on commercial real estate matters. He has practiced law in the Gainesville area since 1980.
• Premises Liability
• Construction Litigation
  Tom counsels business clients on construction law, real estate covenants, and contract matters, including leases and landlord-tenant issues. With tremendous breadth of experience, he is frequently called upon to serve as a special master in condemnation actions.
• Real Estate Transactions
  At Stewart Melvin & Frost, we have Real Estate Attorneys who are knowledgeable and experienced in the intricate laws and procedures that govern residential and commercial real estate transactions in all Gainesville, GA. We have built longstanding relationships and a strong reputation with local real estate brokers, investors, business owners, and homeowners looking to buy, sell, or lease.
• Land Use and Zoning
  Randall also has considerable experience in municipal and county government law including zoning, land use planning and governmental planning. He is currently the county attorney for Banks County.
• Landlord-Tenant Disputes
• Property Damage

Health Law

• Personal Injury
  Jul 15, 2022 | News Duty of care often refers to the responsibility everyone has to avoid causing others harm. For personal injury claims, breaching your duty of care is also referred to as “negligence.” Suppose you suffer injuries because of someone’s reckless behavior and disregard for...
• Auto Accidents

Trusts and Estates

• Estate Planning
  Strupe joined Stewart Melvin & Frost in 2018 and practices in the firm’s probate and estate planning division. He specializes in estate planning and wealth transfer, taxation, business succession, probate, asset protection planning, and business planning.
• Wills
  After years of practicing law in the areas of wills, trusts, and estates, Anna Adams Orkins joined the firm’s estate planning and probate section in January of 2019. A partner in the firm, she continues to focus her practice on estate planning and probate, including the preparation of wills and trusts, incapacity planning, probate and administration, guardianships, conservatorships, and real estate issues. Prior to joining Stewart, Melvin & Frost, Anna was an attorney for several years at an estate planning law firm in Roswell, before opening her own estate planning and probate practice.
• Trusts
  Our attorneys are recognized statewide for their expertise in assisting clients with complex estate and trust administration issues. We recognize that the estate settlement process occurs, by its very nature, during an emotionally difficult time and that compassionate and caring legal advice can be of great comfort to our clients. We also understand that there are times when litigation is unavoidable. That’s why we strive to offer an uncommon balance of compassion for our clients and passion for the law.
• Power of Attorney
  May 4, 2022 | J. C. Highsmith Jr., John P. Strupe, Legal Briefs The durable power of attorney is a legal procedure that gives authority to a named individual to make important decisions about your possessions, healthcare, finances, and other vital areas of your life. It’s a means of managing your affairs if you are disabled. Our...
• Probate

Finance Law

• Tax Law
  As the firm continued to grow in the late 1960s, partners Woody Stewart, Doug Stewart and John Melvin came on board. Through them, the well-established tripod of our firm’s capabilities — business & tax law, litigation and real estate — was strengthened.