Your Private
Fiduciary Advisor.
Dedicated to Estate & Trust Services -
from planning your legacy to protecting you in court
Comprehensive Planning
- Helping hundreds of families design trust and estate
plans, from basic to complex needs.
Litigation & Advising
- Representing clients across Georgia in multi-million
dollar disputes; and advising fiduciaries how to avoid them.
Serving as Fiduciary
- Serving individually as Trustee/Executor for dozens of
families, where independence and privacy are paramount.
A TRUSTED ADVISOR
Comprehensive Planning & Counsel for Estates, Trusts & Fiduciary Matters
At Vantage Point South - The Skinner Law Firm, our focus is on providing comprehensive planning and on-going advice surrounding Estates, Trusts, and Fiduciary Management. Whether you are planning your own estate, starting probate of a loved one who passed, already serving as an Executor/Trustee, or facing disputes and potential litigation involving an estate/trust, we are here to guide you through the process.
Just as your needs and goals are unique, our services are tailored to each client. We routinely represent clients in courtroom litigation involving estate/trust disputes and offer fiduciary services when an independent third party is needed.
"Advanced planning is more than just having a Will or
Trust in place. It's providing you with the best possible vantage point to anticipate what's on your horizon."
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​Removing bank trustee on a multi-million dollar charitable trust
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Defending against Will Contests.
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Establishing family limited partnerships with layered asset protection
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Winning family farm in probate dispute among heirs
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Successfully defending executors against breach of fiduciary claims
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Defeating attempt to annul a marriage after death of a spouse
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Representing/advising estates in wrongful-death litigation
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Advising board of family controlled company on generational planning
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Serving as Trustee for large real-estate holding companies
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Routinely obtaining damages for beneficiaries against improper actions by fiduciaries.
REPRESENTATIVE CASES & CLIENTS
WHAT WE DO
Our Practice Areas
Estate Plannning
We prepare custom estate plans, from basic core documents (such as a Will, Durable Power of Attorney, and Healthcare Directive), to providing comprehensive plans for unique family structures and tax-efficient wealth transfers.
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Our documents are tailored to each client's needs and structured to provide clarity and ease for your beneficiaries. In addition to offering a free consultation, we will walk you through the entire process with a personalized approach, rather than one-size-fits-all legal documents.
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Estate & Trust Litigation
When things go sideways — we represent you in court. If you believe a Will or Trust may be invalid, it's important to act quickly or you may inadvertently waive your rights to challenge them.
Similarly, if an Executor/Trustee has mismanaged assets or acted against the interests of beneficiaries, we can assist with breach of fiduciary claims and removal proceedings. Or if you are serving as a fiduciary and just want legal advice to ensure everything is done properly, we can advise on best practices to mitigate liability. ​
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Fiduciary Services
For those who prefer an independent fiduciary, Clayton Skinner, routinely serves as an individual Executor and Trustee. While a family member is often an appropriate choice, in other instances family/friends may not be available or the best option.
Whether there are unique asset concentrations, strained family dynamics, and/or litigation involved, a third party fiduciary may be beneficial. Much like a multi-family office, we can work with your existing advisors — or help you find the right ones to build a team for asset management, tax planning, and even day-to-day matters like paying bills, hiring nurses and managing household staff.​ ​​​​​
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If a loved one has passed, with or without a Will, we can also advise you on the Probate process to ensure a smooth transition.
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Board & Non-Profit Advisor
With hands-on experience as legal advisor to multiple community non-profits and serving as interim Chief Operating Officer of a 501(c)3, Clayton Skinner brings insight to boards and officers of non-profits on fiduciary standards, policies & procedures, and personal liability protections to safeguard the organization and its mission.
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Serving on a board or working for a non-profit can be one of the most rewarding ways to give back to your community, but can also be fraught with risk when an organization fails to have appropriate protocols, or worse, fails to follow the ones they have in place. We help you maintain the highest fiduciary standards so that you can focus on the goals at hand.
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OUR PHILOSOPHY
A Thoughtful Strategy, Tailored to You
In a world that increasingly relies on pre-tailored forms and algorithms, we strive to bring focus to our client's individual and family goals with a human touch. Taking the time to not only get it right, but ensuring you understand your options and what is actually right for you.
Working with your investment advisors, tax planners, and even other existing advisors, it is our goal to ensure that each client has a comprehensive strategy tailored to their unique situation. When a component is missing, we work with you to find the right advisors and best solutions.
"Even the best plans can go awry when circumstances change. Having dedicated legal advice throughout the process is the best strategy to ensure your loved ones are taken care of."
Admissions & Memberships
- U.S. District Court, Northern District of Georgia
- Georgia Court of Appeals
- State Bar of Georgia - Fiduciary Law Section
Education
- J.D., Boston University School of Law
- B.S., highest honors, Georgia Institute of Technology
MANAGING ATTONREY
Clayton Skinner, Esq.
As Founder and Managing Partner of Vantage Point South – The Skinner Law Firm, Clayton Skinner focuses his practice on estate/trust planning, fiduciary services/litigation, and succession planning for closely held businesses.
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With prior experience managing several hundred trust accounts and nearly a quarter billion dollars in assets at U.S. Trust, Bank of America N.A., Clayton brings with him the knowledge of how your estate and trust planning will playout over time - not just at drafting.
Clayton is admitted in the State of Georgia as an Expert Witness on matters of fiduciary administration, and has tried cases across Georgia involving trusts/estates and fiduciary management. Clayton actively serves as Trustee for various families across the country with multi-generational needs and planning in place.
Having worked with small businesses and co-founding a technology start-up in the software industry with Georgia Tech classmates, he understands both the struggles of building a new business and the desire to protect what you’ve built. Clayton has served as legal counsel to several non-profits in Georgia, including Lost-n-Found Youth, OutFront Theater, and the Polish-American Chamber of Commerce of Atlanta.
In his spare time Clayton enjoys traveling in search of antiques and great local food, especially in his home-away-from-home in New Orleans, Lousiana.
Founder - Licensed in Georgia
Atlanta Bar Assoc. - Estate Planning & Probate Section
Stonewall Bar Association of Georgia
Formally General Counsel & Interim Chief Operating Officer of Lost-n-Found Youth.
Other Activities
Begin the Conversation
GET IN TOUCH
We welcome inquiries from individuals and families seeking guidance on estates, trusts, and fiduciary matters. All consultations are confidential.
PHYSICAL ADDRESS
156 7th St. NE, Suite 1
Atlanta, GA 30308, USA
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MAILING ADDRESS
P.O. Box 570773
Atlanta, GA 30357, USA
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​TELEPHONE
(706) 215-5006