Position: Member

TEL: 706-850-6910

FAX: 

Email: Click Here

Website: www.kimbroughlawfirm.com/

Admitted: Georgia

Law School: 

College: Auburn University

Birth Date and Place: 

Practice Areas: Elder Law, Veterans Benefits Attorney, Asset Protection Lawyer, Estate Planning Attorney, Estate Planning & Elder Law, income tax, international tax, estate and gift tax, estate planning

Additional Information: 

In the spring of 1996, I thought I was on the top of the world: enjoying a successful career with a reputable Athens law firm; celebrating my 20-year teaching anniversary at the University of Georgia School of Law; and looking forward to coaching my son’s Little League team in his final tournament. One Thursday night, the same son found me on my back in my closet, unable to move or speak. The ambulance came quickly; and we were at the emergency room, with a crowd of friends and doctors (also friends) peering down at me. We were told I had suffered a massive stroke. My entire right side was completely paralyzed. Fortunately, one of my doctors made the decision to administer a shot to dissolve the clot in my brain. The shot worked, and the paralysis dissipated.

The next morning, I awoke in the ICU. My first thought? “I could have died – must have been saved for a purpose.” Only then did we begin to realize the extent of the damage. Physically, I felt only numbness on the right side. The speech, however, was another matter. I couldn’t talk; actually, I couldn’t even make intelligent sounds. Further, I couldn’t read, and I certainly couldn’t write. The irony stung: In my estimation, my sole vanity had been my ability to speak quickly on my feet in public; and my greatest professional joy was teaching bright, young people. But in a single moment, both were gone.

After several months of intense therapy, I was able to talk, read and write again, albeit in a limited capacity. I soon began searching for a new vocation, thinking I was too young to quit working altogether. Real estate emerged as the obvious choice, as I had been involved with it as both an investor and an adviser to my clients during most of my law career. Thus, I obtained my broker’s license and created a brokerage firm. The industry, however, didn’t really interest me; and, after 10 years, I began to wonder if there was something else out there I was meant to do – hoping for an avenue that would allow me to utilize my education, experience and expertise. Since the stroke, I was constantly trying to discover why my God saved me that night – for what purpose? At last, after more than 15 years, I believe I have found it:

“And the end of all our exploring

Will be to arrive where we started And know the place for the first time.”

–T.S. Eliot

Over time, I acquired a different kind of appreciation for my prior profession. I heard more and more stories and nightmare scenarios from people. Most of these situations, which could have been prevented by a qualified professional’s thoughtful planning, were similar to the following:

the death of a second spouse without having planned for the children from the first marriage;

a sudden stroke leaving someone disabled, but without (1) a power of attorney designating someone handle his or her business affairs; or (2) an advance healthcare directive expressing medical treatment preferences for family and medical professionals;

financial catastrophe resulting from litigation, simply for lack of a thorough plan for ownership of assets; or

devastating income or estate taxes that could have been avoided through proper planning.

I offer a person-centered service unlike any other in this area. My goal is to help prepare individuals and families for potential difficult circumstances. Few people know the difference between a “transaction-like” estate plan and a plan thorough enough to effectively take care of the family. Few people understand the importance of trusts, wills, powers of attorney, advance healthcare directives. Fewer still know the intricacies involved in how their residence ought to be owned, or their life insurance policies, or their investment properties. Rarely does someone know how much he or she can save in taxes through careful planning. Only a handful of lawyers and accountants possess the knowledge necessary to devise a proper, comprehensive plan. My life’s charge is to educate my people and empower them to find and live their optimal plan.

Had I died that night, my wife wouldn’t have been able to turn on our irrigation system, much less able to take care of the family’s business affairs. We actually harm our families by keeping information from them instead educating them about such important matters.

Be transparent. Make time for these discussions. Get the whole family involved. It’s a wonderful opportunity to plan the preservation of your family’s legacy. What legacy do you hope to leave?