James Blount Griffin

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.

• 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
• 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.

Alabama

Since 2011

Georgia

Since 2001

Principal

James B. Griffin, LLC

2014 - 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

2011 - 2014

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

2002 - 2011

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

2001 - 2002

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.

Vanderbilt University Law School

J.D. (2001) | Law

1998 - 2001

Honors: Associate Editor, Vanderbilt Journal of Transnational Law Phi Delta Phi

Activities: St. Thomas More Society, Federalist Society

University of Alabama - Tuscaloosa

M.A. (1990) | History

1986 - 1990

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

Gordon College

B.A. (1984) | Economics & History

1980 - 1984

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

Environmental Law Section of State Bar of Georgia

Chairman

2010 - 2011

Activities: Served as officer for four years and then as chairman. Organized annual conference and edited publications.

A Predictive Framework for the Effectiveness of International Criminal Tribunals

34 VAND. J. TRANSNAT’L L. 405 (2001)

2001

"Handling Ethical Issues in Engineering and Surveying Practice", Legal Issues for Civil Engineers and Land Surveyors, Birmingham, AL

May 5, 2015

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

May 5, 2015

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

October 1, 2014

National Business Institute

"Stay On Top of Environmental Considerations", Land Use Law: Current Issues in Subdivision, Annexation, & Zoning, Birmingham, AL

October 1, 2014

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

July 30, 2013

National Business Institute

Explained how zoning law works and how you can get in trouble when requesting or making land-use decisions.

Q. Should I refuse to sign due to undisclosed fee requests in Alabama?

March 7, 2025

A: No one who wants you to sign these docs appears to be loyal to you and you alone. A few questions:

Are you buying a home or an investment property?

Is the seller very eager to get rid of it?

Is there a lender?

Is the closing attorney working for you, the lender, or the title insurance company? (Lawyers work for clients, not the transaction parties as a group.)

Is one of the documents you are asked to sign a disclosure that says the closing attorney is working for one party or more than one? (States often allow it, but it is a conflict of interest.)

Is one of the documents you are asked to sign a disclosure that says the realtor is working for one party or more than one? (States often allow it, but it is a conflict of interest.)

Does the property have a troubled title history, e.g., prior foreclosures, short sales, tax liens, other liens, multiple owners, ownership by a deceased person or trust, fire-insurance claims, unruly neighbors, environmental issues, termites, etc.?

Something is going on that no one wants to explain. The title company wants to unload the property and give you all the liability. Don't sign your name unless you know what IT is. Bring in your own attorney who has no loyalty to anyone but you. ... Read More

Q. I have a power of attorney drawn up by an attorney who marked thru incorrect addresses. Is it legal?

November 21, 2024

A: To invalidate a power of attorney, you must have both facts and law on your side. Every lawyer has had a client walk in who noticed a misspelled name, incorrect address, misidentified party, incomplete description, or typo. Correcting incorrect addresses does not necessarily invalidate a signed document. A judge would be asking: What is the intent of the document by its nature and language? Does the correction somehow confuse or cloud that apparent intent? So, the answer is: "It depends."

Q. Mother passed in 2022 I just found the quick claim deed she had drawn up giving me the house but she never filed it

November 18, 2024

A: Is the deed signed, dated, and properly notarized (signed and stamped by notary public)?

If so, would anyone object to the deed's validity and claim that your mother did not actually deliver the deed to you as the new owner? Deeds need to be "signed, sealed, and delivered."