This workshop covers the essentials of estate planning in Tennessee. Our experts will walk you through the importance of wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and healthcare directives. There will be time for questions at the end.
Proud to call East Tennessee home, Melissa moved to the area in 2014 to pursue an advanced degree in urban and cultural geography. Although she remains passionate about the field, Melissa discovered an even greater calling: educating and advocating for families. In 2021, she became an insurance broker and retirement planner, crisscrossing East Tennessee, sitting with families at dinner tables and in living rooms—listening, learning, and uncovering what matters to them most.
Melissa often finds while families have taken financial steps to create a legacy, they frequently overlook estate planning—the final, critical piece in enshrining it. Melissa is passionate about bridging that gap, guiding families through those crucial decisions so their values, assets, and wishes are secured for generations to come.
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A proud East Tennessean and lifelong advocate for families, Lucas I. Abbott brings both a deep reverence for heritage and years of practical legal experience to his estate planning work. As the founder of Shield Wall Legal, he has guided clients through the complexities of wills, trusts, and probate matters with compassion and clarity. Drawing from his academic background in law, theology, and psychology, as well as his own Cherokee and Appalachian roots, Lucas understands the importance of legacy—not just in documents, but in lives. He currently teaches estate planning, property, and constitutional law, and is deeply committed to helping individuals protect their families and preserve their stories for generations to come.
