Robert Goldberg spent five years as a commercial litigator at prestigious firms in Kentucky and Pennsylvania before deciding that was not what he wanted to do. In 1995 he started his own practice in Georgia, took on criminal and commercial work initially, then narrowed entirely to estate planning and elder law by 1999. That deliberate pivot shapes how the firm operates today: more than 25 years of focused attention on one corner of the law, serving families in Metro Atlanta with planning that extends from basic wills to Veterans Administration benefits and Medicaid qualification.
The firm maintains offices in Peachtree City, Atlanta, and Zebulon, Georgia.
www.goldbergestateplanning.com/
401 Highway 74 N, Suite D, Peachtree City, GA 30269
Phone: (770) 229-5729
Practice Areas
Estate Planning
The firm drafts wills, revocable living trusts, and complete estate plans designed around individual family circumstances. Estate planning at this firm is not treated as a single-document exercise; it incorporates consideration of how assets are titled, what protective structures are appropriate for different beneficiaries, and how incapacity should be addressed before death.
Elder Law
Elder law encompasses Medicaid planning, Veterans benefits, long-term care planning, and guidance for elderly individuals and their families as they navigate the legal complexities of aging. Robert Goldberg is accredited by the Veterans Administration, which allows him to assist veterans and surviving spouses in filing VA benefit claims. He is also a member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys and Elder Counsel.
Asset Protection
The firm employs a range of asset protection structures to shield wealth from creditors, divorce proceedings, and poor financial decisions by heirs. Specific tools used include Medicaid Asset Protection Trusts, Spousal Lifetime Access Trusts, Inheritance Protection Trusts, and Family Protection Trusts. Each structure has different uses depending on the client’s situation and the type of risk being addressed.
Special Needs Planning
For clients with disabled beneficiaries, the firm drafts Special Needs Trusts structured to benefit the beneficiary without disqualifying them from Medicaid or Supplemental Security Income. Proper drafting is critical in this area; an improperly structured trust can eliminate the government benefits the trust was intended to supplement.
Probate and Estate Administration
Following a loved one’s death, the firm guides families through the Georgia probate process, including identifying and valuing assets, notifying creditors, filing required court documents, and distributing assets to beneficiaries.
Guardianships and Conservatorships
When an individual becomes incapacitated without prior legal planning in place, a court-supervised guardianship or conservatorship may be necessary. The firm handles these proceedings for families dealing with an elderly parent or other incapacitated family member.
Charitable and Specialty Trusts
The firm also handles Pet Trusts (for the care of animals after an owner’s death), Charitable Trusts, and Gun Trusts (for the legal transfer and ownership of NFA firearms). These are specialized instruments that require careful drafting to function as intended under applicable law.
Veterans Disability Benefits
Robert Goldberg’s VA accreditation permits him to assist veterans and their surviving spouses in navigating VA benefits, including pension benefits with the Aid and Attendance enhancement that can help pay for long-term care.
Attorney Profile
Robert M. Goldberg
Robert Goldberg holds a JD and began private practice in 1995 after five years of commercial litigation work at firms in Kentucky and Pennsylvania. He transitioned exclusively to estate planning and elder law in 1999. His professional memberships include the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, Wealth Counsel, and Elder Counsel. He is accredited by the Veterans Administration.
Earlier in his career, before narrowing his practice, Goldberg tried numerous jury trials and pursued appeals before the Supreme Courts of Georgia, Kentucky, and Pennsylvania, as well as the Georgia Court of Appeals. That litigation background is relevant background for a practitioner who now regularly advises families on structuring assets to withstand legal challenges.
He has been recognized by Lawyers of Distinction. Specific law school is not publicly identified.
Kimberley Goldberg
Kimberley Goldberg serves as Office Manager and has worked alongside Robert Goldberg since the firm’s founding in 1995.
Location and Service Area
The firm serves the Metro Atlanta region with offices in Peachtree City, Atlanta, and Zebulon, Georgia. Office hours are Monday through Friday 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., with Saturday and Sunday appointments available by arrangement.
Client Focus
Robert M. Goldberg & Associates serves individuals and families in the Metro Atlanta area who need estate planning, elder law guidance, or Veterans benefits assistance. The firm’s client base includes retirees and pre-retirees planning for long-term care costs, veterans navigating VA benefit eligibility, families with disabled beneficiaries needing special needs trusts, and clients concerned about protecting assets from creditors or family legal disputes.
A half-price custom consultation is available through a promotional offer on the firm’s website. Specific consultation fees are not publicly listed; prospective clients should inquire directly. Languages spoken beyond English are not publicly disclosed.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes the VA-accredited designation relevant for estate planning clients?
VA accreditation is granted by the Department of Veterans Affairs and authorizes an attorney to assist claimants in filing benefit applications and representing them before the VA. For clients who are veterans or surviving spouses of veterans, an accredited attorney can assist with pension claims, Aid and Attendance applications, and appeals of VA benefit decisions. Robert Goldberg holds this accreditation.
What is a Medicaid Asset Protection Trust, and who needs one?
A Medicaid Asset Protection Trust is an irrevocable trust designed to hold assets in a way that, after the relevant lookback period, removes them from the Medicaid asset calculation for long-term care eligibility purposes. It is used by clients who have assets above Medicaid’s eligibility limits but anticipate eventually needing Medicaid to cover nursing home or assisted living costs.
How does the firm’s litigation background affect its estate planning work?
Robert Goldberg tried jury trials and argued appeals in three state Supreme Courts before narrowing to estate planning. That background informs how he structures documents to withstand challenges. An estate plan that has never been stress-tested by an attorney who understands how disputes unfold in court is not the same as one that has.
Does the firm handle Veterans benefits beyond estate planning?
Yes. Robert Goldberg assists veterans and surviving spouses with VA benefit applications and navigating the VA system, which can include pension benefits, Aid and Attendance, and Total Disability ratings. This work is separate from traditional estate planning but often occurs in parallel for older veterans.
About the Firm
Twenty-five years of exclusive focus on estate planning and elder law in Metro Atlanta, combined with VA accreditation and prior litigation experience, puts Robert M. Goldberg & Associates in a relatively unusual position among Georgia estate planning practices. Clients with straightforward needs receive standard planning instruments. Clients with more complex situations, including veterans, clients with disabled beneficiaries, or those worried about Medicaid costs, receive planning built for their specific circumstances. The firm can be reached by phone at (770) 229-5729 or online at www.goldbergestateplanning.com.