Established in January 2000, Meredith Shearer & Associates, LLC has spent more than two decades building a real estate closing practice that Metro Atlanta’s lenders, builders, and agents return to transaction after transaction. The firm holds approved attorney status with more than 100 local and national lenders, a credential that reflects both the volume of closings handled and the institutional relationships built over 25 years of operation. From its primary office in Marietta, the firm reaches across Metro Atlanta with additional locations in Suwanee, Kennesaw, and Braselton.
Practice Areas
Residential Real Estate Closings
The firm’s primary practice is closing residential real estate transactions in Georgia. Meredith Shearer & Associates represents lenders, buyers, sellers, builders, and real estate agents at the closing table, serving as the attorney responsible for title examination, document preparation, and the legal transfer of property. Georgia law requires an attorney to be present at real estate closings, and the firm’s approval status with more than 100 lenders means it is a regular partner for both national mortgage companies and local institutions.
Refinance Closings
Mortgage refinance transactions require the same legal coordination as purchase closings: title examination, payoff coordination, lender document preparation, and recordation. The firm handles refinance work across its Metro Atlanta locations.
Contract Drafting and Review
The firm drafts and reviews real estate purchase agreements and related contracts. For buyers, sellers, and developers who need counsel on the legal terms of a transaction before reaching the closing stage, this service addresses what the documents actually require of each party.
Title Insurance
Title insurance protects buyers and lenders against claims arising from defects in the chain of title. As part of its closing practice, the firm examines title, identifies and resolves issues prior to closing, and issues title policies. Approved status with more than 100 lenders means the firm is recognized by those institutions as capable of delivering title work that meets underwriter standards.
Foreclosure Services
The firm handles foreclosure-related real estate matters, an area that intersects with its general real estate closing and title work.
Will Preparation
Drafting wills is available as an additional service for clients who need this as part of their overall legal planning.
Trust Preparation
Trust drafting is available as an additional service alongside will preparation.
LLC and Corporation Formation
Business entity formation is offered as an ancillary service for clients who need to establish an LLC or corporation in connection with a real estate transaction or for general business purposes.
Post-Closing and Follow-Up Work
The firm provides continuing support after closing to resolve issues that arise following a transaction, including outstanding document matters and recording follow-up.
Attorney Profiles
Meredith Shearer is the founding attorney and has led the firm since it was established in January 2000. She brings more than 20 years of experience in real estate law, with particular depth in residential closings, bankruptcy, real property transactions, foreclosures, title insurance, lender compliance (including RESPA), and related litigation. Beyond her client work, Shearer is a recognized educator in the real estate community: she speaks regularly to groups on real estate closing topics and conducts classes specifically for Realtors. Her specific law school and Georgia bar admission date are not publicly detailed.
Joy C. Green-Armstrong is an attorney at the firm whose practice focuses on a boutique real estate model. She is rated as Highly Recommended by peers on the Alignable professional network.
Firm Scale and Operations
Meredith Shearer & Associates has grown to approximately 12 employees across its Metro Atlanta locations. Annual revenue is estimated at approximately $4 million. The firm maintains office hours Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM, and is known for responsiveness to client inquiries.
Locations and Service Area
Primary Office:
1225 Johnson Ferry Rd, Building 100, Suite 100, Marietta, GA 30068
Additional offices in Suwanee, Kennesaw, and Braselton, Georgia.
Phone: (678) 560-5050
Website: meredithshearerlaw.com/
The firm’s service area covers the Metro Atlanta region. The four-office footprint allows the firm to reach clients throughout Cobb, Gwinnett, Cherokee, and Barrow counties.
Client Approach
The firm’s lender-approval status with over 100 institutions is the clearest indicator of how its closing practice is regarded in the market. Institutions approve closing attorneys only after their work product and processes have been vetted. That network means agents and lenders throughout Metro Atlanta can direct clients to the firm with confidence that the closing will be handled to lender standards. Post-closing support is part of the service, acknowledging that transactions do not always wrap cleanly at the closing table.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does a real estate closing in Georgia require an attorney?
Georgia law mandates that a licensed attorney conduct real estate closings and supervise the preparation and execution of closing documents. The attorney examines title, prepares documents for signature, handles disbursement of funds, and records the deed and mortgage. This is distinct from states that allow title company-only closings.
What does lender approval status mean, and why does it matter to buyers?
Lenders approve specific attorneys to conduct closings on loans they fund. Approval requires that the attorney’s title work, document handling, and closing processes meet the lender’s underwriting requirements. For buyers, using an approved attorney means the lender has already vetted the firm’s competence in handling the transaction.
Does the firm represent the buyer, the seller, or the lender at closing?
The firm can represent lenders, buyers, sellers, builders, and real estate agents, depending on the transaction. Which party or parties the firm represents in a given transaction is established at the outset and governs how the firm’s duties apply.
Can the firm handle a closing in a county other than Cobb?
The firm’s four office locations across Metro Atlanta allow it to serve clients in Cobb, Gwinnett, Cherokee, Barrow, and surrounding counties. Specific geographic coverage for a given transaction should be confirmed with the office.
Does Meredith Shearer’s speaking and teaching activity affect the quality of legal work?
Staying current enough to teach real estate professionals on closing topics requires continuous engagement with changes in law, lender requirements, and industry practice. Shearer’s educational work is both a service to the profession and a signal of the depth of her technical knowledge.