Margaret Ward Scott
Trusts and Estates
Trusts and Estates
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Margaret W. Scott concentrates her practice on estate planning, fiduciary and tax litigation, estate settlement, trust administration, charitable planning, charitable solicitation law and exempt organizations.Margaret is a fellow of the American College of Trusts and Estates Counsel. She is the past chair of the Nonprofit Law Section of the State Bar of Georgia and is the Secretary of of the Fiduciary Law Section of the State Bar of Georgia. She is the President of the Atlanta Estate Planning Council.She serves as the secretary of the Charles Loridans Foundation and the secretary/treasurer of the Vasser Woolley Foundation. She serves on the Emory University Board of Visitors and the Chastain Park Conservancy board. Margaret founded Alston & Bird’s Wills Program for emergency services personnel and indigent Atlantans and annually provides wills trainings for volunteer attorneys. She has been selected to the Georgia Rising Stars list by Super Lawyers magazine three times and has recognized by the Martindale-Hubbell® AV Preeminent® ratingMargaret earned her B.A. from Duke University in 1996 and her J.D., with honors, from Emory University School of Law in 2003. Before law school, Margaret worked as a speech writer and policy analyst for the U.S. Department of Education in Washington, D.C. Margaret W. Scott concentrates her practice on estate planning, fiduciary and tax litigation, estate settlement, trust administration, charitable planning, charitable solicitation law and exempt organizations.Margaret is a fellow of the American College of Trusts and Estates Counsel. She is the past chair of the Nonprofit Law Section of the State Bar of Georgia and is the Secretary of of the Fiduciary Law Section of the State Bar of Georgia. She is the President of the Atlanta Estate Planning Council.She serves as the secretary of the Charles Loridans Foundation and the secretary/treasurer of the Vasser Woolley Foundation. She serves on the Emory University Board of Visitors and the Chastain Park Conservancy board. Margaret founded Alston & Bird’s Wills Program for emergency services personnel and indigent Atlantans and annually provides wills trainings for volunteer attorneys. She has been selected to the Georgia Rising Stars list by Super Lawyers magazine three times and has recognized by the Martindale-Hubbell® AV Preeminent® ratingMargaret earned her B.A. from Duke University in 1996 and her J.D., with honors, from Emory University School of Law in 2003. Before law school, Margaret worked as a speech writer and policy analyst for the U.S. Department of Education in Washington, D.C. Margaret W. She is the President of the Atlanta Estate Planning Council. She serves as the secretary of the Charles Loridans Foundation and the secretary/treasurer of the Vasser Woolley Foundation. She serves on the Emory University Board of Visitors and the Chastain Park Conservancy board.
Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2018
Ronald Robinson
After my father's passing, I was overwhelmed by the responsibility of settling his estate, which included a family trust, out-of-state property, and significant charitable bequests. Navigating the tax implications and fiduciary duties felt daunting. From our first meeting, Margaret Scott provided clarity and confidence. Her deep knowledge of trust administration and estate settlement, honed over more than two decades, was immediately apparent. She meticulously explained each step, anticipated potential complications with the out-of-state assets, and handled all communications with the financial institutions and charities with impeccable professionalism. Her recent recognition in the field, particularly her noted focus on evolving legal landscapes, gave us great assurance. Margaret didn't just execute documents; she crafted a strategic plan that honored my father's wishes while ensuring full compliance and minimizing tax burdens for the beneficiaries. The process was seamless, and the outcome was exactly what our family needed. Her team at Alston & Bird was equally responsive. I cannot recommend Margaret Ward Scott highly enough for anyone facing similar complex fiduciary matters.