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G. Cleveland Payne III Marietta, GA
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G. Cleveland Payne III

Location:
Marietta, Georgia
Phone:
(770) 424-1400
Email:
cleve@gcpaynelaw.com

Mr. Payne has provided legal services to the community since 1977, developing an excellent reputation for attentive representation of his clients.

The firm is a full service law firm, representing and advising clients in the areas of probate and estate administration. The firm offers a professional, while friendly, environment and uses cost effective methods to provide services in a timely, client-oriented manner. Mr. Payne’s approach is to focus on each client’s background, needs, and goals. He and his staff are committed to responding promptly to telephone calls, to reporting on cases regularly, and to minimizing and eliminating risks by informing clients of significant changes in the law. Especially Probate Law matters, Mr. Payne and his staff recognize the severe anxiety and sometimes even trauma which clients experience. They strive to be supportive through this process as well as attentive to the challenging legal tasks.

Mr. Payne possesses high academic credentials, maintains strong community ties and is committed to the pursuit of excellence. Mr. Payne’s education and training in Pastoral Care and Chaplaincy, as well as his work with juvenile offenders and offender counseling, uniquely equip him for practice in dealing with and assisting individuals and families in the area of probate. This background provides him with skills of listening and understanding which complement his legal knowledge and expertise. Having experienced divorce himself, Mr. Payne has gained additional understanding and empathy for clients. He has been trained to communicate effectively and operates with the strictest and highest personal and professional ethics. The focus and goal of Mr. Payne’s practice is to provide individualized services to each client. As a solo firm, the staff and Mr. Payne are easily accessible and available to each client. Having been in the practice of law since 1977, Mr. Payne has learned the importance of personal attention and a prompt response to clients.

Mr. Payne’s dedication to quality, trust, honesty, respect and understanding of the law is the foundation of his long-standing relationships with clients, the legal community and the community at large. Mr. Payne believes that his training in Chaplaincy and the regular practicing of his Christian faith contribute much to his sensitivity and empathy for clients who are going through very difficult times, including the loss of a loved one and caring for a parent or relative who is suffering from dementia or other disease.

Areas of Practice

  • Administration of Estates
  • Probate of Estates
  • Wills
  • Guardianships
  • Conservatorships

Bar Admissions

  • Georgia, 1977

Education

  • Woodrow Wilson College of Law, Atlanta, Georgia – 1977
    • Honors: cum laude
  • Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, Kentucky
    • Master of Divinity
  • Samford University
    • Bachelor of Arts

Honors and Awards

  • President’s Award for Outstanding Service, Cobb County Bar Association, 1999
  • President’s Award for Outstanding Service, Cobb County Bar Association, 2001

Professional Associations and Memberships

  • State Bar of Georgia, Family Law Section, Member
  • Cobb County Bar Association, Member, 1984 – Present
  • Cobb County Bar Association, Family Law Section, Vice-President, 2000 – 2001
  • Cobb County Bar Association, Trustee at Large, 2002 – 2003
  • Cobb County Bar Association, Chaplain, 1988 – 1991
  • Cobb County Bar Association, Elder Law Section, President, 2003 – 2005
  • Cobb County Bar Association, Treasurer, 2004 – 2005
  • Cobb County Bar Association, Family Law Section, Member, 1999 – Present
  • Cobb County Bar Association, Chaplain, 2000 – 2001
  • Cobb County Bar Association, Elder Law Section, Member, 2001 – Present

Past Employment Positions

  • Georgia Division of Youth Services, 1973 – 1975
  • Georgia Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor to Public Offenders, 1975 – 1977
  • Payne, Stokes & Payne, Partner, 1977 – 1979
  • Hansell, Post, Brandon & Dorsey, Real Estate Division, 1979 – 1980

Pro Bono Activities

  • Cobb County Legal Aid and Cobb Justice Foundation, 1997 – Present
  • Member, East Cobb Optimist Club, 1982 – 1989
  • Vice President – Girls Program, Pope High School Soccer Booster Club, 2000 – 2001
  • President – Boys and Girls Program, Pope High School Soccer Booster Club, 2001 – 2002
  • Volunteer Sports Photographer, Pope High School Soccer Booster Club, 2000 – 2003
  • Board of Directors, Grace Corp, Inc. (Ministry to Children in Haiti), 2004 – 2006
  • Chairman of the Board, Vision Atlanta, Inc. (Ministry to Children in At-Risk Environments), 2005 – 2006

Cleve Payne

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Legal Aid Pro Bono Logo

I volunteer at Legal Aid to give back to the community out of being so blessed as an attorney. I would encourage other attorneys to volunteer in taking pro bono cases and in participating in the Probate Clinic. I have been blessed by participating and have even obtained a few clients from volunteering. Additionally, the Legal Aid Staff in Cobb County are wonderful, giving people with whom it is a delight to work. Cleve Payne

Reviews

G. Cleveland Payne III P.C.

4.9 / 5.0

Based on 28 reviews

Jill S.

Jill F. Mr Payne, and his staff, were very helpful in assisting me to make a Will and Advanced Directive. They kept me up to date on process and provided some helpful insights.

Kathi R.

My 87year old mother felt very comfortable with Mr. Payne.

Lisa K.

Mr. Payne has done a great job helping us through the years with wills and other legal matters. He's our go to go guy and I would definitely recommend him for sound advice.

Anonymous

My two siblings and I picked Cleve to assist us with our late Mother's affairs. Although her papers were in order, we still needed an experienced and knowledgeable attorney to guide us through any mine field. I really don't know what we would of done without Cleve and Pam's assistance.

Anonymous

I worked with Cleve and Pam to prepare a will and other legal documents for me. The entire process was very efficient, and they were very helpful in answering all of the questions I had. I highly recommend Cleve for your legal needs.

Diane H.

Mr. Payne assisted me with two important life matters- a divorce and a will. He is extremely patient, kind and offers important advice. If I need him again I would not hesitate for one second. He would he the one to call!

Marlow M.

I would like to thank Mr. Payne and Ms. Pam on behalf of the Mike family. You are one of the best Law firms I have ever had to deal with. You overall help for us during our time of need was outstanding. Thank you so much for your help and for truly caring. Randolph and Marlow Mike

Anonymous

Cleve Payne has helped us write and later update relatively complicated wills. This year he efficiently handled probate for the estate of a family member. He and assistant Pam are professional, caring and competent.

Contact Us

248 Roswell St
Marietta, GA, 30060

(770) 424-1400

Opening Times

Monday - Friday 9 AM - 5 PM