
With over 25 years experience, Brad is recognized as a regional leader in estate planning and administration, including related matters such as tax-planning advice for individuals and families with high net worth. This work includes the preparation of wills, revocable and irrevocable trusts, life insurance trusts, family partnerships, advanced trust techniques (GRATs, CRUTs, SLATs and GST trusts) and gifting and transfer documents. He also advises clients on charitable planning, such as charitable remainder trusts, charitable lead trusts and private foundations, and regularly assists clients with the creation of tax-exempt 501(c) organizations.
He also advises clients on pre-nuptial and post-nuptial agreements, and represents both individual and corporate trustees in fiduciary matters, including changes in trustees, trust modifications, trust terminations and similar matters. He works with clients to create Special Needs Trusts (SNTs), both for self-settled and third-party donor created trusts, in Medicaid planning and in planning for beneficiaries with disabilities.
Brad’s practice also covers a wide variety of business matters ranging from entity selection and formation with full consideration of the most favorable tax, liability and operational issues ranging from LLCs, c-corporations, s-corporations, partnerships and joint ventures. He advises clients on ongoing matters such as employment agreements, buy-sell agreements, contracts, leases, retirement plans and other operational matters. He regularly represents buyers and sellers of businesses in connection with an asset or stock purchase agreement, and other corporate transactions
Brad maintains an active probate and estate administration practice, which includes representing clients in the probate of wills, estate administration and year’s support proceedings. He works with families and individuals who need a guardian of the person or conservator of the property for adults, minors, and individuals with disabilities or special needs.
Brad regularly represents both entity and individual clients in controversies with the IRS and the State Department of Revenue, including resolution procedures such as offers in compromise, innocent spouse filings and installment agreements.
Additionally, Brad has a niche practice committed to helping clients with NFA Gun Trusts, also referred to as a Class 3 Trust or a Firearms Trust, which are utilized to legally purchase, own and facilitate the subsequent transfer of Title II Firearms such as suppressors and SBRs sold by Class 3 dealers.
Brad received a B.B.A. in Accounting from Mercer University in 1993, a J.D. degree from Mercer University School of Law in 1996, and a LL.M. (Master of Laws) in Taxation from the University of Miami School of Law in 1997.
He has been a member of the Georgia Bar since 1996 and the Alabama bar since 1998, and is admitted to practice before the United States Tax Court. He is a member of the Columbus Bar Association and the Atlanta Estate Planning Council.
Before joining Goggans, Stutzman, Hudson, Wilson and Mize, Brad was a shareholder and partner for 6 year at Hall Booth Smith, P.C, and prior to that practiced at Hatcher, Stubbs, Land, Hollis and Rothschild, LLP for 18 years, becoming a partner in 2002.
Brad practices out of the Columbus office, but is regularly in the Atlanta offices as well, serving the needs of his clients in the greater Atlanta area. A native of Columbus, Brad has a strong commitment to the community and his many clients. He speaks at both local and regional events sponsored by private and public organizations on the topics of estate planning and choice of entity. He also writes a monthly blog on the firm’s website on timely estate planning topics under the “ Estate Planning: Life, Death and Taxes ” blog, and has written numerous articles in local, state and national publications. Brad also publishes an estate planning guide for non-lawyers, and a link to the most current edition is Estate Planning & Probate Overview for the Georgia and Alabama Non-Lawyer: Just the Basics Please!
Brad is AV-rated by martindale.com, with a 4.9/5.0 Peer and 5.0/5.0 Client rating. He also has an AVVO rating of a perfect 10.0.
Publications
•Georgia Bar Journal, “LLP or LLLP? Creating Limited Liability For a General Partnership,” by Bradley R. Coppedge and W. Fray McCormick (August, 1998)
•Georgia Bar Journal, “Choice of Entity in Estate Planning” (December, 2000)
•Estate Tax Planning Advisor, “Choice of Entity Impacts Estate Planning,” by Bradley R. Coppedge & Morton A. Harris, Aspen Publishers (January, 2003, Volume 2, Issue 1)
•Probate & Property Magazine, “LLC Operating Agreements: Drafting Tips and Traps for the Unwary” (January/February, 2005)
•ALI-ABA Program Materials, Representing Professional and Closely Held Businesses: Qualified Plans, Welfare Benefits, and Tax Planning, Scottsdale, AZ (February 17-19, 2005)
•“LLC Operating Agreements: Drafting Tips and Traps for the Unwary,” originally published in Probate & Property Magazine(January/February, 2005)
•GP Solo Magazine, “LLC Operating Agreements: Drafting Tips and Traps for the Unwary,” Best Articles (September, 2005, Volume 22, No. 6)
•The Practical Lawyer, “Circular 230: Why, What, When and How?” (February, 2006, Volume 52, Number 1)
•Probate & Property Magazine, “Transfers to Trust and Use of UTMA Custodial Accounts” (May/June, 2009)
•“Estate Planning & Probate Overview for the Georgia and Alabama Non-Lawyer: Just the Basics Please!” copyright 2009, Bradley R. Coppedge
•“Estate Planning & Probate Overview for the Georgia and Alabama Non-Lawyer: Just the Basics Please!” by Bradley R. Coppedge, republished 2015, 2016, 2017
•Estate Planning & Probate Overview for the Georgia and Alabama Non-Lawyer: Just the Basics Please!
•Estate Planning, Now As Much As Ever…Estate and Financial Planning Steps You Should Take, HBS Life, Death and Taxes-estate planning blog, April 2020
•The Basics Of Probate And Estate Administration, HBS Life, Death and Taxes-estate planning blog, May 2020
•Why Everyone Needs a Will-Dispelling Some Common Misperceptions, HBS Life, Death and Taxes-estate planning blog, October 2020
•FLASH ALERT – Proposed Federal Estate Tax Law Changes (the sky may really be falling…), HBS Life, Death and Taxes-estate planning blog, March 2021
Presentations
•“Home Sweet Home: How the ‘97 Tax Act Affects the Sale of a Principal Residence,” Georgia ICLE program (1998)
•Asset Protection in Georgia, Lorman Education Series, Albany, Georgia, “S Corporations, Limited Partnerships and Limited Liability Companies” (December 14, 2005)
•51st Annual Estate Planning Institute, Athens, Georgia, February, 2006, “Choice of Entity in Estate and Business Planning”
•2007 Real Property Law Institute, Destin, Florida, “Choice of Entity” (May 4-5, 2007)
•“Hot Legal & Employment Topics for The Small Business Owner,” Columbus, GA Chamber of Commerce (March, 2010 & August, 2011)
•GA Society of CPAs Annual Estate Planning Conference, “Choice of Entity in Business & Estate Planning,” (July, 2011)
•Basic Fiduciary Law 201, Institute for Continuing Legal Education (ICLE), “Choice of Entity in Estate Planning,” Atlanta, GA, March 24, 2017
•“Wills and Estate Planning,” Midtown Medical Center (Columbus, GA), Employee Lunch & Learn, March 30, 2017
•Basic Fiduciary Law 201, Institute for Continuing Legal Education (ICLE), “Choice of Entity in Estate Planning,” Macon, GA, November 10, 2017
•“Choice of Entity in Estate Planning,” Basic Fiduciary Law 201 ICLE State Bar Series, March 22, 2019
•“Business, Benefits, Tax & Legislative Update”, Columbus chapter of Society of Human Resource Managers (SHRM), August 22, 2019
Awards
•Georgia Super Lawyers, Rising Stars, 2005 – 2011
•AV Preeminent Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell
•Avvo Clients’ Choice Award
Practices
Wills, Trusts, and Estates
Bar Admissions
Georgia, 1996
Alabama, 1998
Education
Mercer University, 1993
B.B.A. Accounting
Mercer University School of Law, 1996
J.D.
University of Miami School of Law, 1997
LL.M. (Masters of Law) – Taxation