We have not found any cost information for this lawyer
Barbara Esther Katz
About Barbara
Biography
Barbara E. Katz is an estate planning and probate attorney whose practice is dedicated to assisting individuals and all families in all aspects of estate planning, including completing their wills and health care documents, as well as avoiding probate through the use of revocable living trusts. She is especially dedicated to helping alternative families, such as single parents and same sex couples, as well as unmarried individuals with family of choice, with legal issues in their personal lives.
Barbara also has extensive practice experience in the areas of adoption law and assisted reproductive technology law, but currently focuses her entire practice on wills, trusts, estate planning and probate law.
Barbara has spoken on legal issues related to estate planning for civic and religious groups. She has also spoken at the Institute of Continuing Legal Education’s seminar on adoption law.
Barbara graduated from the City University of New York School of Law in 1992, and was licensed for the practice of law in the state of Georgia later that year. Her firm’s mission, “Law in the Service of Your Family’s Needs,” was adapted from CUNY’s own mission statement.
In addition to her legal practice, Barbara is a teacher who taught Legal Writing, Research & Advocacy at Emory University School of Law from 1998-2004. She also taught and administered a bar review course offered through Georgia State University School of Law from 1994-2006. Finally, Barbara is a private tutor and offers a bar review course for students taking the Georgia Bar Exam.
Practice Areas
3
Practice Areas
Fees and Rates
Looking for an attorney? Avvo can help.
Search our directory
Quickly connect with top attorneys through our legal directory to get help with your legal issue.
Avvo's live chat agents can help coordinate a consultation with a local attorney.
Chat with a live agent who can match you with the right attorney for your legal needs.
Chat withLicenses
Licensed in Georgia for 33 years
State: Georgia
Acquired: 1992
No misconduct found
Location
Law Offices of Barbara Esther Katz
1900 Century Place N.E. Suite 220, Atlanta, GA, 30345
Gallery
Ad
Transform legal challenges into solutions.
Connect now to review your situation.
Barbara Esther Katz's Reviews
Avvo Review Score
23 Client Reviews
Filter Avvo Reviews (23)
Refine reviews to match your needs. Use the filters to quickly surface reviews that align with your case or priorities.
Practice Areas
What Clients Mention
Showing 1 - 5 of 12 reviews | Adoption
Posted by anonymous | February 15, 2022 | Hired Attorney | Adoption
Excellent!
Barbara was wonderful during the reproductive process and adoption of our child. We felt confident every step of the way as she guided us through the details. Her advisory, professionalism and knowledge made a stressful situation feel manageable.
Posted by Eric | November 02, 2018 | Hired Attorney | Adoption
The Professional Lawyer
She was thorough and complete in the adoption of my daughter. I not only feel that she cared, but I witnessed it on the day of adoption. From the first handshake of "Hello" to the final hug of "Goodbye", I was confident in her abilities and honesty. She is serious about her job, her reputation and th...
Posted by Chris | January 30, 2017 | Hired Attorney | Adoption
Great attorney!
We have gotten help from Barbara Katz twice: first with part of our adoption process, and second with our wills and advanced directives. In both experiences, Ms. Katz was thorough, efficient, and extremely patient with our need to be "walked through the basics." Everything went smoothly and was com...
Posted by Greg | January 26, 2017 | Hired Attorney | Adoption
Excellent service! Very pleasant, professional and knowledgeable
Ms. Katz was recommended by my adoption agency. She led me through the intricacies of legal adoption from the GA foster care system and estate planning and she was fantastic. She has a very welcoming, chill presence but very professional at all times. She was an excellent listener and it was clear...
Posted by Karen and Louis | January 26, 2017 | Hired Attorney | Adoption
Fantastic Attorney
We adopted 4 children from DFCS on 3 separate occasions and Barbara handled each one. She was wonderful to work with. She was incredibly prompt in returning phone calls or emails and handled every last detail. We truly turned everything over to her and knew she would get it done. Her work and com...
Barbara Esther Katz's Lawyer Endorsements
"I endorse this lawyer. I have worked with Barbara on ART law matters and through the Georgia Council of Adoption Lawyers. She is a knowledgeable attorney and works hard to advocate on behalf of her clients."
"I endorse this lawyer. She is conscientious, knowledgeable, and principled."
"I endorse this lawyer for Adoption and Surrogacy Matters."
"Barbara Katz is a extraordinary lawyer and an expert in the areas of gestational surrogacy, adoption and wills and estate planning. She is well known and well respected in the legal community and is my go to for all adoption referrals. I wholeheartedly endorse Barbara Katz."
"I highly recommend Barbara Katz for anyone that needs expert guidance on a family law or adoption matter. Her conscientious attention to and concern for clients combined with her vast knowledge of and experience in these legal specialties should place her at the top of the list for anyone seeking legal representation."
"I have referred many individuals to Barbara Katz, both for adoptions and for wills/probate work. People I have referred to her have consistently been very, very pleased with her services. She is meticulous, responsive, highly competent, and pleasant. I endorse her in her practice areas without reservation."
"I endorse this lawyer. Ms. Katz is professional and very knowledgeable. She is devoted to providing her clients with excellent legal representation. I rate her with the very best in the legal community."
"Barbara Katz is an extremely experienced adoption attorney. I never hesitate to call on her for adoption advice in my practice, and to refer clients to her that are better served by her skills."
"I endorse this lawyer."
"Barbara is a true expert on the subject of Georgia adoption law. I hired her to perform my tricky adoption, and she made the process easy & stress-free. I highly recommend her!"
"I endorse Barbara. She is a highly skilled attorney that is well respected in the legal community."
Bethaney Jones
Adoption lawyer
Ina Cook
Family lawyer
Justin Hester
Adoption lawyer
Lori Surmay
Adoption lawyer
Kathleen Womack
Estate planning lawyer
Sherriann Hicks
Adoption lawyer
Sherry Neal
Adoption lawyer
Georgia Lord
Family lawyer
Experience
Honors
1989
Law Students Civil Rights Research Council Summer Internship, New York University
Work Experience
1998 - Present
Managing Attorney, Barbara Katz Law Firm, P.C.
1998 - 2004
Professor, Legal Writing, Research, Advocacy Program, Emory University School Of Law
1994 - 1998
Managing Attorney, Mackinson & Katz
1993 - 1994
Partner, Schildmeyer, Mackinson & Katz
1992 - 1993
Associate, Law Office of M.P. Schildmeyer
Associations
2010 - Present
Georgia Council of Adoption LawyersFellow
1994 - Present
Stonewall Bar AssociationMember
American Bar Association
Member
Sample of Legal Cases
Finalization of Agency Adoption
adoption granted
Pre-Birth Parentage Order in Surrogacy Case
Order granted
Domestication of Foreign Adoption
Adoption granted
Private Adoption (Non-agency)
adoption granted
Same Sex Second Parent Adoption
Adoption granted
Hammond v. City of Atlanta, 93-00061-1-CV-WLH
Jury Award of $165,000 for Plaintiff
Education
1992
City University of New York
JD - Juris Doctor
1983
State University of New York, Stony Brook
BA - Bachelor of Arts
Speaking Engagements
2017
ICLE of Georgia: Adoption Law & Practice in Georgia
Post-Obergefell Issues in Custody and Adoption
2013
Legal Issues in Adoption
Finalizing Private Adoptions
2013
Adoption Process Through Foster Care
Foster Care Adoption
2013
Adoption Law for LGBT Community
Adoption Law for LGBT Community
2012
Legal Issues for LGBT Couples
Marriage Laws & LGBT Relationships
2012
Legal Issues for LGBT Community
Protecting LGBT Relationships
2011
Children in Foster Care
Foster Care Adoption
2009
Choice Moms Annual Conference
Estate Planning for Single Mothers
2007
Marriage Laws and the LGBT Community
Protecting LGBT Relationships
1996
Employment Law CLE
Title VII Discrimination Claims
Publications
2021
The Jewish Times
Do You Need to Review Your Will
2017
ICLE of Georgia Program Materials: Adoption Law & Practice in Georgia
Post-Obergefell Issues in Custody and Adoption
2011
Written and self-published by Victoria & Jennifer Collier
Getting to Baby: Creating your Family Faster, Easier and Less Expensive through Fertility, Adoption, or Surrogacy (Attorney Katz Interviews Included)
Languages
English
Spanish
Activity
Legal Answers
Legal Guides
Legal Answers
Q&A
Do I have a right to have copies of signed documents?
28 Mar 2023
Q&A
Would my fiance have a chance at adopting my children?
20 Mar 2023
Q&A
Will my mom face legal repercussions if she takes in my 15 year old friend who is getting kicked out?
08 Dec 2022