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James Clifton

James Clifton

The Clifton Law Firm, LLC
  • Bankruptcy, Probate, Foreclosure Defense ...
  • California, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Texas
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Biography

James Clifton is the founding member of The Clifton Law Firm, LLC and oversees the firm's multi-state practice. During the course of his career, James has focused primarily on real property, bankruptcy, wills, trusts, and estates. Additionally, he possesses vast experience in suits to quiet title, real property and commercial lending transactions, comprehensive contract formation, title insurance claims, will drafting, estate planning, and probate litigation.

On the weekends, James enjoys donating his time to the Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation's Saturday Lawyer Program where he represents indigent clients on a pro bono basis. In addition, he represented Fayette County in the Georgia Attorney General’s state wide food drive, The Legal Food Frenzy. In the past, he has served as an elected member of the Executive Council of the State Bar of Georgia Young Lawyers Division and is a graduate of the prestigious Young Lawyer Leadership Academy. James is also a past president of the Fayette County Bar Association.

James is a member of the American Bar Association and its Real Property, Trust, and Estate Section. He is also an active member in good standing with the State Bar of Georgia and its Real Property Law Section, Bankruptcy Section, and Creditor's Rights Section; the Florida Bar and its Real Property, Probate, and Trust Law Section; the State Bar of California and its Real Property Law Section; the State Bar of Texas and its Real Property, Probate, and Trust Law Section; and the District of Columbia Bar and its Real Property Law Section.

In addition to the state licensures, James is licensed to practice in the U.S. District Courts for the Northern and Middle Districts of Georgia, the U.S. Bankruptcy Courts for the Northern and Middle Districts of Georgia, and the United States Court of Appeals, 11th Circuit. On May 14, 2012, James was sworn into the Bar of the Supreme Court of the United States.

Practice Areas
Bankruptcy
Chapter 13 Bankruptcy, Chapter 7 Bankruptcy, Debt Relief
Probate
Probate Administration, Probate Litigation, Will Contests
Foreclosure Defense
Real Estate Law
Commercial Real Estate, Condominiums, Easements, Eminent Domain, Homeowners Association, Land Use & Zoning, Mortgages, Neighbor Disputes, Residential Real Estate, Water Law
Landlord Tenant
Evictions, Housing Discrimination, Landlord Rights, Rent Control, Tenants' Rights
Estate Planning
Guardianship & Conservatorship Estate Administration, Health Care Directives, Trusts, Wills
Fees
  • Free Consultation
    All consultations are free.
  • Credit Cards Accepted
  • Contingent Fees
    For any accident or personal injury cases, we only get paid if you get paid.
  • Rates, Retainers and Additional Information
    We accept all major credit cards.
Jurisdictions Admitted to Practice
California
State Bar of California
ID Number: 270535
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District of Columbia
District of Columbia Bar
ID Number: 1004023
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Florida
The Florida Bar
ID Number: 0064755
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Georgia
State Bar of Georgia
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Texas
State Bar of Texas
ID Number: 24074043
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11th Circuit
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U.S. Supreme Court
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United States District Courts for the Northern & Middle Districts of Georgia
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Languages
  • English: Spoken, Written
  • Spanish: Spoken, Written
Professional Experience
Managing Attorney
The Clifton Law Firm, LLC
- Current
Candidate for Georgia House of Representatives
Georgia House of Representatives
Candidate for Georgia State Senate
Georgia State Senate
Partner
Consumer Attorney Services
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Managing Attorney - Georgia Operations
Albertelli Law
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Law Clerk 2008
Education
Florida Coastal School of Law
J.D. (2008) | Law
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Honors: Graduated 17th in the class with cum laude honors; Governors Merit Scholarship Recipient
Activities: Real Property, Trust, and Estates Law Society, Sports Law Society
Florida Coastal School of Law Logo
University System of Georgia - University of Georgia
B.S. (2003) | Psychology
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Honors: Psi Chi National Psychology Honor Society
University System of Georgia - University of Georgia Logo
University System of Georgia - University of Georgia
B.A. (2003) | Political Science
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Honors: Hope Scholarship Recipient
University System of Georgia - University of Georgia Logo
Awards
Good Rating
Avvo
Peer Reviewed (5/5)
Martindale-Hubbell Lawyer Services
Professional Associations
Executive Council of the State Bar of Georgia Young Lawyers Division
Elected Member
Current
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District of Columbia Bar  # 1004023
Member
- Current
Activities: Real Property Law Section
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Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation
Volunteer Attorney
- Current
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State Bar of Texas  # 24074043
Member
- Current
Activities: Real Property, Probate, and Trust Law Section
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State Bar of California  # 270535
Member
- Current
Activities: Real Property Law Section
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The Florida Bar  # 0064755
Member
- Current
Activities: Real Property, Probate, and Trust Law Section
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American Bar Association  # 01323032
Member
- Current
Activities: Real Property, Trust, and Estate Section
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State Bar of Georgia
Member
- Current
Activities: Real Property Law Section, Bankruptcy Section, and Creditor's Rights Section
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Publications
Articles & Publications
A Comprehensive Review of Zoning Regulations in Georgia
Speaking Engagements
Real Estate Law and the Economy, Fayetteville, GA
Fayette County Bar Association
A presentation about updates in real estate law and the economy. The presentation covered the effects of high interest rates, rising property taxes, and increased insurance premiums on real estate prices and foreclosure prevalence. Other topics included changes to foreclosure laws, restrictions on investment property purchases, and regulatory restrictions on insurance premiums and property taxes.
Certifications
Notary Public
Fayette County Clerk of Court
Websites & Blogs
Website
Website
Legal Answers
433 Questions Answered
Q. Is it too late to file a non-probate will in Florida after 2 ½ years?
A: If there is an asset that still remains in your husband's name and you need to transfer it to the beneficiary of the will, you can still probate the will and qualify as personal representative to make that happen. If you are simply trying to comply with the Florida statute that requires the will to be placed in the possession of the clerk within 10 days of the person's death, you can do that now without issue. Schedule a free consultation to make sure the correct steps are taken to finalize your husband's estate.
Q. Is an even split of sale proceeds correct when breaking up with co-owner?
A: The default division of proceeds for co-owners when selling is 50/50 unless there is an agreement to the contrary. If there are text messages, emails, or other writings that outline the agreement, those can serve as evidence of the terms of the agreement to prove that a 50/50 split was not the mutual intent of the parties. Additionally, if one party made more contributions to the purchase, maintenance, and upkeep of the property, those contributions may be used to show that one party is entitled to a larger share of the proceeds than the other. Schedule a free consultation to make sure your portion of the property is protected.
Q. Can I recover money or property value from a verbal agreement with my ex-girlfriend for a house I rebuilt in Key West over 6 years?
A: Yes, you can claim unjust enrichment, constructive trust, resulting trust, promissory estoppel, and partnership, among others. If you have emails or text messages, those constitute a written agreement that can be the basis of a claim in contract as well. We have had success litigating this issue even when there is no written agreement. Schedule a free consultation to protect your interest in the property.
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Contact & Map
The Clifton Law Firm, LLC
Headquarters
125 Flat Creek Trail
Suite 120
Fayetteville, GA 30214
US
Telephone: (770) 828-7339
Monday: 9 AM - 5 PM
Tuesday: 9 AM - 5 PM
Wednesday: 9 AM - 5 PM (Today)
Thursday: 9 AM - 5 PM
Friday: 9 AM - 5 PM
Saturday: Closed
Sunday: Closed
The Clifton Law Firm, LLC
Fayette County Office
10 The Boulevard
Suite 104
Newnan, GA 30263
US
Telephone: (770) 828-7339
Monday: 9 AM - 5 PM
Tuesday: 9 AM - 5 PM
Wednesday: 9 AM - 5 PM (Today)
Thursday: 9 AM - 5 PM
Friday: 9 AM - 5 PM
Saturday: Closed
Sunday: Closed