Rees M. Sumerford
rsumerford@gilbertharrelllaw.com
912-279-3539
Rees M. Sumerford has practiced with Gilbert, Harrell, Sumerford & Martin, P.C. for over 30 years. Mr. Sumerford is part of the Trusts & Estates Practice Group, the Corporate Practice Group, and the Governmental Practice Group. He concentrates his practice in trusts, family wealth planning, estates, and related tax and fiduciary law. Mr. Sumerford has extensive experience in the planning and administration of estates and trusts; in corporate, tax, and estate planning for family-owned businesses; and in advising fiduciaries on legal and regulatory matters.
Mr. Sumerford is a frequent lecturer and author of the speech, "Everything You Always Wanted to Know about Administering a Small Estate but Were Afraid to Ask," which is presented every year at the Basic Fiduciary Practice Seminar sponsored by the Institute of Continuing Legal Education in Georgia. He has received an "AV" rating from Martindale-Hubbell, indicating preeminent legal ability and the highest ethical standards. Mr. Sumerford has been named a "Georgia Super Lawyer" every year from 2005 through 2010.
Mr. Sumerford is licensed to practice law in Georgia. He is a graduate of the University of Georgia and the University of Georgia School of Law. He is married to Brooke Sumerford and they have two children, Harlow and Chase.
Professional Memberships
- Fellow, American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC).
- Former State Chair, ACTEC
- Member, Board of the ACTEC Foundation
- Member, Charitable Planning and Exempt Organizations Committee
- Member, Georgia Trust Code Revision Committee
- Member, Board of Trustees, Georgia Tax Conference
- Former member, Georgia Probate Code Revision Committee
- Former member, Georgia Guardianship Code Revision Committee
- Member and Past President, Brunswick-Glynn County Bar Association
- Member, American Bar Association (Real Property, Taxation, and Estate Planning Sections)
- Member, Taxation and Fiduciary Law Sections of the State Bar of Georgia
- Past Chairman, Fiduciary Law Section of the State Bar of Georgia
- Former member, Review Panel of the State Disciplinary Board of the State Bar of Georgia
Community Memberships
- Member, Christ Church, Frederica
- Chairman, Investment Committee
- Chairman, Long-Range Planning Committee
- Treasurer of the Vestry
- Officer, Board of Trustees of the College of Coastal Georgia Foundation
- Chairman, Communities of Coastal Georgia Foundation
- Trustee, Wesley Memorial Trust
- Member and Past President, Rotary Club of St. Simons Island
- Member, Gridiron Secret Society
- Participant, 1985 Class of Leadership Georgia
- Former member, Board of Trustees of the St. Simons Island Rotary Foundation.
- Former member, Board of Directors of the YWCA Foundation of Brunswick, Georgia, Inc.
- Former member, Glynn County Heart Association
- Former member, Georgia Council on Economic Education
- Former member, Brunswick-Golden Isles Chamber of Commerce
