Melody J. E. Breeden

Melody J. E. Breeden

Shareholder
FlorenceMyrtle Beach
  • 843-213-5530

Melody Breeden is a trusted advisor with extensive experience in estate planning and probate law. As a Certified Specialist in Estate Planning and Probate Law in South Carolina since 2009, Melody offers clients personalized legal solutions tailored to their unique needs. She is also a Certified Circuit Court Mediator, assisting families and stakeholders in resolving disputes efficiently and effectively.

Melody is a member of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel, a prestigious national organization recognizing exceptional expertise in trust and estate matters. Melody has served on and chaired the South Carolina Estate Planning and Probate Law Specialization Advisory Board. She also served on and chaired the Probate Estate and Trust Council of the South Carolina Bar. She is the current Chair of the Horry County Probate Court Advisory Committee. Her dedication to excellence has earned her recognition in Best Lawyers in America for Trusts and Estates (2024) and an AV® Preeminent® Peer Review Rating™ from Martindale-Hubbell®.

Melody provides comprehensive estate planning services, including the creation of Simple Wills, Durable Powers of Attorney, Health Care Powers of Attorney, and Revocable and Irrevocable Trusts. She also handles complex matters such as Special Needs Trusts, Conservatorships, Guardianships, and business succession planning. Her practice extends to protecting the interests of surviving spouses, minors, and other estate beneficiaries. She also represents fiduciaries in navigating their roles as Trustees, Personal Representative, Guardians, and Conservators.

Beyond her practice, Melody contributes to the legal profession as a Practical Law Contributor for Thomson Reuters and frequently speaks on estate planning and probate topics. She also serves as an expert witness in contested probate cases, bringing a wealth of knowledge to complex disputes.

Licensed in both South Carolina and North Carolina, Melody is committed to providing superior legal service with a focus on practicality and compassion, ensuring her clients receive the guidance and representation they need to navigate sensitive and significant life decisions.

PR AV

Estate Planning

  • Regularly counseled individuals in their end of life planning and transference of wealth, including creating Wills, and/or Trusts, Durable Powers of Attorney, and Health Care Powers of Attorney.
  • Regularly counseled individuals in their planning for incapacity.
  • Prepared Special Needs Trust to ensure family members receiving benefits can continue to receive those benefits.
  • Negotiated and prepared agreements between spouses to accomplish their marital goals and consider spousal rights available at death.

Probate and Trust Administration

  • Regularly counseled Personal Representatives in the administration for probate administration.
  • Regularly counseled Trustees in the administration of Trusts.
  • Regularly represented the individual interests of beneficiaries in an Estate and/or Trust.

Probate Litigation

  • Counseled and represented clients in Elective Share and Omitted Spouse cases.
  • Counseled and represented clients in common law marriage actions after the death of one of the parties.
  • Counseled and represented fiduciaries in breach of fiduciary actions.
  • Counseled and represented individuals in Guardianship and Conservatorship matters. 
  • University of South Carolina School of Law, J.D., 2001
  • College of Charleston, Bachelor of Arts, 1998, magna cum laude
  • South Carolina Bar, 2001
  • North Carolina State Bar, 2004
  • United States District Court, District of South Carolina

Professional or Industry Involvement

  • American College of Trust & Estate Counsel
  • Estate Planning and Probate Law Specialization Advisory Board Member, 2016-2021
  • South Carolina Bar Probate, Estate Planning & Trust Section Council, Chairperson 2018
  • South Carolina Bar House of Delegates
  • Elder Law Committee Of South Carolina Bar
  • National Association of Elder Law Attorneys
  • Horry County Bar Association
  • American Bar Association      

Community or Pro Bono Involvement

  • Coastal Educational Foundation Board of Directors
  • Coastal Planned Giving Advisory Council, Chair 2018
  • Children’s Museum of South Carolina, past President 
  • Best Lawyers in America, Trusts and Estates, 2024
  • Certified Circuit Court Mediator by the SC Board of Arbitrator and Mediator Certification, 2012
  • Certified Specialist in Estate Planning and Probate Law in South Carolina since 2009
  • Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Rating™-AV®
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