About

Located in Alpharetta, Georgia, Hill & Watchko, LLC (formerly Bettis, Hill & Vann, LLC) is a small, boutique wills, trusts, estates, and elder law firm able to provide personalized, efficient, and reasonably priced services of the quality found in the typical large, downtown firm. Established in the thriving Forsyth County, our firm serves clients throughout the metro Atlanta area and beyond.

We are proud to announce that partner Sarah R. Watchko, Esq. has been named a Certified Elder Law Attorneys (“CELA”) by the National Elder Law Foundation, the only national certifying program for elder law and special needs attorneys. The purpose of the certification program is to identify those lawyers who have the enhanced knowledge, skills, experience and proficiency to be properly identified to the public as a certified elder law attorney. CELAs must complete a rigorous full-day examination and demonstrate that their law practice is focused on special needs and elder law. Once certified, a CELA must continue to practice primarily in elder law and special needs, and complete continuing education credits specifically targeted to advanced practitioners. Most of the leading figures in elder law and special needs field today hold the CELA certification.  Sarah is among the few CELAs in the State of Georgia. 

HISTORY

Hill & Watchko, LLC (formerly Bettis, Hill & Vann, LLC) was born of the Bettis Law Group, established in Forsyth County, Georgia by attorney and associate Magistrate Judge Phill Bettis, who has practiced law in Forsyth County for over thirty-five years. In 2010, John Cleveland Hill, Esq. (“Cleve”) and Caroline Munroe, Esq. were privileged to establish Bettis, Hill, & Vann, LLC on the shoulders of Phill’s esteemed reputation in the community.

In January 2017, the firm’s name officially changed to Hill & Watchko, LLC. Attorney Caroline Munroe remains as Of Counsel to the firm while working remotely on special projects through the firm she has joined in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, Blanco Tackabery & Matamoros, P.A. Phill Bettis remains as senior Of Counsel to the firm, while simultaneously managing his own thriving real estate practice and serving as an associate Magistrate Court Judge of Forsyth County.   Additionally, Laura Baxter has taken the status of Of Counsel to the firm to occasionally represent clients in estate planning, probate, and business matters.

Meet the Professionals

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John Cleveland Hill

Managing Partner

Cleve has been selected by fellow attorneys statewide for Georgia Trend Magazine’s “Legal Elite” and Super Lawyer’s “Rising” Star in the area of Wills, Estates, and Taxes.

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Sarah Randal Watchko

Partner

A Super Lawyer’s “Rising Star” in elder law, Sarah holds the distinguished title of being one of very few Georgia Certified Elder Law Attorneys by the National Elder Law Foundation.

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Rachel B. Keller

Counsel

Rachel’s practice centers around estate planning, probate matters, guardianships and conservatorships, and related fiduciary litigation.

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Caroline Munroe

Special Outside Counsel

Caroline received Atlanta Magazine’s FIVE STAR Wealth Manager Award and Super Lawyers’ Georgia Rising Star Award.

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Laura Barfield Baxter

Of Counsel

Laura’s focus includes corporate law, estate planning and probate, guardianships and conservatorships, including related litigation.

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Phill Bettis

Of Counsel

An AV rated attorney, Phill has over 38 years of experience, is a Georgia Super Lawyer in the area of real estate, and serves as a Forsyth County associate Magistrate Court Judge.