John F. Murrah

John F. Murrah


Evans Petree PC

Recognized since 2007

Memphis, Tennessee

Practice Areas

Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law

Trusts and Estates

Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2025 - Trusts and Estates
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Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2025 - Trusts and Estates Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2022 - Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2016 - Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2016 - Trusts and Estates
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Mr. Murrah's practice is concentrated primarily in estate planning, probate, federal transfer taxation, estate and trust administration, and federal income taxation. He advises clients on all elements of wealth transmittal and preservation, including preparation of wills and trusts, closely held business succession issues, asset protection strategies, and techniques for the minimization of transfer taxes. His experience also includes representation of trustees and trust beneficiaries.

Mr. Murrah advises clients on various actions including but not limited to those involving:

  • Preparation of wills, revocable trusts, irrevocable trusts and grantor trusts
  • Estate, gift and income tax planning
  • Personal residence trusts
  • Tennessee community property trusts
  • Tennessee tenants by the entirety trusts
  • Grantor retained annuity trusts ("GRATs")
  • Family partnerships and limited liability companies
  • Tax-exempt organizations and private foundations
  • Asset protection including Tennessee asset protection trusts
  • Closely held family businesses
  • Multi-generational trusts

Mr. Murrah is certified as an Estate Planning Law Specialist by the Estate Law Specialist Board, Inc., an organization accredited by the American Bar Association. He is also an adjunct law professor at the University of Memphis School of Law, having taught the course in estate and gift taxation from 2000 through 2015. Prior to practicing law, Mr. Murrah obtained his license as a certified public accountant while working in the tax division of a national accounting firm (CPA license is now retained on inactive status). He is AV-rated by Martindale-Hubbell.

Mr. Murrah was recently selected by his peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America 2019 in the fields of Closely Held Companies/Family Businesses Law as well as Trusts and Estates for the thirteenth year. He was also named the Best Lawyers 2016 Closely Held Companies/Family Businesses Law "Lawyer of the Year" in Memphis and the Best Lawyers 2016 Trusts and Estates Law "Lawyer of the Year" in Memphis. He was selected to the 2018 Mid-South Super Lawyers list in the field of Estate Planning & Probate, and has been included each year since 2006. He is a Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel, the Estate Planning Council of Memphis, and the Tennessee and Memphis Bar Associations.

Location
  • 1715 Aaron Brenner Drive, Suite 800
    Memphis, TN 38120
Education
  • University of Mississippi, J.D. , graduated 1984
  • Emory University, L.L.M.
  • Millsaps College, B.B.A.

Evans Petree PC
Headquarters: Memphis, Tennessee

36 The Best Lawyers in America® awards

5 Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America awards

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Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2025 - Trusts and Estates Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2022 - Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2016 - Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2016 - Trusts and Estates
Named "Lawyer of the Year" by Best Lawyers® for:
  • Trusts and Estates, Memphis (2025)
  • Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law, Memphis (2022)
  • Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law, Memphis (2016)
  • Trusts and Estates, Memphis (2016)
Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® 2025 for work in:
  • Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law
  • Trusts and Estates
Special Focus:
  • Asset Protection
  • Estate Planning
  • Fiduciary Duties
  • Gift Planning
  • Nonprofit Organizations and Charitable Giving
  • Partnership and Limited Liability
  • Probate
  • Succession Planning
  • Tax
  • Trust Administration

Publications

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