Matt was born and raised in the West Hills section of Knoxville and graduated from Webb School. He received his B.A. from Rhodes College in Memphis, Tennessee, his J.D. from the LSU College of Law in Baton Rouge, LA and his LL.M. in Tax Law from Boston University in Boston, MA. He began his law practice in Knoxville in 1986.

Matt was the first attorney in Tennessee to become certified as an elder law specialist by the Tennessee Commission on Continuing Legal Education and Specialization. He is a member of the Knoxville Bar Association, the Tennessee Bar Association and the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA). In 2007 Matt was inducted to the Council of Advanced Practitioners, which is a peer election bestowed on only 64 out of 4,500 elder law attorneys nationwide. Matt lectures frequently to other attorneys, other professionals and to the public at large about elder and special needs issues, and he was one the creators (with Kelly) of the Community Law Talk Series for the Knoxville Bar Association.

Matt is a tennis nut, and a member of the USTA. You’ll find him on the court – the tennis court, that is – at the Knoxville Racquet Club or wherever you invite him to play!

Kelly has been a Knoxville native since the age of three when her parents moved here from New Orleans. She graduated from Bearden High School, then received her B.A. from Rhodes College in Memphis and a Paralegal degree from Tulane University. She received her J.D. from the University of Tennessee College of Law in 1991 and the next day became an associate of Guyton & Frère, working for her mother, Arline Guyton and her husband, Matt.

In 1998 she was certified as an elder law specialist by the Tennessee Commission on Continuing Legal Education and Specialization. In 2006 she was inducted to the Council of Advanced Practitioners of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA). With her husband, Matt, she is one of only 64 out of 4,500 elder law attorneys to be honored with this peer induction. In 2007 Kelly was also inducted by her peers as a Fellow to the Knoxville Bar Foundation, a program that publicly recognizes and honors attorneys who have distinguished themselves in the practice of law and in service to the Knoxville community.

Kelly lectures frequently in the community about legal issues affecting seniors, and is a regular guest speaker for the Knoxville-Knox County Office on Aging, Alzheimer’s Tennessee and the Knoxville Bar Association.

Kelly loves to geocache (www.geocache.com), and is always planning the next trip with Matt in their 31′ Airstream Classic trailer.

Patrick is a native of Knoxville, Tennessee and he grew up in the Fountain City neighborhood of Knoxville.  He is a graduate of Knoxville Central High School.  After high school, Patrick earned a B.A. in History from the University of
Tennessee and a J.D. from the University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law.

While in law school he participated in an elder law clinic with Memphis Area Legal Services. 

Prior to joining at Guyton and Frère he worked in general practice law firm in Knoxville practicing in
many areas of law.   In 2013 he assisted a client in obtaining a Presidential Pardon.  

He is certified elder law specialist with the Tennessee Commission on Continuing Legal Education and Specialization.  

He frequently gives speaking engagements and sits on panels for organizations such as Alzheimer’s Tennessee, the Tellico Village Library, and Care Around the Block.   

When he is not practicing elder law, he enjoys spending time with his wife and two sons.   He enjoys sports, road trips, hiking, and going to car shows.

He is a member of the Knoxville Bar Association, Tennessee Bar Association, and the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys.

Janet Jones joined our firm in January 2005 and serves as our Paralegal specializing in Guardianships and Conservatorships, as well as our firm administrator. In her role, Janet collaborates closely with local court personnel, geriatric healthcare providers, and financial institutions to help families secure court supervision for loved ones who can no longer manage their own affairs.

Additionally, Janet is our primary resource for clients seeking Qualified Income Trusts, commonly known as “Miller” trusts, as part of the Medicaid application process. Her expertise ensures that our firm operates efficiently, as she oversees both the firm’s daily operations and the supervision of our support staff.

Outside of her professional commitments, Janet is married to Kurt and is the proud mother of two adult children, Garrett and Sarah. She is also a devoted grandmother to five energetic grandchildren, who keep her happily occupied.

Carla A. Millsaps has been an integral part of our firm since 1998, evolving from firm manager to legal assistant, and ultimately to Paralegal after earning her Paralegal degree in 2006. She further enhanced her qualifications by obtaining a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Bryan College in 2012.

Carla is dedicated to addressing our clients’ concerns, with particular expertise in estate planning and estate administration. She collaborates closely with the Chancery and Probate Courts in Knox County and surrounding areas in East Tennessee, ensuring that estates are managed efficiently and with the utmost professionalism.

A proud native of Loudon County, Carla is married to Mark and is a devoted mother to three adult children: Evan, and twins Ashton and Marlee and new grandson, Sawyer. In her personal life, she balances her professional commitments with family activities, making her a well-rounded asset to our team and a trusted resource for our clients.

Percy is the newest member of our firm. Matt and Kelly rescued her from a kill shelter and she is now a favorite with our clients. The first thing she does when she arrives at the office is runs to Carla and Janet to get a good morning pat on the head. Her main job here is to greet our clients. Be advised, if you start petting her, you may spend the rest of your time at our office rubbing her head.

Memoriam 2003-2018

Memoriam 2000-2014.