From Courtroom Advocate to Estate Planning Attorney
My name is Melissa Belcher, and I've spent my entire legal career fighting for families. That thread — advocating for the people who can't always advocate for themselves — runs through everything I do, from the courtrooms of Davidson County to the estate planning consultations I hold today.
How I Got Here
I earned my J.D. from Nashville School of Law in 2016, and from the very beginning I was drawn to work that mattered to real people in real crisis. I interned with the Davidson County Public Defender's office, where I saw firsthand how high the stakes were for individuals facing the justice system — and how much a dedicated, compassionate advocate could change someone's outcome.
After law school, I worked on many criminal and civil matters, including cases in juvenile court, representing parents involved in custody and dependency proceedings. That work changed me. I watched families navigate systems that felt stacked against them. I saw children caught in the middle of proceedings that could shape their entire lives. And I learned that the law has tremendous power to protect — or to fail — the most vulnerable people in our community.
My practice also extended to employment law, where I represented clients facing some of the most difficult moments of their professional lives — discrimination, disability discrimination, retaliation, non-compete disputes, and breach of contract claims. Through careful preparation and determined advocacy, I was able to negotiate favorable settlements that gave my clients a path forward and the justice they deserved.
But it was something personal — not professional — that ultimately shaped the attorney I am today. My own family experienced the loss of a loved one, and I watched grief become tangled with confusion, conflict, and decisions that no one had thought to make in advance. What should have been a season of holding each other close became a time of stress, uncertainty, and strain. I saw how much pain the absence of a plan — not from lack of love, but simply from lack of preparation — can leave behind for the people we cherish most.
That experience never left me. I realized the most meaningful thing I could do with my legal training wasn't only to fight for people after things fall apart — it was to help them protect what matters before life gets hard. Estate planning is how you say I thought of you before you're gone. It's how you spare the people you love from carrying unnecessary burdens during the hardest moments of their lives. I founded Ancestry Legal because I never want another family to go through what mine did — not when thoughtful planning can make all the difference.
Why Estate Planning
After years of responding to crises — criminal charges, custody battles, DCS involvement — I came to appreciate the profound power of prevention. Estate planning is how families avoid crises in the first place. It's how parents ensure their children are cared for by the people they trust. It's how business owners ensure their life's work continues. It's how people facing illness know their wishes will be honored.
I founded Ancestry Legal because I wanted to help families build security before they need it — not just help them survive after it's too late. I bring the same tenacity and heart I developed as an advocate into every estate planning consultation. Your plan will be thorough, thoughtful, and entirely your own.
My Approach
I know these conversations can feel heavy. Talking about what happens when you die, or if you're incapacitated, doesn't come naturally to most people. I create a space where you can ask any question, share any concern, and take the time you need. I won't rush you. I won't overwhelm you with jargon. I'll explain everything in plain language and make sure you feel confident and clear about your plan before you sign anything.
I serve individuals, couples, and entrepreneurs throughout Nolensville, Nashville, Brentwood, Franklin, Murfreesboro, and the greater Davidson County, Williamson County, and Rutherford County area. Consultations are available in person or virtually.
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