Blog
What Does it Mean to Administer a Trust in Georgia?
At Brian M. Douglas & Associates, we work with individuals and families who want to avoid the costly Georgia probate process. Often, that means creating a revocable living trust and naming a trusted individual to serve as successor trustee, easing the transfer of assets and property to loved ones. But what does a successor trustee […]
Homeowners: Ever Thought of Getting into Show Biz?
What does your home say? Not just what does it say about you, but what does it have to say on its own? If you were to take photograph or a video of your home, does it set a certain mood? Evoke particular emotions? Is it spooky? Grand? Elegant? Eclectic? Historic?...
How Often Do You Need to Revisit Your Estate Plan?
We’ve mentioned this statistic before, but it bears repeating: 6 out of 10 adult Americans do not have any estate plan documents in place. Of course, we know that doesn’t mean that nothing will happen to their assets or their loved ones after they pass. Instead, a...
Resolve to Succeed: The #1 New Year’s Resolution Your Business Should Make
In January, we set goals for ourselves in the hopes that this year will be a little bit better than the last. Our resolutions can be small and concrete, like cutting down on caffeine, or big and transformative, like changing our outlook on things outside of our...
Can You Tell Whether You are Dealing with a Real Expert?
On the internet, anyone can claim to be an expert. Even in the legal profession, websites and blogs can be misleading. How can you tell whether an attorney truly specializes in a particular area of law? You don’t want to risk your money and your time on an attorney...
New Federal Law Requires Hospitals to Publish Prices
On January 1, 2019, a new federal law came into effect, requiring hospitals to publish their pricing for the public to see. This regulation, created in response to notorious problems with healthcare cost transparency, was intended to provide patients with more...
Airbnb Cities May Become a Reality in 2019
You know Airbnb as the company that revolutionized travel around the world by making home-sharing easy. You have probably also heard about the big waves the $38 billion company has caused in the hotel industry, sparking legislation and regulation throughout the US....
Homeowner 101: What is an Escrow Account?
If you are a first-time homebuyer, you probably have noticed that there is a whole language that you have to learn as a homeowner. We promise, it gets easier, but it can be a huge help to get some background information on the lingo you’ve been hearing. To that end,...
Losing the Nest Egg: How Families Lose Wealth Over Generations
You may have heard this shocking statistic circulating lately -- 70% of families lose their wealth within two generations (and 90% lose it by the third!). It’s hard to really imagine how this could be so, but according to a survey done by Williams Group Wealth...
‘Tis the Season for Estate Planning
At Brian M. Douglas & Associates, we care deeply about our clients and their families. From our perspective, estate planning is all about love, and we are committed to helping our clients show their love by providing for and protecting those they cherish. But,...
Five Reasons You Need a Real Estate Attorney to Protect Your Home Sale
Selling your home can be a stressful time. The pressure is on and it feels like any small hitch could derail the whole process. In fact, it often can. Twenty-five percent of all home sales are delayed during closing due to an unexpected obstacle. Your real estate...
Incorporating IP into Your Estate Plan
As you prepare your estate plan, the most obvious assets that jump to mind are likely heirlooms, real estate, and bank accounts. However, you may be overlooking some of your most valuable assets. Your intellectual property has value, and it is just as important to...