Blog
Georgia Homeowner’s Guide to Hosting on Airbnb (Expanded Version – Includes Florida and Alabama Law)
If you are a homeowner in the state of Georgia with a little extra space, it may have occurred to you to post your space on a short-term vacation rental site like Airbnb or HomeAway. Short-term rentals are a great alternative to hotels when you are traveling. They...
The Difference Between a Revocable and Irrevocable Trust
A trust can be an excellent estate planning tool to help individuals protect their assets for their loved ones and to ensure that they avoid paying tax liabilities on their assets when the grantor dies. Two specific types of trusts are commonly used, a revocable trust...
What are the Costs Associated with Selling a Home in Georgia?
If you are ready to put your home on the market, there are a lot of things to consider. What is the value of your home? How quickly do you think you will be able to sell? What is the status of the real estate market in Georgia right now? While lots of...
Three Common Mistakes When Naming an IRA Beneficiary and How to Fix Them
Despite the fact that retirement accounts can be among the most valuable assets in a person’s estate, they are often overlooked during the estate planning process. Especially if your IRA was initiated by your employer, it may end up a bit “out of sight, out of mind”...
Questions to Ask a Probate Attorney at the First Meeting
Following the death of a loved one, the thought of going through probate for that person’s estate can seem daunting. It helps to come prepared before meeting with a probate attorney to help the process go smoothly. Accumulate Important Documents After scheduling the...
How to Protect Heirlooms From a Family Probate Feud
Compared to real estate, bank and brokerage accounts, and insurance policies, family heirlooms do not generally take pride of place in the estate planning conversation. Tangible personal property (things like jewelry, furniture, art, clothing, pets, and household...
Asset Protection: When A Will Won’t Work
A will is usually the first thing people think of when they hear the phrase “estate planning.” While a will is generally the simplest form of estate planning, it does not do what most people think it can. Often, a will drafted with an attorney or using an online or...
What to Know About Advanced Directive for Health Care in Georgia
When someone is admitted into the hospital for treatment, one of the first questions he or she is asked is “do you have a copy of your advanced directive for health care?” This document is extremely important when it comes to making healthcare decisions for someone....
Harper Lee’s Will Unsealed: A Lesson in Estate Privacy
Harper Lee, author of “To Kill a Mockingbird,” was famously private and careful about how her novel was utilized in public space. When she died in 2016, her long-time attorney moved to have her will sealed. Despite common Alabama probate court practice to record wills...
My Parents Died Without a Will in Atlanta – What Do I Do?
The time after a parent passes is incredibly emotional. If your parent passed without a will, this period can also be very stressful. Without a will, it is not always clear what your parent would have wanted or how their estate will be handled. Fortunately, Georgia...
Grounds for Removing a Trustee
In a revocable or irrevocable trust document, one of the most important appointments involves the trustee. The trustee is the person that the grantor or settlor wishes to handle all matters involving his or her trust, including assets and debts. The trustee is also...
Protecting Your Child With a Special Needs Trust
If you have a loved one with disabilities or special needs, you have likely thought about how you will protect and provide for them after you have passed. Providing for a loved one with special needs does not need to be difficult; however, it will need to be done...