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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...
Facing a Dementia Diagnosis? Legal Steps to Protect You and Your Family
A dementia diagnosis is scary. You and your loved ones may be feeling overwhelmed and anxious about what lies ahead. The period after receiving a dementia diagnosis is time best spent with family and friends. However, you may also be worried about the future of your...
6 Questions About Dying Without A Will In Georgia
When someone dies without a will in the State of Georgia, that person’s “estate” will go through Georgia’s intestacy laws. Not many people understand what this means and what the laws are, but basically the State of Georgia has written a Will for you. 1. What Property...
2018 Changes To Social Security and Medicare
Social Security and Medicare have been a focus on the news in recent years, as elected officials, analysts, and pundits discuss the possibility of these programs changing or coming to an end over the next twenty years. In 2018, there are some changes to how these...
Paying For Your Child’s Education With an Education Trust Fund
Parents today are already familiar with the high cost of funding a child’s college education. Setting aside enough savings for one child’s education is tough, but for multiple children, it can seem impossible! In the 2016-2017 school year, The College Board reports...
Distributing Your IRA Using A Trust
As you likely know, an Individual Retirement Account (IRA) is a savings account specifically designed for retirement that allows for special tax advantages. Money put into an IRA is not taxed as income at the time. Instead, it is taxed when the money is withdrawn...