Georgia law is intentional in protecting the dignity of wards, and it takes seriously the responsibility of guardians. The Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities explains the guardian-ward relationship, which often applies to aging adults and those with mental...
Caring For You In The Long Term
Estate Planning
Avoid making costly mistakes in your role as executor
When you agreed to become the executor of your uncle’s estate, you thought it was a responsibility that would not happen for years. However, he passed away unexpectedly, and you are now his executor. Avoid costly mistakes in carrying out your duties. Understand your...
Do 2017 tax law changes affect estate plans for divorced people?
Georgia residents who divorced after December 31, 2018, may find that the tax consequences for trust distributions have changed. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 eliminated a section of law governing who pays taxes on money they receive from a support trust, even if...
How can you prepare for long-term care costs?
According to CareConversations.org, as much as 70% of individuals will need some form of long-term care in their golden years. Yet, very few families actually plan for the day when an elderly loved one can no longer live on his or her own. If you and your loved ones...
What is a living will?
While the majority of aspects related to estate planning are not going to come into effect until after your death, this is not true for all documents. One document that may potentially come into use prior to death is a living will. According to the Mayo Clinic, a...
Planning to avoid federal estate taxes
The purpose of the estate planning process is to help conserve as many of your assets as you can in order to pass them on to your beneficiaries in Alpharetta. This includes planning to potentially avoid probate and even to avoid estate taxes. Georgia does not impose...
When probate is not necessary
When you think about creating an estate plan, it is because you know it is an important way to care for your family. Having a plan in place to help ease their pain in the wake of your passing is essential. Our law firm takes pride in keeping you aware of the tools...
What if I die without a will?
With a busy life, making a will may not be one of your top priorities. You may continue to shove it to the back of your mind, thinking that you have plenty of time to get it done. Having no will takes control out of the hands of your relatives and gives the power to...
Gaining emergency guardianship of an incapacitated adult
Georgia residents may name a health care agent in their advance directive for health care so that this person can make decisions for them in a situation where they become incapacitated, according to Emory Healthcare. If this aspect of the estate plan is not in place,...
Eliminating uncertainty over your estate plan
Our law office realizes that estate plans generate a great deal of uncertainty for many people. Some people in Georgia have anxiety over how to distribute their assets or who to place in charge of their estate plan, while others do not even know what to do in terms of...