Gainesville Georgia Legal Blog

Some Georgia residents may have heard about a deadly limousine crash that occurred on Oct. 6 in New York. The limousine did not come to a stop at an intersection, hit a parked vehicle with no passengers in it and went into a ravine. In all, 20 people died in the accident. The limousine company owner was later taken into custody by police who allegedly said he appeared to be trying to flee and had suitcases in his car.

In March, the limousine had been taken in for inspection and cited for two instances of brake failure by the New York State Department of Transportation. In September, it was taken in a second time, and on that inspection, the DOT noted that problems from the earlier inspection were not addressed.

Poor estate planning can often lead to unintended consequences for loved ones, including family conflicts. One of the first steps a Georgia estate owner can take in order to make this less likely is choosing the right executor.

Some families descend into conflict because they do not trust the executor, even if it is a family member. In other bad scenarios, the executor will not communicate or follow through on the necessary duties. One way to prevent this is by choosing a professional as an executor. This might be a corporate trustee or a fiduciary depending on the size of the estate. Estate owners should also make sure they have addressed what will happen to sentimental items. These can often cause the biggest fights. To avoid issues, it's wise to talk to family members about what they want.

Anyone in Georgia not aware of the many potential benefits of being proactive with estate planning can learn a lesson from the Queen of Soul. Soon after Aretha Franklin passed away after losing her battle with pancreatic cancer, it was reported that she left no will or trust in place to help determine what will happen to her estimated $80 million estate. All four of the late singer's sons have since stepped up as interested parties.

One of the reasons why an estate planning attorney often recommends advance planning is to avoid issues like the ones that may affect Franklin's estate for many years. The singer's sons have appointed her niece to act as the personal representative of the estate. Having a trust established would have expedited the distribution of Franklin's assets, eliminated the need for the probate process and kept matters private. The "Respect" singer was said to be fiercely private with her finances, so much so that she would insist on receiving cash payments for performances.

Divorce is usually a time of personal upheaval. It affects your social life, your finances and your living situation. There are a variety of fears that are common for women facing divorce, including financial concerns and worry about how it will impact their children. This very serious concern is one you actually have control over.

The more contentious your divorce becomes, the harder it will be on your children emotionally. Ideally, you and your ex will take steps to mitigate the impact of the divorce on your kids. Working together to establish a healthy co-parenting relationship can reduce the strain of divorce on your children and help you focus on the positive changes coming your way.