Probate & Estate Planning

While the idea of estate planning may seem straightforward, many people in Georgia aren't quite clear on what the process actually entails. The confusion can lead to many misconceptions that can cause difficulty for loved ones and beneficiaries down the road. Estate...

Most people in Georgia know a little about estate planning. Many people have a will and have named an executor in it. Some may know that their parents have named them the executor of their estates. However, it can be difficult to know everything that the job entails...

High net worth individuals in Georgia should understand that changes to the tax code affect the way passing on wealth works. Right now, the tax code is very favorable to people who have complex estates and their potential heirs. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 made...

Studies have shown that less than a third of Americans have drawn up a will. Many people might feel like they don't need one if they don't have many assets. However, dying without a will can result in a lengthy, drawn-out court battle. Additionally, the court will...

Estate planning involves making decisions in the present that will affect others in the future. Many Georgia residents create a will in the belief that it alone can serve to protect their wishes and loved ones. For many, a properly executed will is all they need, but...

Some property owners in Georgia may be under the misconception that creating a will ensures that their property will necessarily go to the beneficiary they identify. Before property or assets in a will are distributed, they must go through the probate process, which...

The estate executor is the person responsible for ensuring that a deceased person's affairs are settled in a timely manner. This person is also responsible for ensuring that the estate is settled according to instructions left in a will or other estate plan document....

This year has not turned out as anyone would have anticipated, which has led many people to think about their own plans for the future and the future of their heirs. When parents have more than one child, they should take great care in deciding how to divide their...

A person who is executor of an estate in Georgia has a number of duties. Among an executor's first tasks are to locate and secure the will and the testator's assets. The will must be submitted to the court so it can go through probate, which is the process of having...

In Georgia, there are strict rules that govern selling part of an estate. One of the major considerations is that creditors need to be paid first before the beneficiaries are able to inherit their property. Thus, the first thing to do before selling anything is to...