Most estates must go through the probate process. Probate is the legal process of determining if a will is valid, paying any qualifying debt and estate taxes, and distributing whatever assets remain. It is potentially a very complicated legal process, and an attorney...

Trusts are important financial instruments in estate planning. Unlike a will, a trust allows you to legally arrange your estate in a way that saves your family a substantial amount of money on taxes, avoids probate and those expenses, and distributes your assets...

Most of us don’t look forward to dealing with estate planning, regardless of our gender. But estate planning is even more important for most women since, in many cases, they live longer. This means that women must manage living expenses on a single income, or no...

The situation we find ourselves is unprecedented and challenging in many ways.  For many, times of uncertainty and crisis make us realize that we have not adequately planned for a health or financial emergency, or death.  And while that realization may cause us...

Have you ever wondered who will take care of your pets if something happens to you? Frequently we expect our loved ones to take care of our fur-babies when we become unable to do so. However, our friends or family may not be able to provide that care for a variety of...

Last month, I discussed powers of attorney and how they can be used in estate planning as well as daily activities. Although we often think about using powers of attorney for personal or business transactions, they can also be used for delegating authority to care for...

Spring has finally arrived in Georgia, along with the annual ritual of “spring cleaning.” It also means tax time, which creates the perfect opportunity to “clean house” and get our financial affairs in order. Following a few simple steps can make cleaning your...

On January 1, tradition compels us to form our New Year’s resolutions…get healthy, become more organized, spend more time with our families, or start new hobbies…One resolution might be to “get my affairs in order” or “make a will.” Sounds great, but what does that...

Recently a colleague shared a story about a married couple who had come in to sign their estate planning documents. When they made their end of life choices, the wife questioned the husband regarding his choice to extend his life as long as possible using all medical...

On July 1, 2018, many new laws take effect in Georgia. One with significant impact on motorists is the “Hands-Free Georgia Act,” which restricts drivers’ use of cell phones and stand-alone electronic devices. Many myths abound about this law, so let’s set the record...