A will is one of the most important estate planning documents you can have. It provides your family members with the ability to know exactly how you want your assets distributed after you pass away and reduces the chance of future conflict. Perhaps a time comes when...
ESTATE PLANNING – Estate Administration & Probate
What should I look for when choosing an executor for my estate?
An executor is the person you appoint in your will to manage your estate when you die. They will handle the estate administration process, including dealing with the probate court. They will settle your outstanding debts, identify and gather your assets, and...
What tax-related duties does the personal representative have?
When an estate enters probate, the court might appoint someone as the personal representative. This person represents the deceased's estate and carries out essential tasks through probate. This role typically goes to a family member or another entity based on state...
Three signs that the fiduciary duty has been breached
The estate administration process can be more complicated than it seems. While the estate’s assets will have to be inventoried, creditors will have to be notified, and outstanding bills will have to be paid, the executor will also have to figure out asset distribution...
Contesting a will in Georgia
Most Georgians believe that signing a valid will is tantamount to eliminating all disputes regarding the distribution of the maker’s assets. While this is mostly the case, a few wills can lead to more, not less, controversy among a person’s heirs about the...
How can families dealing with loss handle Georgia probate?
Probate is the legal procedure that determines the validity of a will. Probate can be time-consuming, costly and complicated, especially if there are disputes among the family members or creditors. However, there are some steps that families can take to handle Georgia...
What are my responsibilities if I am a personal representative of a Georgia estate?
One of your loved ones may have chosen you to be their "personal representative," which means that your responsibilities will go into effect after the person has passed on. That is a much better scenario all around than if the person passed away without a valid will...
Do my loved ones inherit through my will or my living will?
Estate planning can be confusing for many in Macon, especially given the many unfamiliar and seemingly contradictory terms used in the process. For example, you may have been told to have a living will. You filled out a boiler-plate template found online, thinking it...
Does my social media die with me?
As you scroll through your Facebook feed, you may not have thought about it, but what happens to that feed after you die? Does that social media feed die with you? Well, as it turns out, if your social media is not part of your estate plan, your social media may very...
In Georgia, how do you know if a probate is necessary?
A probate is the legal process of taking account of a decedent’s estate and wishes, and then attending to creditors’ claims and heirs’ entitlements. It’s often complex and costly, and people might wonder if this administrative hurdle can be sidestepped. When probate...