Norcross Estate Planning & Trusts Lawyer

No two families are the same, and no two estate plans should be either. Attorney Bowman begins every engagement by listening: who depends on you, what you own, what worries you, and what you want your legacy to look like. The plan comes after that conversation, not before it.

Why Trusts Are the Foundation of a Strong Estate Plan

Many people assume a simple will is enough. A will is an important document, but it has real limits. A will does not take effect until after death, so it offers no help if you become incapacitated, and the property it covers generally has to pass through the Georgia court system before it reaches your beneficiaries. That process takes time, adds expense, and makes your affairs part of the public record.

A properly funded trust avoids those problems. Assets held in the trust pass to your beneficiaries according to your written instructions, privately and without waiting on a court. If you become ill or incapacitated, the successor trustee you chose can step in right away to pay bills and manage investments, which can spare your family a court-supervised conservatorship.

Trusts can also do far more than avoid court. A testamentary trust can provide structured support for young children. A dynasty trust can preserve family wealth across several generations, and a spendthrift trust can protect an heir who struggles with money or faces creditor problems. The right structure depends on your goals, your family, and the size and makeup of your estate, and our firm will walk you through the trust options available in Georgia before recommending anything.

Wills

Even a trust-based plan needs a will. Under Georgia law, a valid will must be in writing, signed by the person making it, and signed by two competent witnesses. A will is also where parents name a guardian for minor children, one of the most important decisions any parent can make. Without a will, Georgia’s intestacy laws decide who inherits, and the result may look nothing like what you would have chosen.

Bowman Law Firm drafts wills that are clear, properly executed, and coordinated with the rest of your plan. For clients with a living trust, we prepare a pour-over will that acts as a safety net and sends any assets left outside the trust into it. You can learn more about how our firm prepares wills for Norcross families.

Keeping Your Trust Working for You

Signing a trust is only the first step. To work as intended, a trust has to be funded, which means retitling real estate and accounts in the trust’s name and coordinating beneficiary designations on retirement plans and life insurance. An unfunded trust is one of the most common estate planning mistakes we see, so our trust funding services are part of the process from the start.

Plans also need to change as life changes. Marriage, divorce, a new grandchild, a move, or the sale of a business can all make an older document outdated, and a trust amendment can bring your plan current without starting over. When the time comes, our firm can also help successor trustees understand their duties and carry out the administration of a trust correctly.

Powers of Attorney and Healthcare Directives

Estate planning is not only about what happens after death. It is also about who speaks for you if you cannot speak for yourself. In Georgia, the core incapacity planning documents include:

• Durable Financial Power of Attorney: gives a trusted person authority to manage bank accounts, investments, real estate, and other financial matters
• Advance Directive for Health Care: names a health care agent and records your wishes about life-sustaining treatment

Without these documents in place, your family may have to ask a court for authority to act on your behalf, a process that is slow, costly, and stressful at an already difficult time. Bowman Law Firm prepares powers of attorney and advance healthcare directives so the right people have authority the moment they need it.

Asset Protection and Long-Term Care Planning

For many families, the greatest financial threat is not taxes but the cost of nursing home care or an unexpected lawsuit. Thoughtful planning can protect what you have worked a lifetime to build. Common strategies our firm uses include:

• An LLC held in trust to separate business and investment property from personal assets
• A Medicaid asset protection trust to help preserve savings and the family home while planning for long-term care eligibility
• A family trust to centralize the management of shared assets across generations

Timing matters with these tools, particularly where Medicaid’s look-back period is involved, so the earlier you plan, the more options you have. Our firm also works with clients who want a dedicated asset protection trust as part of a broader strategy.

Georgia Laws That Shape Your Estate Plan

Estate planning in Georgia follows state-specific rules, and a plan drafted without them in mind can fail when your family needs it most. A few of the most important:

• Will formalities: a will must be signed by the testator and two witnesses, and a self-proving affidavit can make the will easier to admit later
• Intestacy: if you die without a will, Georgia law divides your estate among your spouse, children, and other relatives by a fixed formula
• Court involvement: assets passing under a will generally go through the county court system, while assets held in a funded trust or with a named beneficiary usually do not
• Incapacity planning: Georgia has statutory forms for financial powers of attorney and advance directives, and documents that follow Georgia’s requirements are far more readily accepted by banks and hospitals

About Bowman Law Firm

Bowman Law Firm is an estate planning, trust, and elder law firm based in Norcross, Georgia, serving families across Gwinnett County and the greater Atlanta area. The firm is led by attorney Shireen Hormozdi Bowman, who has more than 20 years of legal experience, and is known for personal, attentive service in English, Spanish, and Vietnamese. Our guiding principle is simple: every client is a person first, a client second, and never simply a file number. That means unhurried consultations, straightforward explanations, and a plan you understand completely before you sign it.

Families choose Bowman Law Firm because we offer:

• Experience: more than two decades of practice and deep familiarity with Georgia estate and trust law
• Personal attention: you work directly with an attorney who knows your family and your goals
• Trust-centered planning: plans built to keep your family in control and out of unnecessary court proceedings
• Multilingual service: staff who speak English, Spanish, and Vietnamese
• Long-term relationships: plans that are reviewed and updated as your life changes

Norcross Estate Planning FAQs

Do I need an estate plan if I do not have a lot of money?

Yes. An estate plan is not only for the wealthy. Anyone who owns a home, has a retirement account, or has children benefits from naming guardians, choosing who can make medical and financial decisions, and deciding who inherits. Without a plan, Georgia law and the courts make those decisions for you.

Do I still need a will if I have a trust?

Yes. A pour-over will catches any assets that were never transferred into your trust and directs them there. A will is also where you name a guardian for minor children, which a trust cannot do.

Can a trust help my family avoid court after I pass away?

In most cases, yes. Assets that are properly titled in a revocable living trust pass to your beneficiaries according to the trust’s terms without going through the court process that applies to a will. The key is funding the trust correctly, which is why our firm handles that step with you.

What happens if I die without a will in Georgia?

Georgia’s intestacy laws decide who inherits. Typically a spouse and children share the estate, but the exact division depends on your family, and the outcome may not match your wishes. You also lose the ability to choose who manages your estate or who raises your minor children.

What is a durable power of attorney, and why does it matter?

A durable power of attorney lets someone you trust handle your finances if you become incapacitated. Without one, your family may need to go to court to gain that authority, which takes time and money.

How can I protect my savings from nursing home costs?

Planning ahead is the key. Strategies such as a Medicaid asset protection trust can help preserve your savings and home while positioning you for long-term care benefits. Because Medicaid looks back at transfers made in the years before an application, starting early gives you the most options.

How often should I update my estate plan?

We recommend reviewing your plan every three to five years and after any major life event, such as marriage, divorce, the birth of a child or grandchild, a move to another state, or a significant change in your finances. Revocable trusts can be amended, and wills can be updated or replaced.

What is the difference between a living will and a last will and testament?

A last will and testament directs who receives your property after death. A living will addresses your medical care while you are alive, such as whether you want life-sustaining treatment if you cannot communicate. Most people need both.

Does Bowman Law Firm offer consultations in Spanish and Vietnamese?

Yes. Our staff speaks English, Spanish, and Vietnamese, so you and your family can discuss your plan clearly and comfortably in your preferred language.

Do you work with clients outside of Norcross?

Yes. Our office is in Norcross, and we work with families throughout Gwinnett, Fulton, DeKalb, Cobb, Forsyth, and Hall counties. Virtual consultations are also available.

Serving Norcross and Communities Across Metro Atlanta

From our Norcross office, Bowman Law Firm works with families throughout the Atlanta area. Close to home, we serve neighbors in Peachtree Corners, Duluth, and Lilburn, along with families across Gwinnett County in Lawrenceville, Suwanee, and Buford.

Along the Buford Highway corridor, we work with the diverse communities of Doraville, Chamblee, and Brookhaven. In north Fulton, we build trust-based plans for families in Johns Creek, Alpharetta, and Roswell, and in the Perimeter area we serve clients in Dunwoody and Sandy Springs. We also serve families in Marietta, Decatur, Cumming, Gainesville, and Dalton, with the same personal attention clients receive here in Norcross.

Schedule a Consultation With Bowman Law Firm

The best time to plan is before you need to. Whether you are starting your first estate plan, setting up a trust, or updating documents that no longer fit your life, Bowman Law Firm is ready to help. Contact our office today to schedule a consultation with attorney Shireen Hormozdi Bowman and take the first step toward protecting your family and your future.