Monthly Archives: February 2026
What to Do When Your Doctor Tells You to Get Your Affairs in Order
Five words no one ever wants to hear from their doctor are “Get your affairs in order.” Unfortunately, 76 percent of Americans do not have a will, and it often requires a chronic disease, terminal illness diagnosis, or other life-changing event to prompt people to start the estate planning process.[1] If you are facing… Read More »
Do I Need a Will to Leave Assets in My Bank Accounts?
Estate planning in Georgia is an important process for all adults, regardless of the amount or value of assets you own. While determining how to ensure that your loved ones inherit your property is a key component of estate planning, it is certainly not the only component. There are critical aspects of estate planning… Read More »
Estate Planning Tips for Someone Facing Major Surgery
Receiving news that you need major surgery is never easy. Preparing for work absences, planning for childcare and household responsibilities, and understanding the procedure itself and your recovery timeline may be among the things you are worried about. If you have only a short time (weeks or days) to react, focusing on the essentials… Read More »
Committed, Protected, Prepared: Estate Planning Tips for Unmarried Partners
More couples than ever are building deep, lasting relationships without ever walking down the aisle. Whether by choice, circumstance, or principle, many Americans are opting out of marriage—but not out of commitment. Data indicate that cultural norms regarding marriage in the United States have undergone significant shifts over the past several decades. Consider the… Read More »
Avoid Living Probate: How to Keep Guardians and Conservators Out of Your Estate
While many proactive individuals understand the importance of having a comprehensive estate plan, they often assume that their plan addresses only what happens after they pass away. However, a comprehensive estate plan is also meant to positively impact your life by planning for and providing necessary protections while you are still around to reap… Read More »
Can I Help My Parent Address Estate Planning and Elder Law Needs at the Same Time?
For many Gwinnett County residents who are currently in their 30s, 40s, and 50s, it is a time in life when it is becoming necessary to help with care for an elderly parent. Some older parents are still in a position where they do not need assistance with medical care, mobility, or activities of… Read More »
Can I Decline Medical Treatment with an Advance Directive?
An important part of estate planning for all adults in Georgia is the creation of a Georgia Advance Directive for Health Care. This document combines different types of advance directives, which are materials through which a person can indicate future health care decisions if they become unable to make decisions themselves due to incapacity…. Read More »
International Inheritance Laws: What US Residents Need to Know
Estate planning can be complicated enough when all your assets (accounts and property) and loved ones are located within one country. But for US residents with international connections, whether through property, citizenship, residency, business interests, or loved ones living abroad, it can become significantly more complex. Different countries have different rules about who inherits,… Read More »
What is the Purpose of a Power of Attorney?
What is the purpose of a power of attorney (POA) in Georgia? And is this a document that you should create, and if so, what are your options? Powers of attorney are important legal documents that allow one person, the “principal,” to name another party as their “agent” to make decisions on their behalf…. Read More »
Are Estate Plans Permanent Once They Are Made?
Are you considering making an estate plan but wondering if you really need to make one now? There are various myths and misconceptions about estate planning that lead people to wait too long to work with an attorney on important estate planning documents. You may have heard the myths that estate planning is only… Read More »
