Category Archives: Estate Planning
Ways to Leave Your Real Estate to Your Loved Ones (and the Pros and Cons)
Owning real estate continues to be a very popular investment vehicle for individuals and couples alike. One attractive feature of investing in real estate is that investment property can also double as a personal residence. In other cases, real estate investments may be rental, recreational, commercial, or farm properties. Whatever the case, it is… Read More »
Can I Change the Terms of a Medicaid Asset Protection Trust?
If you are beginning to think about long-term care planning, you may be considering creating a type of trust known as a Medicaid asset protection trust (MAPT). For many middle-class and even higher earners, it is important to be able to plan for Medicaid to cover the cost of long-term care in a nursing… Read More »
Do I Need to Leave My Assets to My Children Equally?
Are you beginning to think about estate planning in Gwinnett County? If so, you are likely beginning to consider who will inherit specific assets and how you want your property to be distributed to your loved ones upon your death. While estate planning involves much more than just deciding who will inherit your property … Read More »
What Does Intestate Succession Mean?
If you have had a loved one who has died without having a will (or making other plans for their assets to be distributed), or if you have considered whether or not you need to engage in estate planning yourself, you might already know about intestate succession laws in Georgia. In short, intestate succession… Read More »
Estate Planning Steps to Take After Your Divorce
Separating from a spouse and going through a divorce brings about all sorts of life changes for both parties, and often for their children, friends, and family members, too. While there are often a wide range of issues to deal with during and immediately after a divorce, it is essential to add estate planning… Read More »
Stress Test Your Estate Plan
Creating an estate plan is a huge accomplishment. However, your work is not done when the documents have been signed. You must still ensure that the chosen strategy gives you peace of mind and protects the legacy you have worked so hard to build. An estate plan is not static; it is a living… Read More »
What Are the Responsibilities of a Health Care Agent?
Do you have a person in place who can legally make health care decisions on your behalf if you become unable to do so yourself? This person is known as a health care agent, and you can name a health care agent by creating a Georgia Advance Directive for Health Care. The advance directive… Read More »
Does Georgia Allow Transfer-On-Death Registrations?
Do you have a motor vehicle, or multiple vehicles, that you want to be able to leave to loved ones in Georgia? You might be wondering if you can use something known as a transfer-on-death registration, which allows people in certain states to designate a beneficiary to whom vehicle ownership should transfer upon the… Read More »
Just Like You Need a Medical Checkup, Your Estate Plan Needs a Checkup
Creating an estate plan is a crucial task for any adult, but it is not a one-and-done task. Think of it as an annual physical exam or a periodic review of your investments with your financial advisor; regular checkups of your estate plan are essential to ensuring that it still fits your life and… Read More »
Homestead Exemptions and Estate Planning
The term homestead may seem like a throwback to pioneer days, but homestead exemption laws are directly relevant to today’s estate planning and can play a valuable role in a modern plan. Almost every state has some form of homestead exemption law primarily focused on reducing property taxes and protecting home equity from creditors…. Read More »
