Frequently Asked Questions About Estate Planning in Georgia
Many Georgia residents know that estate planning involves making a will, yet the estate planning process actually involves much more. In addition to some commonly circulating myths and misconceptions about estate planning, various aspects of estate planning can be confusing, and people often have important questions about powers of attorney, advance directives, trusts, asset protection, Medicaid planning, and much more. The following are some frequently asked questions about estate planning and answers from our Norcross estate planning lawyers. If you still have questions, or if you want to begin working on your own estate planning process, do not hesitate to get in touch with Bowman Law Firm.
Q: What is Involved in Estate Planning?
A: Estate planning involves careful consideration about each person’s particular needs, including those for leaving assets to loved ones upon death, identifying beneficiaries on accounts and guardians for minor children, making decisions about health care through an advance directive for health care, drawing up powers of attorney so that other trusted people can make important decisions or help with legal matters, consider asset protection for older adults and options for Medicaid planning,
Q: What Do I Need to Do to Make a Will?
A: To make a will, you will need to make some decisions first: identify assets you have and the parties to inherit them, identify a guardian for your minor children if relevant, and decide on an executory for your estate. Then you will need to ensure that you have a typed hard-copy of your will, and it will need to be signed in front of two witnesses.
Q: What Will Happen if I Die Without a Will?
A: If you die without a will, Georgia’s intestacy laws will govern how your assets are distributed. Surviving spouses and children will inherit assets, and if there is no surviving spouse or children, then other family members will inherit assets.
Q: Do I Need an Advance Directive for Health Care?
A: Everyone should have an advance directive for health care or a health care power of attorney. This document allows you to name an agent to make health care decisions for you if you become unable to make those decisions for yourself. An advance directive specially allows you to clarify your wishes about certain forms of life-saving treatment and your wishes regarding autopsies, anatomical gifts and other end of life decisions.
Q: How Can an Estate Planning Lawyer Help Me?
A: An estate planning lawyer in Gwinnett County can assist you with all aspects of estate planning. We can determine which documents and tools are important for you, we can help you to develop asset protection strategies and to plan for Medicaid and long-term care needs, we can draft all necessary documents and ensure that all estate planning documents are properly executed, and we can revisit your estate planning documents with you in the months and years after you create them to ensure that everything is up to date.
Contact Our Gwinnett County Estate Planning Lawyers
Estate planning in Georgia can be complicated, and it is important to gain a clear understanding of the documents and tools you are creating with assistance from a lawyer. One of the Gwinnett County estate planning attorneys at Bowman Law Firm is here to answer any remaining questions you have about estate planning. We can speak with you today about your specific estate planning needs and can begin working with you on your will, your advance directive for health care, trusts, powers of attorney, and any other related matters. Contact us today for assistance with all of your estate planning needs.
Sources:
law.justia.com/codes/georgia/title-53/
