When most people think about estate planning tools such as power of attorney, they imagine that they are solely for people who already have children, who have significant assets, or who are nearing the end of their lives. However, you may be surprised to know that many Marietta will lawyers also ...

Whether you're a single senior who lives alone or one who lives with a partner, establishing a new estate plan or modifying an existing one is essential. You might wish to leave assets to your partner that they could not get through intestate succession, or maybe you have children you want to lea...

Creating a comprehensive estate plan can protect your interests and your family's future. When you work hard to earn a living and obtain assets, it's natural to want to pass them down to your children or dependents when you pass away. Unfortunately, many people don't understand how to keep their...

In general, middle-income seniors have income and assets that make them less likely to qualify for Medicaid. At the same time, they may not have adequate resources to pay for the rising costs of housing and care options they need. A NORC study done in 2019 and updated in 2022 shows that nearly...

Inheriting any assets from someone's estate could benefit a person financially. However, it can also create some challenges. Cash and stock inheritances come with various advantages and disadvantages. Although they provide the funds someone might need to pay necessary expenses or grow their portf...

Marietta elder law attorneys know that making the decision to move an elderly loved one into an assisted living facility is never easy. However, when your elderly parent or grandparent is struggling with Alzheimer's or another form of dementia, the situation can be particularly challenging. Chal...

Estate planning is an emotionally challenging task at every step of the process. Whether you are writing your own will, helping an older relative plan their estate, or serving as the executor of the estate of a deceased loved one, you must deal with all the feelings you have about your own deat...

If you have suffered the loss of your life partner, my heart goes out to you: few things in this world are quite as devastating. As a Marietta probate lawyer, I know grief can debilitate, and the ‘to-do' list in the immediate aftermath can seem impossible to manage. Please understand: you need t...

Real estate encompasses not only one's primary residence but also other real estate such as a vacation home or a rental property. The ideal form of ownership varies depending on the type of real estate you own. Below, we take a look at the different types of real estate and offer advice about...

Due to advances in medical technology, more Americans are living longer. In many ways, this is great news. However, this situation has brought about some significant challenges that all aging people now have to face. One of the most pressing concerns is the rising cost of long-term care. Unde...

Georgia Estate Plan - What's an estate plan? from James on Vimeo. The legal documents that govern-- distribution of your property after you die. management of your property and your care if you are incapacitated. It usually includes -- Will Revocable living trust Durable power of...

Benjamin Franklin famously quipped, “If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail.” From the very beginning, you had a plan for your business to succeed. You set goals and developed methods to achieve those goals. Your business has stood the test of time because you anticipated problems and sol...

A good estate plan is a tremendous gift to your loved ones and to yourself. It will ensure your assets pass to the people you want to benefit and to the causes and organizations that matter to you. It can minimize probate costs, reduce taxes, and insulate inheritances from creditors. It can provi...

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services states that almost 70% of folks aged 65 and over will need some type of long-term care in their remaining lifetime. What will this care look like? How will this care be paid for? How will the senior's family be affected? Answering these questio...

CMS (f/k/a HCFA)The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, formerly known as the HealthCare Financing Administration. This agency oversees the federal Medicaid program.Best-known guidance issued by HCFA is known as Transmittal 64. Community Spouse (CS)The spouse who remains at home and wh...

If there is an organization or charity that you support financially, as an trusts lawyer, I would urge you to consider setting up a charitable trust.  A charitable trust allows you to give money to an organization whose work you admire and support, but there is also an additiona...

Your friend Rose has created a trust and she would like you to be her trustee. You want to help, but you're concerned about all that responsibility. You would be managing Rose's property for her and for others whom she names as beneficiaries. You might be paying her bills and taxes, overseein...

As local kids prepare to head back to school, parents will soon be inundated with paperwork, including the task of filling out routine school emergency cards that request the full names and contact information of other adults who can be reached if the parent is unavailable. Yet this year, ou...

You finally bought that vacation home you've always wanted. How can you add it to your estate plan? When it comes to planning your estate, a vacation home is very different from your primary home. Here are some things you should consider. Who Is on the Title? When you purchase the property, y...

Throughout their lives, parents go to great lengths to ensure that their children are protected. The desire to keep one's children safe and well-positioned in life is so strong that it often leads to worries about how children will stay protected when their parents are no longer alive. Taking ...

Losing someone you love is one of the most emotionally challenging experiences a person can have. Even if the person was older, such as an elderly parent or grandparent, the event can still come as a shock. Even so, there are always necessary steps to take to ensure that your loved one's fin...

The typical definition of financial freedom means no debt, six months of savings in the bank, a paid-off house, and saving toward retirement so you can stop working. The pop culture “teachers” of personal finance tell us that this is when you'll experience financial freedom ….and so we spend ...

Losing a loved one is an emotional and life-changing experience. You might be tasked with the responsibility of settling the estate while also grieving your loss. It can be a challenging time in anyone's life. However, it becomes complicated when you must go through probate for out-of-state p...

Going through a divorce can be painful, overwhelming, and stressful. It's the end of one chapter and the start of another in your life. Although it might be the right decision, you're forced to confront various issues. For example, you and your ex must agree to the terms of the divorce, such ...

We are seeing a growing number of online websites offering Do-It-Yourself legal documents and estate-planning software. Surprisingly, most attorneys will tell you that there are some everyday forms where this approach makes good sense. In fact, many law firms offer a selection of standard le...