When you sit down to create your estate plan, there are likely dozens of questions running through your mind. Who should get possession of your home? Who should run the family business? Will you create a college fund for your grandkids? What charity should you donate to? The options can be di...

If you have lost a loved one and are now attempting to close out their estate, our Marietta probate attorneys are sorry for your loss and we understand how frustrating the process can be. The steps to take after the loss a loved one can be overwhelming but requesting a death certificate is a g...

In my years as a Marietta estate planning attorney, it still surprises me to hear how uncomfortable people are discussing estate planning issues. Even families who are open to discussing their financial situations get squeamish when the word “inheritance” is brought up. However, like everything i...

Your retirement account provides asset protection during your lifetime, but as soon as you pass that account to a loved one, that protection evaporates. When your spouse, child, or other loved one inherits your retirement account, creditors have the power to seize it and use the funds to satisf...

Whether you've recently reached adulthood, are starting your family, reaching retirement, or approaching some other major milestone in life, there's a pretty good chance that it's time to contact your Marietta estate planning lawyer. Don't believe it? Check out these reasons: Estate plannin...

Now is the perfect time to start working on an estate plan—because, as newlyweds, you may not have a list of your accounts, but you've effectively just done a working inventory of your possessions—as you've figured out how to consolidate two households into one. You've already been working on...

Now, more than ever before, Americans are using a variety of tax-deferred accounts such as 401(k)s and IRAs to save for retirement. And while the laws are currently designed so that people must start withdrawing the money when they retire, it is not uncommon for many of these accounts to stil...

Many of us do not start thinking about life insurance until we get our first full-time job and the company's human resources representative asks us if we want to enroll in the employer's group life insurance policy. Most people think “Why not?” and sign up, naming a family member as the benef...

When you met with an attorney a few weeks ago, perhaps all you expected was a simple will. Maybe you thought that, with your situation, the work should be easy and the documents should be few. But now that you have finished working with the attorney, your parting gift is a large binder filled...

After the death of a loved one, there is quite a bit of work to be done. Most of the financial work will be handled by the executor named by the deceased in their will or trust. These tasks can involve gathering and securing the deceased's assets and household belongings, paying debts and tax...

Congratulations on your new job! Getting a job begins a major chapter in your life. As you navigate this new territory, we are here to help ensure a prosperous transition. To protect the future you are creating, you need proper financial and estate planning. As you move through this new phas...

There is currently no cure for the more than 5 million Americans who have Alzheimer's disease. Projections by the Alzheimer's Association (alz.org) are that by 2050 more than 14 million Americans will suffer from this disease. What can you do if you are medically diagnosed with Alzheimer's? Asi...

Congratulations! You are now considered a legal adult. Aside from purchasing alcohol, there is now very little you cannot legally do. Even though you may not feel any different, from a legal standpoint, a lot has changed. When you were a minor (under the age of 18), your parents were conside...

Aging in place continues to increase in popularity, but what to do when you notice an older loved one is having trouble living safely at home is an issue many of us face. Troublesome signs like a dirty home in poor repair, unpaid bills, piles of mail, and food out of date or spoiled in the ki...

Do you have a senior graduating from high school this year?  Before your son or daughter packs up for a summer internship, a vacation, or even their first semester of college, our Marietta will lawyers want you to think about what it means having a child who is now an “adult” in the eyes of the...

Roughly half of all Americans don't have a will, so if you've already taken this vital step to protect your assets and successors then congratulations are in order - you're already ahead of the curve. While a will is a necessary document that every person who owns assets should have, it is st...

Jane lived alone after her husband died and the kids moved away. She started to forget things, like putting the kettle on to boil and coming back to find the stove on fire. This, together with her diabetes and osteoporosis, seemed to Jane's daughter Carolyn like a fast-approaching crisis. It ...

As Americans age, living options can become a concern. Available options are tied to the resources a senior has to cover living costs, and vary widely in cost, assistance, and care provided. In addition to budget considerations, seniors must also realistically consider the needs they have and...

After the death of a loved one, such as a parent, there are a variety of tasks that must be handled to wrap up your loved one's final affairs. Selling your deceased loved one's real estate is one of the more daunting ones. But before you call a real estate agent, you should take some time to ...

Most families are happy families. They get together for the holidays, share laughs, and tell stories. Everyone gets along and enjoys each other's company. Then, the matriarch or patriarch dies. Suddenly, years of pent-up resentment and hurt feelings bubble to the surface, and the once-happy f...

Because your life changes, so must your estate plan. As a Marietta estate planning lawyer, I recommend that everyone reviews their estate plan at least every 3 years because life events that you might not even think about could impact how your estate plan works. While this periodic review is...

Medicare and Medicaid are two different government programs for healthcare.  It is important to understand the difference between them.  Here, we will discuss how the program benefits differ, how eligibility for each program is established, and discuss some recent news pertaining to each prog...

You have worked hard for years, have family members and friends you care about, and have approached a time in your life when “estate planning” sounds like something you should do, but you are not exactly sure why. You may feel that you are not wealthy enough or old enough to bother or care. O...

Hoarding is more than just being a bit messy (or buying a six-month supply of toilet paper): It is actually a mental disorder causing some people to have difficulty discarding items, regardless of their value, and to experience severe distress even at the thought of it. If you have been named...

Not surprisingly, most people loathe reviewing their estate plan because it can be both confusing and daunting. Others do not want to think about death and avoid the topic altogether. If you already have put an estate plan together, you are ahead of the curve as many people do not have one. I...