Articles and Videos With News and Thoughts on Issues in Georgia Regarding Wills, Living Trusts, Guardianship, Advance Directives, Living Wills, Healthcare Powers of Attorney, Probate, Estate Planning, Elder Law, Special Needs Planning, Guardianships and Conservatorships, and More by Marietta and Atlanta, Georgia, Estate Planning Lawyer Steve Worrall
You worked hard to provide for your spouse throughout your marriage, and you want to continue to do so well into your retirement years. When the need for nursing home care or assisted living is on the horizon, the cost of such care can weigh heavily. The good news is that asset protection pla...
Elder law and estate planning are frequently confused with each other. They are, admittedly, related, but here's the essential distinction: elder law is concerned with what occurs while a senior is still alive, whereas estate planning is concerned with what happens after someone dies.Elder law ...
A Will and a Trust are both legal documents that help people manage their property and assets after they pass away, but they work in different ways. An analogy that can help explain the difference between a Will and a Trust is to think of a Will as a letter that you write to your family ...
Stephen Worrall has been selected to the 2023 Georgia Super Lawyers list in the field of Estate Planning and Probate. This is the seventh year in a row, as he was selected in each year from 2017 through 2023. Each year, no more than five percent of the lawyers in the state are selected by the ...
Federal estate tax law includes a provision called portability. This provision only applies to married couples. It allows the surviving spouse to use any part of their deceased spouse's unused estate and gift tax exemption. Including portability in an estate plan protects the surviving spous...
Some seniors don't expect to remarry after a divorce or the death of a spouse. However, life is full of surprises. You could meet someone at any age, even during your retirement years. Many older adults bring various assets and debts into a new relationship. They might also have children fro...
No one wants unnecessary court involvement in their life. But without careful and proactive estate planning, chances are that some aspect of your estate will end up being decided there. Here are two of the most common ways court proceedings can make their way into the management and distri...
Most financially savvy individuals begin planning their estate when they're in peak mental shape. The idea that this might change at some point in the distant future is an unpleasant one, and they would rather go about their estate planning as if they'll be as sharp as a tack late into their ...
Money may be the most talked about wealth contained within a person's estate, but the riches of their experience and wisdom can mean even more to family members down the line. Reinforcement of family traditions can be built into your estate plan alongside your wishes regarding your money, pro...
The following tips can protect your estate plan against several worst-case scenarios.
Business plans often address marketing, growth, and product development issues. However, business owners fail to create an exit strategy, succession plan, or acquisition plan. Although you're not ready to sell your business or retire now, preparing for the future of your business is crucial....
You intend to pass along your wealth through your estate plan, but what about your wisdom? Ensuring you accomplish both calls for a family meeting to have a conversation about your money, your legacy, and your core principles. Most families lead far-flung and busy lives, meaning the only tim...
You can donate retirement accounts, such as an IRA, by distributing the proceeds to charity. However, the tax benefits for donating this way are minimal. A tax-efficient donation strategy is to contribute your retirement fund directly to a charitable organization as part of your estate plan. ...
When creating a trust with a Marietta trust lawyer, it is important to understand the specific roles involved. The grantor is the person who establishes a trust. The designated beneficiary is the person who receives the assets held in trust when the grantor dies. Probate is unnecessary becaus...
Service dogs are specially trained to provide assistance to children with disabilities. They can be taught to support kids in a variety of unique ways that help with daily living and even help in an emergency situation. For families with disabled children, service dogs can be a lifeline. The...
The holiday season is joyous for many. However, it can be overwhelming if you care for an older adult. People in their senior years often feel isolated from the outside world if they can't participate in certain festivities. Maybe they used to be active and loved playing with their kids and g...
Wills and trusts are the two basic legal instruments that people use to pass accounts and property on to their loved ones at death. Although a revocable living trust is often used in place of a will, the two are not mutually exclusive. You can have both a will and a trust, and in fact, a spec...
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...
