1) Myth: My spouse can make all of my healthcare and financial decisions because he/she is my spouse. Reality: This is not always the case. To make sure your spouse can indeed make important medical decisions on your behalf, you should sign a durable power of attorney and a medical advance d...

Most people understand that having some sort of an estate plan is a good thing. However, many of us don't take the steps to have an estate plan prepared because we don't understand the nuances between wills and trusts – and dying without either. Here's what will generally happen if you die, in...

Every day we make hundreds of decisions from what to eat for breakfast to where we go on vacation.  With each passing day, there are more choices to be made.  But, what will happen if you can't make decisions for yourself?  Before that time comes, there is one important decision you need to m...

It's August, and you have been running around for weeks, getting your new college student off to school. It's exhilarating, and your heart likely is bursting at the seams. You'll probably prouder than words can express, but you'll also be a little afraid, too. How can you make sure your kid i...

According to a study conducted by Caring.com, the percentage of people aged fifty-five and older who have created a will has fallen from 60 percent to 44 percent since 2019.[1] Although creating or updating your estate planning may seem like a daunting task, a proper estate plan can help addr...

Do not let constant political and financial speculation prevent you from making tax-free annual exclusion, medical-payment, and educational gifts to or for the benefit of your loved ones. Make Annual Exclusion Gifts Annual exclusion gifts are transfers of money or property in an amount or v...

According to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), from 1986 through 2018, tens of millions of firearms were both manufactured in and imported into the United States.[1] Where are those guns today? They are most likely filling gun safes, closets, nightstands, and desk...

You spend a significant part of your life building your business, and it becomes a major part of your legacy. But when you die, everything you have built could fall apart if you have not taken the time to create a business succession plan. Without a plan in place, your business's fate may be de...

For those caring for elderly relatives in Cobb County, there may be relief knowing that the senior has a medical directive, power of attorney, and/or trust in case he or she becomes incapacitated. However, it's also possible that there is no guiding documentation to help when the relative is un...

Besides directing what happens to your finances when you pass away, a comprehensive estate plan also addresses the possibility that you could become unable to handle your financial affairs while you are still alive. You may have signed a financial power of attorney (POA) that allows one or mor...

When it comes to estate planning, you have a LOT of options. There are several legal tools that can be put in place to protect your loved ones after you pass away. One valuable tool a Marietta trust lawyer will use is an IRA inheritance trust. If you opened an IRA, you most likely named a bene...

For an explanation of what Medicaid Asset Protections Trusts (MAPTs) are and how we use them to help our clients plan proactively to protect those assets from the Medicaid Five Year Lookback, please see our blog post: What Is A “Medicaid Asset Protection Trust”? Here is a diagram explaining visu...

In today's digital age, many people have a library of digital assets that may include items such as books, music, and movies. One of the perceived benefits of owning these digital items is having a convenient way to access your favorite media indefinitely with just a few mouse clicks. However, ...

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...

It can be difficult to plan for the future, especially for a time when you're not able to make certain decisions for yourself. The idea can be tough to swallow, even if you've experienced it with older relatives and know of the possibilities. However, planning ahead is the key to staying in c...

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...