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As we age or become ill, the term ‘having your affairs in order’ is often used. This means covering numerous facets for after-death planning, to include your property. With comprehensive estate planning, you can control what happens to your assets after you die, along with setting any restrictions if you are leaving an inheritance to younger family members, or perhaps those you worry might be careless with money and property. And you certainly do not need to wait until you are on your deathbed to do so. Estate planning should begin as early as possible, and depending on your situation… Read More

No matter how old you are, it can be challenging to consider mortality, and the fact that we will be leaving everything behind one day with our heirs receiving property inheritances. You may feel difficulty in moving forward in creating a will because of that anxiety, or like so many of us you may just feel too constricted by a busy schedule to take time out to make an appointment; however, with the help of a skilled estate planning attorney, you should find the process seamless—and invaluable for the future of your family. Without a will in Georgia, you are… Read More

When considering estate planning trusts, you should never assume this is something only for the wealthy; after all, everyone has an estate of some size and it should be duly protected upon your death. A trust is usually created for those who have some assets to be handed down, and all to be protected whether in a living trust or one created for after death. Whether you are wealthy or not, a trust is also important for managing your finances in the case that you may become incapacitated, as well as establishing guidelines for those beneficiaries who may not be… Read More

It may be hard for you today to imagine needing something like an advance directive for health care, especially if you are currently in good health and in firm control of your life and all decision-making processes. It can be somewhat painful to consider the realities of growing older, but estate planning allows you to look ahead selflessly and provide a way for everybody to know what to do later if you cannot make decisions on your own. And while you may feel like you have plenty of time to plan right now, consider what would happen if you were… Read More

Being organized each day is a great feeling—and one many of us continue to seek—as we strive to work better, relax more fully, and enjoy life. That can be taken to another (and very necessary) level with estate planning also, as you assess the present and strategize for the future. In creating an airtight estate plan, you can take all the necessary steps to assure your family and yourself that the nightmare of probate will be avoided. Along with that, you will be protecting your assets and your beneficiaries. While planning your estate is probably very important to you, it… Read More

Let’s continue our discussion of most commonly asked questions about estate planning for same sex couples. What is a living will, and do we need one? Sometimes called an “advanced directive,” a living will lets you lay out in advance what kind of life support you’d like, and the circumstances under which you’d like your care to end. Without one, it can sow confusion and put enormous pressure on your loved ones—at one of the worst possible times. What is a durable power of attorney, and how does it help? A durable power of attorney allows you to choose someone… Read More

“Life moves pretty fast,” as Ferris Bueller famously says. Love moves pretty fast, too: Barely a decade ago, a national newspaper was putting the phrase gay marriage in scare quotes. But just a few days ago, Pew Research told us that even our most conservative brothers and sisters are coming around. Given the pace of changes, no one would blame LGBTQ couples for feeling a bit dizzy as they build, protect and plan for their families. That’s why I’ve put together this guide to help with questions I regularly hear in my office. Is same sex marriage legally secure? There… Read More

One of my favorite summer traditions is the beach reading list. I like them even if (like most of you, no doubt) I hardly spend a second at the beach. However, that lack of time, in and of itself, feels like the most compelling reason to put together a reading list. As a group, these are six indispensable volumes for Georgia professionals: Good To Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap… And Others Don’t by Jim Collins. In this management classic, Collins explains how “Good is the enemy of great. And that is one of the key reasons why we… Read More

“Intellectually, of course, we did not believe in marriage. But one does not love someone just intellectually.” -John Lennon There is undeniable truth in what John Lennon says, and that’s why so many of us joined in the chant of “Love Wins,” when the Supreme Court finally granted the LGBTQ community its right to marry. Justice Kennedy’s gorgeous conclusion in the Obergefell decision bears repeating: No union is more profound than marriage, for it embodies the highest ideals of love, fidelity, devotion, sacrifice, and family. In forming a marital union, two people become something greater than once they were. As… Read More

“Friends,” Tennessee Williams famously noted, “are God’s way of apologizing to us for our families.” We’ve all got that cranky uncle. In fact, our stories are so similar–the leather recliner, the favored drink, the phlegmatic jeremiads about “these kids today”–it sometimes feels as if we all share the same one. But for an increasing number LGBTQ families planning their estates, the cranky uncle has become something of a problem: What do we do about those survivors whose sense of “family values” mean they don’t value our families? Without careful planning, your assets could well fall into the hands of people… Read More