When a loved one dies with a will, the estate goes through probate. This is the legal process of managing the estate and distributing assets. Although a judge supervises the process, the person who does the majority of the work is the executor. Overview of probate...
Should I add my adult child to my deed?
Many people specifically set up their estate plan to avoid probate. There are many reasons to avoid probate, including the fact that it can be time-consuming, expensive and the public nature of probate is off-putting to some. However, just because a particular...
Seven tips for talking to your parents about estate planning
Many of us become worried about our parents as they age. We might be concerned about their health and physical and mental well-being, their ability to make appropriate financial decisions, or their plan for the future of their assets. Some of your elderly loved ones...
How to bring up the subject of estate planning
Georgia residents and others may not feel comfortable talking about their finances. They may also not be comfortable talking about dying or becoming disabled at some point in the future. However, it is generally better to put a financial plan in place before passing...
Tips for improving an estate plan
Many Georgia adults may lack estate plans, and many of those who do have them could improve them. It is not uncommon for people to have no estate plan or to have an insufficient estate plan whether they are very wealthy or have few assets. Incorporating charitable...
Potential pitfalls of electronic wills
While electronic wills are not yet considered legally binding in Georgia, several other states have passed legislation that permits them, and Georgia could change its laws in the future. Many younger adults prefer e-wills because they are in line with other services...
Administrating a loved one’s estate: some challenges
Georgia residents may have decided to take on the role of executor of a deceased loved one's estate, in which case they will need to know what sort of challenges they will face. First, an executor is in charge of identifying the estate's assets, paying off debts,...
Estate of deceased actress worth $6.8 million
New probate court papers have determined that the estate of Carrie Fisher, who passed away in 2016, is worth more than $6 million. Fisher is known throughout Georgia and many parts of the world after appearing as Princess Leia in several Star Wars films. The estate...
John Singleton’s will wasn’t updated after 1993
Movie buffs in Georgia may have heard about the passing of John Singleton. He had an estate that was valued at about $35 million, but it is unclear how the assets will be divided. This is because his will had not been updated since 1993. At that time, only one of his...
How to handle passwords for digital accounts in an estate plan
When a Georgia resident creates an estate plan, they might overlook the need to ensure access to online accounts. Complicating this is the fact that writing down passwords is not secure. This may have larger implications if the estate owner runs a business. In...
