As you age, you have no guarantees on what the future holds. You cannot know whether or not you will always be able to make decisions for yourself. U.S. News explains how a power of attorney is a solution to the unpredictable future. The following questions can help...
How to transfer assets to the next generation
While the thought of not being here might be unpleasant, there is more than one reason to plan the transfer of your assets to the next generation. In doing so, not only will you be able to protect your family, but you will also be able to preserve your legacy. To...
The human element of estate planning
Estate planning is a complex subject. It involves laws that could change — and therefore change your tax benefits, creditor shielding protections and so on. However, it also involves a human element. There will be people involved: your heirs, your executor and your...
Should I put my child on the deed to my home?
One of the aims of estate planning is to ensure that your heirs do not need to spend an excessive amount of time in probate court. It is no secret that probate can particularly take years, and during this time your heirs will not have access to their inheritance....
Special needs trustees perform 4 essential duties
If you have a loved one who has a disability, you may want to use your estate plan to establish a special needs trust. This type of trust gives your relative access to funds for supplemental expenses without endangering his or her eligibility for means-tested...
What should my estate plan include?
No matter your age or how much wealth you have, you must have an estate plan in place to protect your assets. Your estate plan also protects your family, as it will continue to provide for them after you are gone. Components of your plan can even protect you in the...
Planning for federal estate taxes
Like most people in Georgia, you likely assume that the government will levy taxes against your estate upon your death (thus decreasing the assets you have to pass on to beneficiaries). Yet just as it is for many of those that come to us here at the Emert Law Firm, it...
QTIP trusts and blended families
The estate planning process raises many questions as people must work through personal preferences and practical decisions. The plethora of estate planning tools offers flexibility but may also create confusion for some people. When evaluating estate planning tools,...
The importance of an advance directive for healthcare
When planning for the future, many people think about retirement planning and asset protection and distribution. However, fewer people consider what will happen if they are unable to make their own medical decisions. An advance directive for health care outlines...
Strategies to avoid probate in Georgia
If you are planning your estate, you may have concerns about your family handling the expensive, complex probate process. Fortunately, state laws in Georgia may allow some or all of your estate assets to bypass probate and go straight to your intended beneficiaries. ...
