Often times, a contested estate administration can be more divisive than your typical divorce case. While the death of a loved one often brings family members closer together, unfortunately, it can lead to hostility and division as well. When beneficiaries receive a different or smaller share of the deceased’s property than they had expected, the…
For most people, their most significant asset is their residence. Typically, once a person reaches the age of retirement their home has substantial equity and hopefully not a huge mortgage. In some situations, parents may consider transferring their residence to their children in advance of their death in an effort to avoid probate issues and…
IRA Beneficiary designation is important for many reasons, but for many people, establishing beneficiaries for your IRA is not something that ranks high on your list of things to do. Conservative estimates suggest that Americans hold nearly $15 Trillion in IRA’s and other qualified retirement plans. Quite often, an individual’s IRA is the largest financial…
Long term care insurance is not just for those persons getting close the retirement age. Recently, a growing number of young adults in their 20’s and 30’s are obtaining long-term care insurance. The American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance released a study that found a 28 year old who had been receiving benefits from his…
Due to the current economic downturn, many elders have experienced difficulty in paying their monthly expenses. In fact, some studies suggest that more than half of all older households have insufficient income to meet their basic living expenses. As a result, many baby boomers are withdrawing the equity from their home through the use of…
If you have a parent or other family member who suffers from a physical or mental disability which interferes with their ability to make appropriate decisions concerning their welfare and finances, you may need to consider filing a petition with the local probate court to be appointed as a Guardian and/or Conservator. In Georgia, a…
A lot of families in North Georgia have either personally been affected by Alzheimer’s disease, or know a family who has. As all of us get older, it is inevitable that some of our friends and family members will be diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia. Dementia refers to the general decline in mental ability…
For many of our clients, a common plan among married clients is to leave all of their property to their spouse outright. While that it typically not a bad option for a happy couple with a solid marriage, it is not usually the preferred disposition after the happy couple divorces. After a major life event…
