by Susan Grissom | Jul 15, 2016 | Elder Care, Estate Planning, Probate, Wills & Trust
A Revocable Living Trust is an effective estate planning tool for avoiding the costs and time of probate, preserving privacy, providing for management of assets during times of incapacity disability thereby avoiding the appointment of a conservator or guardian for...
by Susan Grissom | Jul 1, 2016 | Elder Care, Estate Planning, Wills & Trust
Guardianship and conservatorship are legal processes through which the court appoints a person to oversee the financial or personal affairs of an individual who is either incapacitated or who has not reached the age of majority. In Georgia, Probate courts have...
by Susan Grissom | Jun 15, 2016 | Elder Care, Estate Planning, Wills & Trust
Georgia Medicaid’s Community Care Services Program (CCSP) is a program that is designed to help Medicaid qualified individuals wishing to live at home or in assisted living to do so if the cost of doing so is lower than that of a nursing home. An Individual must first...
by Susan Grissom | Jun 1, 2016 | Elder Care, Estate Planning, Probate, Wills & Trust
An estate plan, regardless of the size of the estate, should include at least three (3) documents: a Last Will and Testament, a Financial Power of Attorney or General Durable Power of Attorney and an Advance Directive for Healthcare. Last Will and Testament A Last...
by Susan Grissom | May 16, 2016 | Probate
When a family member passes, there are a number of things that should be done, some require immediate attention and others can be taken care of in the weeks and months following the death. The following list is a suggestion of things you should consider doing...
by Susan Grissom | May 2, 2016 | Elder Care, Estate Planning, Wills & Trust
If you’re like most people, you have thought about and know how you want your estate distributed when you die or your affairs handled should you become incapacitated. Unfortunately, without proper planning and documenting your wishes, your thoughts and intentions may...
by Susan Grissom | Apr 15, 2016 | Elder Care, Estate Planning, Probate, Wills & Trust
Life Insurance is included in the value of a decedent’s estate for tax purposes. Currently, the estate tax exemption is approximately $5.45 million and is indexed for inflation. As a result, only a very small percentage of estates are taxable; however, many persons...
by Susan Grissom | Apr 1, 2016 | Elder Care, Estate Planning, Probate, Wills & Trust
A frequent question asked of probate and estate planning attorneys is “Is Probate necessary? This is a question that depends on the specific laws of the state in which the deceased lived and owned real estate, as well as, the specific facts and circumstances. The...
by Susan Grissom | Mar 16, 2016 | Elder Care, Estate Planning, Wills & Trust
Another frequent question I receive as it relates to Estates is, “what compensation are Administrators and Executors entitled to?” As with Trustees (See my blog from 2/15/2016) Georgia code includes provisions for compensation of Personal Representatives, also...
by Susan Grissom | Mar 1, 2016 | Business, Corporate
Have you completed your annual filings and renewals? Are your corporate records in order? As a small business owner, there are many different filings that are due each year. Have you filed your annual renewal or annual report, if any, with the Secretary of State(s) in...
