by Susan Grissom | Feb 15, 2016 | Elder Care, Estate Planning, Wills & Trust
A frequent question I receive as it relates to Estates is, “what compensation are Trustees entitled to?” Georgia code includes provisions for compensation of Trustees in §53-12-210. Per the Code, Trustees are entitled to compensation in accordance with either the...
by Susan Grissom | Feb 1, 2016 | Elder Care, Estate Planning, Wills & Trust
The IRS has announced that the basic estate tax exemption amount for the estates of decedents dying during calendar year 2016 will be $5.45 million, up from $5.43 million for calendar year 2015. For married couples, the combined total is now $10.9 million. It is...
by Susan Grissom | Jan 18, 2016 | Business, Corporate
It’s the start of a new year and a good time to review your corporate records to ensure that you have fulfilled your legal requirements and that the records reflect the current state of your business. The following are a few of documents that you should review...
by Susan Grissom | Jan 4, 2016 | Elder Care, Estate Planning, Wills & Trust
Every year, many people make New Year’s resolutions. If you intend to make a New Year’s resolution, consider a resolution that would benefit your family and resolve to update your estate plan or if you don’t have an estate plan, to complete one in 2016. A review of...
by Susan Grissom | Dec 15, 2015 | Elder Care, Estate Planning, Wills & Trust
As a part of preparing or updating an estate plan, many clients change the title to their real property either transferring their residences into their revocable living trusts or updating how the property is titled between spouses to avoid probate. When the deed is...
by Susan Grissom | Dec 1, 2015 | Elder Care, Estate Planning, Wills & Trust
If you’re like most people, you have the best of intentions with regard to how you want your estate distributed when you die or your affairs handled should you become incapacitated. Unfortunately, without proper planning, your best intentions may not be enough. Here...
by Susan Grissom | Nov 16, 2015 | Estate Planning, Wills & Trust
For a variety of reasons, people sometimes want some or all of their assets to pass directly to specific individuals upon their deaths, outside of probate. One way to accomplish this is to set up a “payable on death” (POD) account for money in a bank account or a...
by Susan Grissom | Oct 19, 2015 | Elder Care, Estate Planning, Wills & Trust
If you have a child or loved one who is receiving—or will receive—benefits under the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Medicaid programs because of a disability or age, including a Special Needs Trust in your Estate Plan may provide a mechanism for leaving your...
by Susan Grissom | Oct 6, 2015 | Estate Planning
It depends on the type of bill. Payments for medical, dental, and tuition are not subject to federal gift tax laws. But if you are paying other bills, you will be subject to the laws. This means that if you give away $14,000 or less to any one individual, you do not...
by Susan Grissom | Sep 16, 2015 | Elder Care, Estate Planning, Wills & Trust
An advance directive for health care, also known as living will, durable power of attorney for health care, or advance directive, is a legal document that allows an individual (Principal) to specify what medical actions should be taken if they are no longer able to...
