Estate Planning for an Empty Nester

Congratulations! You are an empty nester and it’s time to update your estate plan. At this point in your life, you no longer have minor children or don’t have children, you may have acquired significant assets, and you may be considering retirement. When reviewing...

Heirs at Law under Georgia Law

A common statement in many Last Will and Testaments is that the estate will be “distributed to my heirs at law.” Georgia statutes define who the heirs at law are in the Official Code of Georgia Annotated (OCGA), Section 53-2-1, as follows: The spouse is the heir if...

What Wills Are Valid in Georgia?

When you create a Will in Georgia, you must make sure it is valid. The probate court determines the validity of a Will based on the statutes. If the probate court finds that your Will is not valid, it processes the Will as if you were to die intestate – without a...

How Long Does the Georgia Probate Process Take?

Probate in Georgia generally takes at least a year from opening the estate to closing the estate. Some assets must go through the entire probate process, and some can be dispersed immediately. The probate process can become daunting, so it is always best to retain a...