Estate planning can feel complicated, especially with so many legal terms used by attorneys and in documents. Understanding the language makes it easier to make informed decisions for your family. Here is a glossary of 20 important terms every Georgia family should know in 2026.
- Will: A legal document that states how your property and assets should be distributed after your death.
- Trust: A legal arrangement where one person holds property for the benefit of another.
- Executor: The person appointed to carry out the instructions in a will.
- Trustee: The individual or institution responsible for managing a trust according to its terms.
- Beneficiary: A person or organization who receives property or assets from a will or trust.
- Probate: The legal process of proving a will and distributing property under court supervision.
- Personal Representative: Another term for an executor, used in some Georgia documents.
- Power of Attorney: A legal document that allows someone to act on your behalf for financial or legal matters during your lifetime.
- Advance Directive for Health Care: A document that explains your wishes for medical treatment if you cannot communicate.
- HIPAA Authorization: A document that allows someone to access your medical information.
- Per Stirpes: A method of distributing assets so that each family branch (each child) receives an equal portion of the total estate if a beneficiary dies before you.
- Intestate: When a person dies without a will, state law determines how property is distributed.
- Guardianship: The legal appointment of a person to care for a minor child or incapacitated adult.
- Joint Tenancy: A form of property ownership where co-owners have equal rights and the property passes to the surviving owner.
- Transfer on Death Deed: A Georgia tool that allows real estate to pass directly to a named beneficiary at death without probate.
- Probate Bond: A court-required insurance that protects beneficiaries if an executor mishandles estate assets.
- Fiduciary: A person with a legal duty to act in the best interest of another, such as an executor or trustee.
- Estate Tax: A tax on the transfer of property after someone dies, based on the value of the estate.
- Medicaid Estate Recovery: The process by which Georgia may claim assets from a deceased person’s estate to recover Medicaid costs.
- Year’s Support: A petition in Georgia that allows a surviving spouse or minor children to receive support from the estate before property is distributed.
Understanding these 20 terms can make discussions about estate planning clearer and more effective. Families who know the language can make decisions that protect their loved ones and their property.
If you are ready to start planning or review your current estate plan, our attorneys at Grissom Law Firm, LLC are here to provide guidance and support every step of the way. Contact our attorneys today to schedule a consultation.
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This Blog/Web Site is made available for educational purposes only as well as to give you general information and a general understanding of the law, not to provide legal advice. By using this blog site you understand that there is no attorney client relationship between you and Grissom Law, LLC.