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State laws about inheritance matter in two circumstances. The first is when someone dies without a will, leaving their family to decide how to handle their estate. The second is when someone's will violates state law. Most people have no guaranteed right to an...
What happens to a Georgia resident's pet when the owner passes away? This is one question that many people forget to address during their estate planning. It would be beneficial for instructions regarding the family pet to be provided in order to make this issue less...
Upon death, a Georgia resident's last will and testament needs to be probated. If that individual's estate plan is not kept up-to-date, the estate administration could be more difficult. Reviewing an estate plan periodically can help keep unnecessary problems from...
Many people who live out-of-state are named the executors of wills for family members who live in Georgia. This would obviously make estate administration problematic. Fortunately, an executor -- or the family members of someone who died intestate (without a will) --...
Many Georgia residents created their estate plans when they had minor children. However, as the years went by, their children became adults, and now their plans are out of date. When estate-planning documents are not updated, surviving family members could have a...
Even if the loss of a loved one was expected, it is still an emotional time for most families. While surviving family members grieve, they still have to summon the energy to deal with all of the legal and financial issues that follow a death. Estate...
In last week's blog, the duties of an executor were discussed to help Georgia residents make informed decisions regarding who would be responsible for carrying out their wishes as outlined in their wills. This week, discussion turns to the other positions in...
Nearly everyone in Georgia has at least one digital account -- even if it's a social media account. What will happen to that and other digital accounts after death is more than likely not the first thought that crosses a person's mind when they are opened. Known...
Many Georgia residents hope to provide for their children and family after their own deaths. In order for estate administration to take place smoothly, an estate plan must be written and put in place to ensure that the individual creating the plan will be able to...
All property that a Georgia resident has at the time of his or her death -- no matter the form of ownership -- is subject to the federal estate tax. This tax is paid by the decedent's estate. This typically occurs before the property is distributed to the...
