Once your Will has been properly signed and witnessed, your estate plan is officially in place. You don't need to take it to the courthouse or file it with the state. There's no waiting period for it to take effect. It won't expire. It is valid, and will remain valid… Unless something happ...
We've discussed the advantages of revocable living trusts before. While (contrary to popular belief) they aren't necessary for everyone here in Georgia, RLTs may be of benefit to those who own property outside of Georgia, have blended families, concerns about asset protection for children, or p...
What is the difference between an estate planning attorney and a probate attorney? Many people use the terms interchangeably, but while some attorneys may handle both estate planning and probate matters, these are actually two distinct practice areas. At Peach State Wills and Trusts, we prac...
One of the most common obstacles to completing one's estate planning is determining who will serve in the roles of Executor, Trustee, Agent, or Guardian. The people who take on these responsibilities will have the authority to manage your probate estate, manage your affairs and make medical d...
As we've discussed before, many people misunderstand the estate planning process and requirements, especially when it comes to the Last Will and Testament. Misinformation abounds as to what actually qualifies as a Will. The concept is even a popular TV trope. Consider Parks & Rec's Ron Swanson's ...
On April 9, 2020, Governor Kemp signed executive order 04.09.20.01 titled, “Temporarily Allowing Remote Notarization and Attestation.” This Order allowed for remote notarization and witnessing of certain legal documents in the midst of the COVID19 global pandemic. In short, this order enabled p...
On July 4th, residents of all 50 states will celebrate our country's 245th birthday with hamburgers, hotdogs, pool parties, and fireworks displays. In the state of Georgia, July 1st marks another important anniversary, of which most residents will be unaware. On this day four years ago, Georgia...
When you sign your Will at Peach State Wills and Trusts, there will be two witnesses in the room with you. The role of these individuals is to witness you sign your Will and sign it themselves as witnesses. In addition, the witnesses also sign a self-proving affidavit along with you. This aff...
Recently, we discussed common misunderstandings of how the state will distribute one's assets if they die without a Will, but this another question that we frequently hear about intestate succession. Some people are under the impression that if you die without a Will, the state steps in and ...
A common question we hear from estate planning clients is how do they best dispose of their tangible personal property at their death? How can they make sure that great-grandma's handmade quilt goes to Susie, or that grandpa's pickup truck goes to Jack? Over the years, many methods have been ...
Joel Beck here. 2021 marks another year that I was not invited to any campus to deliver a commencement speech to the graduating class. Not one to be deterred by the lack of an invitation, let me now share the gist of what I would have said, had I been asked to speak. I do believe that there is a ...
From time to time, we meet clients who think they understand estate planning, but in reality, they are misinformed. In this blog series, we'll take a look at a few common misconceptions we hear and set the record straight regarding estate planning in Georgia. Misconception #4: “Everyone needs a ...
From time to time, we meet clients who think they understand estate planning, but in reality, they are misinformed. In this blog series, we'll take a look at a few common misconceptions we hear and set the record straight regarding estate planning in Georgia. Misconception #3: “I love my spouse'...
From time to time, we meet clients who think they understand estate planning, but in reality, they are misinformed. In this blog series, we'll take a look at a few common misconceptions we hear and set the record straight regarding estate planning in Georgia. Misconception #2: “My estate plan m...
Did you know that April 16th is National Health Care Decision Day? Since 2008, NHDD, sponsored by The Conversation Project, has existed “to inspire, educate and empower the public and providers about the importance of advance care planning.” This year it will be a week-long event aimed at educat...
Common Misconception about Estate Planning in Georgia #1: Georgia's Default Plan From time to time, we meet clients who think they understand estate planning, but in reality, they are misinformed. In this blog series, we'll take a look at a few common misconceptions we hear and set the record ...
Most people start their estate planning journey with a list of questions. People like you, who do their due diligence when planning their estate, want to understand the process and make the best decisions for their situation. One common topic that we hear questions about is executors—the person d...
Peach State Wills & Trusts is proud to announce that we have once again been voted among the best estate planning firms in Gwinnett for 2020 by Gwinnett Magazine's Best of Gwinnett, and it's all thanks to your support. We are proud to receive this honor, and even prouder that our clients have c...
What does a Biden administration mean for estate planning and estate taxes. Right now, we don't fully know, but he has given some of his thoughts on this during the campaign. In today's video, attorney Joel Beck discusses this topic.
I don't know about your house, but at the Beck household, we've got some furry family members. Our dog, Belle, is part hound and mostly mutt. Then we've got two Siamese cats, Phineas and Ferb. They agree with each other in their disdain for Belle, but otherwise, it's a happy family. I'm sure if y...
There's a lot of hype and misinformation out there surrounding all things relating to the COVID-19 pandemic. I think that has spread to the world of estate planning as well, as folks search for answers about how they need to le...
A question we sometimes get goes something like this, “Can I write out my wishes, and sign it and have it notarized. Is that a valid will?” In today's short video, attorney Joel Beck answers that question. As he explains, simply writing out your wishes and signing the document before a notary doe...
Four Strategies for Avoiding Probate in Gwinnett County At some point in your life, you may have heard about someone's estate being tied up in probate. It may have included awful stories involving relatives fighti...
With today's technology, access to information is literally in the palm of our hands. From your cell phone, you can download manuals to repair a washing machine that's thirty years old or watch step-by-step video tutorials that...
May brings graduation season. And soon thereafter, newly graduated high school students head off to college, trade school, or to start a career and begin new adventures. But for most of these grads, at 18 years of age, they are an adult in the eyes of the law, and Mom or Dad don't automatically h...
At Peach State Wills and Trusts, a division of The Beck Law Firm, LLC, we're committed to answering your questions about wills, trusts, powers of attorney, healthcare directives and business planning issues in Georgia.
Contact us today to schedule an appointment.