Blog

          When planning for what happens to our assets after we die, we must look at our family and decide who gets what, if anything at all. Not all our family situations are one-size-fits-all and, in some instances, creating a will is not a simple task to bear when making these decisions. This ...

Last week we discussed the estate tax, and learned that individuals can shield $12.6 million dollars of their estate from the federal tax at their death. This is good news for the majority of folks whose estate totals far less than $12 million. However, some people prefer to give away portions of...

You may have heard the old saying, “Only two things are guaranteed in life; death and taxes.” It's a pretty safe bet that these two realities rank pretty far down the list of your favorite things to think about, but think about them you must, especially when considering your estate plan. Everyo...

Thanks to you and your support, Peach State Wills & Trusts is excited to announce that we have once again been named among the best estate planning firms in Gwinnett for 2021 by Gwinnett Magazine's Best of Gwinnett. This is our third consecutive year to receive this honor, and we owe it all t...

The Truth About Revocable Living Trusts: What They CAN'T Do We discussed previously the proliferation of misinformation regarding Revocable Living Trusts, and why you should carefully do you own research. In the next few blog posts, we are going to discuss some of the most common misconceptions ...

Many people think of estate planning as something to be done later in life, after the kids are grown and out of the house and you're nearing retirement. While folks at this stage of life certainly should make sure their planning is complete, we recommend considering your estate plan much earlie...

We can hardly believe it, but 2021 is drawing to a close. This is a great time to review your estate plan and consider what planning needs you might need to take care of in 2022 to protect yourself and your loved ones. Take some time in the coming weeks to ask yourself these questions… Do I ...

In our experience, one of the most overlooked estate planning needs is business continuity planning. Many business owners don't realize that they need to plan for what will happen to their business should they die, become incapacitated, retire, or simply be out of the office for an extended per...

When drafting their estate plan, many people want to make the task of distributing their estate as easy as possible for their Executor when the time comes. The most important way to do this is simply to have a properly executed Will and/or trust in place. If you are using a Will-based plan, an ...

In the last few weeks, we have received several calls from folks who have recently moved to Georgia from other states. While they have a completed estate plan from their home state, they are under the impression that their documents are invalid in Georgia, and they must re-do their planning. Th...

Technology has revolutionized our society. Even in the last two years, we have seen more and more go digital. From school to work to doctor's appointments and even grocery shopping, many things are now done online from the comfort of our own homes. In an increasingly paperless world, clients so...

A Power of Attorney is an essential document that ensures one's assets, bank accounts, and other financial affairs can be managed by a trusted loved one. But what about after the principal of that POA dies? Can the agent under the POA still manage his or her affairs? The answer is no. The au...

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 ...

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 ...