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What Do the Terms Per Stirpes and Per Capita Mean in Estate Planning?

What Do the Terms Per Stirpes and Per Capita Mean in Estate Planning?

Estate planning documents often contain terminology with special legal meaning. Two examples of terms that may appear in a last will and testament or a trust are per stirpes and per capita. Both terms relate to how estate property is distributed in t… Read More
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Categories: Estate Planning
How To Avoid Ancillary Probate With Estate Planning.

How To Avoid Ancillary Probate With Estate Planning

If you are a Georgia resident who owns property in another state, your estate may face ancillary probate in the other state after your death, in addition to probate of your estate in Georgia. Ancillary probate incurs additional expenses and requires… Read More
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Categories: Estate Planning
What Is a Transfer-On-Death Deed in Georgia?

What Is a Transfer-On-Death Deed in Georgia?

Effective on July 1, 2024, Georgia law recognizes a special type of real property deed that may be used to transfer property on the owner’s death. The deed is called a transfer-on-death deed, or TOD deed. While the new law adds an option for addres… Read More
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Categories: Estate Planning
What Is a Trust Protector.

What Is a Trust Protector

If your estate plan includes a trust, you may have concerns about protecting the integrity of the trust if unexpected changes occur or legal challenges arise at a later date. In that situation, you may wish to consider the option of designating a tru… Read More
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Categories: Estate Planning
What Is Portability in Estate Planning?

What Is Portability in Estate Planning?

Portability is a federal estate tax rule that applies exclusively to the estates of married spouses. The rule allows a surviving spouse to apply any unused portion of a deceased spouse’s individual federal estate tax exemption to the surviving spou… Read More
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Categories: Estate Planning
two people sitting across from one another at a table with planning documents on it - Incapacity Planning concept

What To Know About Incapacity Planning in Georgia

Planning for incapacity is an essential part of estate planning in Georgia. Specific documents in your estate plan protect you and your loved ones in the event you become unable to make personal, medical, or financial decisions for yourself temporari… Read More
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Understanding Step-Up in Basis.

Understanding Step-Up in Basis

In a carefully structured estate plan, certain assets — such as stocks, bonds, and real estate — may acquire a stepped-up basis when the asset is inherited, resulting in considerable capital gains savings if the asset is sold by the beneficiary.… Read More
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Categories: Estate Planning
How to Transfer an LLC Into a Trust in Georgia.

How to Transfer an LLC Into a Trust in Georgia

If you own an interest in a limited liability company, commonly known as an LLC, transferring the LLC into a carefully drafted trust as part of your estate plan may provide substantial benefits. But before you make the decision, it is essential to ge… Read More
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Categories: Estate Planning
How to put my house in a trust in Georgia?

How To Put My House in a Trust in Georgia

Trusts are an important estate planning tool that can accomplish specific goals for a person who creates an estate plan. A trust must be created through a complex legal document before property can be transferred into the trust. The method for transf… Read More
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Categories: Estate Planning
Estate Planning for Small Business Owners.

Estate Planning for Small Business Owners in Georgia

If you own a small business, your estate planning goals should include addressing matters relating to disposition of your business interest, as well as business succession and continuity of the business. The related documents in your estate plan can… Read More
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Categories: Estate Planning