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If you’re new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!Companies are increasingly becoming more creative in finding ways of using the ashes of the deceased in inanimate objects, including turning ashes into jewelry, paint, or fireworks. The one I read about today is a new one to me –…
Congress has still not taken any action on the estate tax. Currently, for individuals dying in 2010, their estates are not subject to any estate tax. However, for individuals dying in 2011, the estate tax is scheduled to return, taxing everything over $1 million at levels of up to 55 percent! According to this article…
This story from the AJC illustrates why couples should discuss health care and end of life issues before marriage. In this tragic story, a bride discovered she had a brain tumor on her wedding day. She fell into a coma 10 days later, following brain surgery. She and her husband had a discussion about the possible…
Are you a trustee for a special needs trust or considering becoming a trustee? Click here and fill out the online form and the Special Needs Alliance will send you a free handbook with information for trustees of special needs trusts.
Last Friday, I got to meet Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, who is my favorite Supreme Court Justice. He gave a lecture at my alma mater, the University of Tennessee College of Law. He was very down to earth, witty, intelligent and humble. After the lecture, he stuck around for an alumni reception. He could…
A lot of people ask me how they retitle an automobile if a loved one died intestate (without a will) in Georgia. It’s pretty simple. Fill out this form if your loved one either did not leave a will or left a will that is not going to be probated. The heirs must agree among themselves…
In Peterson v. Harrell, decided February 1, the Georgia Supreme Court ruled that a will in which the testator struck out portions of language with a pen was valid. Under Georgia law, the intent to revoke a will can be presumed from the cancellation of a material portion of the will. The court ruled that…
When I am assisting clients with probate, I have noticed two extremes. On one end of the spectrum is the deceased who keeps an extremely thorough, updated spreadsheet (or an I Love You Letter) of all assets with account numbers, financial institution addresseses and phone numbers, current values, beneficiaries, purchase price, etc. On the other…
In the last two weeks, I met with two potential clients with remarkably similar situations. Both clients had spouses who died unexpectedly at fairly young ages. Both clients’ spouses did not have wills. Both clients were not involved at all in the day to day financial operations of the household. Both clients were not named on all…
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