Estate Planning, Probate, & Tax Insights.
A collection of insights on estate planning, probate administration and litigation, and individual tax matters in Georgia. These articles are designed to help you understand your options and navigate important decisions with clarity.
Can I Use My Parent’s Power of Attorney After They Die in Georgia?
You handled your parent’s finances with a power of attorney. What changes after their death? Learn who can act, which documents may be needed, and where to begin.
The Bank Says I Need Letters of Administration. What Do I Do?
A death certificate may not be enough to access a loved one’s bank account. Learn why banks request Letters of Administration and what steps to take next.
My Parent Died With a Will. Do We Still Need Probate in Georgia?
Your parent left a will, but the bank or title company still needs court documents. Learn how asset ownership and beneficiary designations affect the next steps.
Leave More to Your Family: How Stepped-Up Basis Can Save Taxes
Selling a family home before death and leaving it to heirs can produce very different tax results. Learn how stepped-up basis may reduce capital gains taxes, why gifting a home can backfire, and what Georgia families should consider before selling or changing a deed.
Special Needs Planning Is More Than a Trust: 7 Pieces of a Coordinated Plan
A Special Needs Trust is only one part of effective planning. Learn how STABLE accounts, supported decision-making, beneficiary designations, trustees, Letters of Intent, and family coordination can work together.
Georgia STABLE Accounts in 2026: ABLE Accounts and Special Needs Trusts
Georgia STABLE accounts can help eligible individuals with disabilities save, invest, and pay qualified expenses without automatically jeopardizing SSI or Medicaid. With ABLE eligibility expanding significantly in 2026, more Georgia families can now use these accounts. Learn the current rules, contribution limits, and why a STABLE account often works best alongside a Special Needs Trust rather than in place of one.
The Problem With Being the One Who Knows Everything
Every family has one person who knows where everything is, the bills, passwords, schedules, insurance cards, and important documents. Learn how practical estate planning can provide the authority, information, and clarity your family may need if you are suddenly unable to keep everything moving.
How Much Does a Special Needs Trust Cost in Georgia? A 2026 Guide
The cost of a special needs trust depends on the type of trust, the source and amount of the funds, trustee selection, and the complexity of the family’s plan. This guide explains the expenses Georgia families should consider and why the lowest upfront price is not always the most cost-effective choice.
Trump Accounts for Children: What Georgia Families Need to Know
Trump Accounts offer a new way to invest for a child’s future, and some children may qualify for a one-time $1,000 federal deposit. But the account is owned by the child and generally becomes subject to traditional IRA rules at age 18, an important consideration for families planning around SSI, Medicaid, ABLE accounts, or a Special Needs Trust.
Georgia Transfer-on-Death Deeds After the 2026 Changes: A Useful Tool, Not a Complete Estate Plan
Georgia transfer-on-death deed can help a particular parcel of real estate pass without ordinary probate administration, but only if the deed and the beneficiary’s later acceptance comply with Georgia law. It does not replace a complete estate plan and does not necessarily protect the property from Medicaid estate recovery.
Special Needs Power of Attorney in Georgia: What Parents Should Do Before Age 18
When a child turns 18 in Georgia, parents no longer have automatic legal authority to make medical, educational, or financial decisions. For many families, a carefully drafted power of attorney plan can preserve support without requiring full guardianship.
Best States for Special Needs Adults: Where Georgia Stands in 2026
Families searching for the best states for special needs adults often see Colorado, California, and Massachusetts near the top of national rankings. But national rankings do not answer the harder question for Georgia families: should you move for better services, or can careful legal and benefits planning make staying in Georgia the better practical choice?
Georgia Estate Planning and Probate: A Complete Guide for Young Adults and Middle-Aged Adults
Estate planning is not just for retirees. This Georgia guide explains the wills, trusts, powers of attorney, advance directives, beneficiary designations, and probate-avoidance tools adults in their 30s, 40s, and early 50s should understand before a crisis happens.
What Assets Count for Medicaid Eligibility in Georgia?
Georgia Medicaid eligibility depends on more than income. For long-term care Medicaid, families need to understand countable resources, exempt assets, spousal protections, spend-down options, and estate recovery before applying.
Estate Planning for Blended Families in Georgia
Blended families often need more than a basic will. In Georgia, a clear estate plan can help provide for a surviving spouse, protect children from a prior relationship, address stepchildren, and reduce the risk of probate disputes.
Will I Lose My House if I Need Nursing Home Care in Georgia?
Owning a home does not automatically mean you cannot qualify for Medicaid in Georgia, but timing, transfer rules, and estate recovery matter. This article explains how a family home may be treated when nursing home care becomes part of the plan.
What Happens if Someone Dies Without a Will in Georgia?
When someone dies without a will in Georgia, state law determines who may inherit from the estate. This guide explains Georgia intestacy rules, what may happen to the family home, when probate may be required, and why year’s support may affect the outcome for a surviving spouse or minor children.
Medicare vs. Medicaid: Understanding the Difference
Understanding the difference between Medicare and Medicaid is an important part of long-term care and estate planning for many Georgia families. Our latest article discusses key differences in eligibility, coverage, and planning considerations to help families navigate these often-confused programs with greater clarity.
Special Needs Trusts in Georgia: What Families Need to Know
A Special Needs Trust can help protect important benefits like SSI and Medicaid while still allowing funds to be used to support a loved one’s quality of life. This guide explains how these trusts work and when to consider one as part of your estate plan.
