Atlanta Estate Planning Lawyer Blog

As Atlanta, Georgia, business attorneys who also practice complex trust and estate planning and will, trust and estate litigation, we recognize there are numerous lawyers and companies who want to help you plan and protect your estate assets. These same lawyers and companies also want to help you set up your business succession planning and assist you with your estate planning. However, as business assets become increasingly intangible and more difficult to define, the estates of persons owning and having an interest in these businesses become more complex, difficult to plan, probate and administer. If these estates are not planned properly, it is quite possible these estates could end up in litigation.

As businesses, assets, and information have become increasingly digital, intangible, and available solely on-line, it is important to choose Atlanta business lawyers who understand your “intangible” business assets, how to protect them, and how to formulate effective trust and estate planning for these assets. Moreover, you not only need trust and estate attorneys, you need these same attorneys to be Georgia business attorneys well-versed in complex business matters as they relate to intellectual and technological property, copyright and trademark issues, and other potentially intangible property.

For example, any number of lawyers might be able to draft a basic will, and this may fine for someone with fairly limited and straightforward “traditional” assets. If everyone knows you have accounts at a local bank and brokerage house, and you keep your account documents on file and in physical form, it may be easy to ascertain what is in your estate.

On the other hand, consider the following: • What if you have accounts at one of the “on-line only” banks?

• What if all your account statements are e-delivered?

• What if you have a second business selling goods on e-bay, or if you have a business or assets in a “virtual world,” such as Second Life?

• Who has your login information and passwords to these accounts?

• How will anyone determine what assets you have, or where? How will these assets be valued and by whom?

• Even if you do not have these things now, can you guarantee that you will not have them before your beneficiaries or heirs need to administer your estate?

Thus, it is increasingly important to consider not just your tangible assets, but also your digital, intellectual, technological, and other such assets, when planning your estate. This is why you must choose attorneys who understand the complexity of these assets and can advise you on how to protect yourself, your business as well as your beneficiaries and heirs.
The Adams Law Offices has been at the forefront of the union of technology as it relates to trusts, estates, business planning, and representation of individuals and businesses with non-traditional assets. Our Atlanta Attorneys also specialize in business, trust, and estate litigation as it relates to “intangible” and “non-traditional” assets.

We would welcome the opportunity to discuss your business and estate affairs. Please feel free to call our Firm (404) 467-8611 or 1-877-412-3267, to discuss your options. You can also send us a message through our confidential Web Site "Contact Us Form".

Our Firm is conveniently located in the Buckhead section of Atlanta, Georgia, near the intersection of Piedmont and Roswell Roads. Our Firm provides experienced legal representation through exceptional Atlanta wills, trusts and estate lawyers and our business planning and business litigation attorneys.

The Adams Law Offices assists clients throughout the Metro Atlanta area, Georgia, and the United States. Some of these areas include the following cities, communities, counties, and US States:

Atlanta, GA metro area, Alpharetta, Fairburn, Roswell, Sandy Springs, Buckhead, Decatur, Lithonia, Druid Hills, Dunwoody, Tucker, Marietta, Smyrna, Vinings, Duluth, Acworth, Fayetteville, Marietta, Lawrenceville, Norcross, Morrow, Riverdale, Canton, Milton, John's Creek; DeKalb County, Fulton County, Cobb County, Gwinnett County, Fayette County, Clayton County, and Cherokee County; LA, FL, TX, SC, NC, AL, OH, MI, CA, NY, CO, TN, NV, MO, AZ, NJ, VA, and NM.

The Atlanta probate and estate litigation lawyers at our Firm who have lawsuits and disputes ongoing in Marietta, Cobb County; Atlanta, Fulton County; Decatur, DeKalb County; Lawrenceville, Gwinnett County, as well as other Metro Atlanta area county probate courts have seen breach of fiduciary claims on the rise.

The reasons behind this trend? THE ECONOMY!

It altogether makes sense to understand that in these troubled times, a Georgia executor, administrator, attorney-in-fact under a power of attorney, trustees, or other fiduciary, would “dip into the pot” of estate funds which are meant for the beneficiaries or heirs. The reasoning, we have concluded, is that no one will believe or be able to show that these fiduciaries have abused their powers by navigating estate funds into their own interest and use. Moreover, many Georgia beneficiaries and heirs do not know what their rights are and as such, do not know that fiduciaries have a vast and affirmative obligation upon them to “do the right thing” and manage the Georgia estate they are overseeing and controlling in the best interests of all of the beneficiaries and heirs.

On the contrary, altogether good executors, administrators, attorneys-in-fact, trustees, and other fiduciaries that are doing a good and adequate job are being accused of all sorts of heinous acts and breaches of their fiduciary duty by paranoid and overbearing beneficiaries and heirs.

If you feel that an executor, administrator, attorney-in-fact, or other Georgia fiduciary is not living up to their lofty obligations; The Adams Law Offices specializes in evaluating, scrutinizing, and analyzing the dealings of executors, administrators, attorneys-in-fact, and trustees who have fiduciary duties to others. If our Firm finds wrongdoing, we appropriately and often aggressively seek legal remedies for our clients.

Our Firm also specializing in assisting, guiding and defending executors, administrators, attorneys-in-fact, trustees, and other Georgia fiduciaries in carrying out their obligations in a legally proper and appropriate way. The Adams Law Offices also lends the appropriate support, care, and protection to the blameless fiduciaries in the course of carry out their duties. We also specialize in putting other fiduciaries back on track that have gotten off course or found they need the expertise of experienced Atlanta probate attorneys at the helm.

Our Firm would welcome the opportunity to assist you concerning your Georgia estate, probate, trust, and fiduciary litigation and dispute matters. Please feel free to contact us (404) 467-8611 or 1-877-412-3267 to discuss your options. Please also feel free to send us a confidential e-mail through our Web Site “Contact Us” form.

The Adams Law Offices has its main Atlanta office conveniently located in heart of Buckhead near the intersections of Piedmont and Roswell roads. Our Firm assists clients throughout the Metro Atlanta and Georgia area including the following cities, communities, counties, and US States:

Atlanta, GA metro area, Alpharetta, Fairburn, Roswell, Sandy Springs, Buckhead, Decatur, Lithonia, Druid Hills, Dunwoody, Tucker, Marietta, Smyrna, Vinings, Duluth, Acworth, Fayetteville, Marietta, Lawrenceville, Norcross, Morrow, Riverdale, Canton, Milton, John's Creek, and other cities throughout North Georgia; DeKalb County, Fulton County, Cobb County, Gwinnett County, Fayette County, Clayton County, and Cherokee County; GA, LA, FL, TX, SC, NC, AL, OH, MI, CA, NY, CO, TN, NV, MO, AZ, NJ, VA, and NM.

As a Georgia probate attorney who practices in the metro Atlanta area, I have found my probate law firm practice has recently changed its focus. In large part, this is due to the need for answers and accountability on the part of executors and administrators.

I am finding more and more heirs and beneficiaries calling into my office with the same complaint against the executor or administrator of the Georgia estate. These concerns center around the executor or administrator refusing to provide the beneficiary or heirs of the estate with an accounting and an inventory of the Georgia estate assets. The common runaround the executor or administrator usually gives the beneficiary or heir is they have no duty to provide such information. However, Georgia beneficiaries and heirs should know they can make a legally binding request in writing to the executor and administrator of the estate for an inventory and accounting of estate assets. Oftentimes beneficiaries or heirs have waived this right, but they can renounce this waiver in writing and move forward with a petition for inventory and accounting. O.C.G.A. § 53-7-32 (2008) provides as follows:

§ 53-7-32. (Revised Probate Code of 1998) Waiver of right to receive; relieving personal representative of duty to make

(a) Any beneficiary of a testate estate or heir of an intestate estate may waive individually the right to receive the inventory from the personal representative. Such waiver shall be made in a signed writing that is delivered to the personal representative and may be revoked in writing by the beneficiary or heir at any time.

If you are worried about the monetary, fiscal, or fiduciary mismanagement of a Georgia estate to which you are a beneficiary or heir, you have options and rights under Georgia probate law. The Adams Law Offices represents beneficiaries and heirs in all stages of probate proceedings to get answers from unfair, dishonest, and deceitful executors and administrators. The Adams Law Offices welcomes the opportunity to assist you in filing a petition for inventory and accounting and acquiring the answers you deserve.

Should you have any questions or desire any assistance concerning petitioning the Georgia executor or administrator for answers, please feel free to call our Firm (404) 467-8611 or 1-877-412-3267, to discuss your options. You can also send us a message through our confidential Web Site form. The Adams Law Offices is conveniently located in the Buckhead section of Atlanta, GA near the intersection of Piedmont and Roswell Roads. Our Office provides experienced legal representation through exceptional Atlanta Probate Attorneys.

The Georgia probate attorneys at The Adams Law Offices help clients throughout the Metro Atlanta, Georgia area including the following cities, communities, and counties: Atlanta, Georgia metro area, Alpharetta, Fairburn, Roswell, Sandy Springs, Buckhead, Decatur, Lithonia, Druid Hills, Dunwoody, Tucker, Marietta, Smyrna, Vinings, Duluth, Acworth, Fayetteville, Marietta, Lawrenceville, Norcross, Morrow, Riverdale, Canton, Milton, John's Creek and other cities throughout North Georgia. DeKalb County, Fulton County, Cobb County, Gwinnett County, Fayette County, Clayton County and Cherokee County

As an Atlanta probate attorney, I often see Georgia probate estate administrators and executors turn into dishonest persons once they become administrator or executor of the probate estate. Upon qualification by the Georgia Probate Court, any administrator or executor is put into a position of power and trust over heirs, beneficiaries and others involved in the Georgia estate administration process and the assets of the Georgia probate estate. It is normal, but not wise, for heirs and beneficiaries to be trusting of the Georgia estate administrator or executor. This is especially true given the tough times are going through in this economic era and that it is wholly true that everyone could use an extra few dollars. Oftentimes, matters are made worse because many Georgia estate administrators or executors are family members, friends of family members or long trusted family friends.

In my practice as a Georgia Probate litigation and dispute lawyer, I see good people turn bad when they gain control of estate assets and have easy access to money that is not theirs. I have found this to be especially true when these estate assets include easily maneuverable items such as liquid cash, stocks, bonds, cars, jewelry, real estate and other items of great monetary value. This is especially true because these estate assets seem to be just arm lengths away from a “dip into the pot” without anyone noticing or any harm done at all. This is a common misperception of the untrustworthy administrator or executor and nothing could be further from the truth. As an Atlanta estate litigation attorney, I see and know all too well the tricks and deceptive actions of these dishonest and conniving persons. Fortunately, under Georgia probate law, these administrators and executors must adhere to and act within the scope of their fiduciary duty. Such administrators and executors are bound by the this duty almost regardless of what rights you may have been told you have signed away to them.

An administrator or executor (known as a fiduciary) has the following legal duties and obligations:

§ 53-7-1. General powers and duties of personal representative; additional powers
A personal representative is a fiduciary who, in addition to the specific duties imposed by law, is under a general duty to settle the estate as expeditiously and with as little sacrifice of value as is reasonable under all of the circumstances. The personal representative shall use the authority and powers conferred by law, by the terms of any will under which the personal representative is acting, by any order of court in proceedings to which the personal representative is a party, and by the rules generally applicable to fiduciaries to act in the best interests of all persons who are interested in the estate and with due regard for their respective rights.

Continue reading "GEORGIA ADMINISTRATORS AND EXECUTORS – YOU AND YOUR GEORGIA PROBATE ATTORNEY SHOULD SAFEGUARD AGAINST ESTATE ASSET MISMANAGEMENT AND BREACH OF FIDUCIARY DUTY" »

As a Georgia probate litigation lawyer who has represented clients in countless court and legal proceedings concerning Georgia estate disputes in probate court, I am seeing more and more breaches by executors, administrators, and agents for powers of attorney, of their fiduciary duties.

"Fiduciary Duty" Defined: A fiduciary duty is a legal relationship of confidence or trust between two or more parties. In a fiduciary relationship, confidence and trust is put into another, whose good faith, advice and protection are sought after and required by law.

The term fiduciary frequently is becomes issues in the management of Georgia probate estates by untrustworthy or self-dealing executors or administrators. In fact, it is more and more often, I am coming across breach of fiduciary duty cases and they have become quite common issues concerning executors and administrators in Georgia probate estate administration. My thoughts are that since we have fallen on tough times with respect to our economy, these Georgia executors and administrators are taking liberties with their fiduciary duties imposed by Georgia probate law.

If you feel parties will act in a manner inconsistent with fairness or engaging in self-dealing, please know The Adams Law Offices represents administrators, executors, heirs, beneficiaries, estates, and personal representatives in all stages of Georgia estate administration and Georgia probate matters. Our Firm has extensive experience in Georgia probate guidance; Georgia probate disputes; Georgia probate litigation matters; and, estate mediation. Please feel free to contact us (404) 467-8611 or 1-877-412-3267 to see how we can assist you. Please also feel free to send us a confidential e-mail Web Site contact us form. The Adams Law Offices is conveniently located in the Buckhead section of Atlanta, GA near the intersection of Piedmont and Roswell Roads.

As an Atlanta, Georgia probate dispute lawyer, I know a personal representative who “steals” or “defrauds” an estate, or otherwise behaves dishonestly, is a nightmare for a grieving family, the beneficiaries, and heirs. Unfortunately, I have seen in my Atlanta probate law firm practice, this occurs more than you might think. Inexperience with the legal and financial duties of a personal representative can lead to mistakes that have very bad results for the estate and its heirs or beneficiaries. In other cases, because executors and administrators are frequently family members or close friends of the person who died (decedent), they may have emotional or financial reasons for not being completely genuine. Or, they may have fallen on tough times and just think nobody is watching and no real harm will be done by “stealing” a “little bit” here and there.

Fortunately, Georgia fiduciary law allows you several ways to deal with a personal representative who is not meeting his or her duties, being dishonest or otherwise engaging in self-dealing. If you know ahead of time that the personal representative is not trustworthy, you may file a caveat -- a probate law term for a formal objection -- to that person's role as personal representative. As a Georgia probate litigation lawyer engaged in will contests and probate disputes, I vastly prefer to take steps long before this stage, to minimize the costs to my client from both fraud and legal fees. Nevertheless, it is often not until the probate process is underway that heirs and beneficiaries realize that there are problems.

For that reason, the law also allows them to formally sue a dishonest personal representative for breach of fiduciary duty -- that is, breach of the duty to act wisely and legally with another person's money. In fact, you can file this type of claim when the personal representative has merely threatened to breach that duty, as well as when you have positive evidence that he or she has breached it. If you can prove your claim, you can ask a court to order one or more of the following remedies:

• Stop a threatened breach of fiduciary duty
• Remove the personal representative
• Replace the personal representative
• Compel the personal representative to do his or her duties
• Reduce or deny payment to the personal representative
• Have the personal representative pay back money stolen or lost because of a breach of fiduciary duty
• Compel damage payments (compensation for the petitioner's losses) from the executor or administrator (personal representative)
• Money or property given to the wrong beneficiary may also be placed in trust by the court while it works out the proper ownership.

I do my best to ensure that my Atlanta probate clients do not face these issues in the first place. Regardless, The Adams Law Offices is available to file caveats or file Georgia probate litigation over any disputes in an estate, including breaches of fiduciary duty. If you would like to speak with an experienced Georgia estate litigator about your case, please feel free to contact us (404) 467-8611 or 1-877-412-3267 to see how we can assist you. Please also feel free to send us a confidential e-mail Web Site contact us form. The Adams Law Offices is conveniently located in the Buckhead section of Atlanta, GA near the intersection of Piedmont and Roswell Roads.

As an Atlanta Estate Lawyer and in working for a Georgia Probate Law Firm, my experience has been that there are several rules of thumb to follow when opening and administering a Georgia estate in county probate court:

They are, in simplified form, as follows:

1. No Promises: Do not make any promises to heirs, beneficiaries or otherwise. Give general time frames adding on that old saying “if everything goes smoothly”, etc.

2. Georgia Estate Administration is a Long Process: The Georgia estate administration process takes months and even years. In knowing this, please be patient and manage expectations on the outer limits.

3. Remember Your Goals: The objective is to prove to the Georgia Probate Judge, that the administrator or executor who filed petition for letters of administration or letters testamentary, has the legal authority to administer the estate.

4. The Georgia Probate Court Will Want to See You Be Diligent and Thorough: Remember, a will is offered up for probate, not an estate. This means that the opening of the Georgia estate depends on how fast you can file the letters testamentary and “prove up” the will or “offer the will up for proof”. If there is no will, the heirs will have to decide who will be administrator and sign off on the on the acknowledgment of service and consent to probate instaner.

My experience as a Georgia probate attorney, has shown that the longer an estate is pending for being open to the estate administration process, the more likely beneficiaries and heirs are likely to begin to argue. When this occurs, disputes often begin and battle lines are drawn. I can not emphasize enough the importance of knowing how to explain matters in a fair and understandable manner.

The Adams Law Offices helps administrators and executors (called “personal representatives” under GA Probate law) carry out their fiduciary duties expeditiously, fairly and cost-efficiently. Our Firm also helps heirs and beneficiaries of Georgia probate estates when there is trouble ongoing in the estate administration, they desire to set forth a valid claim, or want they answers they deserve. Our Firm has extensive experience in Georgia probate guidance; Georgia probate disputes; Georgia probate litigation matters; and, estate mediation. Please feel free to contact us (404) 467-8611 or 1-877-412-3267 to see how we can assist you. You can also send us a confidential e-mail through our contact us form via our Website. The Adams Law Offices is conveniently located in the Buckhead section of Atlanta, GA near the intersection of Piedmont and Roswell Roads.

Our Firm represents numerous clients from other states with matters pending in Georgia probate courts. We are here to assist you from wherever you may be located and have the technical and communicative skills to do so effectively and cost efficiently. The Adams Law Offices helps clients throughout the Metro Atlanta, Georgia area including the following: DeKalb County Probate Court, in Decatur, Georgia; Fulton County Probate Court, in Atlanta, Georgia; Cobb County Probate Court, in Marietta, Georgia; Gwinnett County Probate Court, Lawrenceville, Georgia; Fayette County Probate Court, Fayetteville, Georgia.

As an Atlanta Probate Lawyer, I have experienced first-hand the wide range of time frames and seemingly, intolerable leeway an executor or administrator has to carry out the fiduciary duties imposed pursuant to TITLE 53 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated entitled “WILLS, TRUSTS, AND ADMINISTRATION OF ESTATES”. Under this Title 53, the Georgia Probate Court likely will allow the any GA executor or administrator varying degrees of time in which to undertake the Georgia estate administration process in any decedent’s estate. Any acting executor or administrator who is qualified and in charge of an estate in Georgia Probate court has approximately six (6) months to create an inventory of all of the estate's assets, liabilities, debts and other relevant estate matters, and issue and provide any beneficiary or heir of the Georgia estate an inventory and accounting. Moreover, this seemingly lenient rule of Georgia Probate Law is oftentimes waived by an unknowing estate beneficiary or heir if they “sign off”, or “consent” to giving the estate executor or administrator this leeway.

The unknowing beneficiary or heir oftentimes signs documents as requested by the Georgia executor or administrator, or their GA Probate Lawyer, without knowing or asking what these documents mean. It is essential for any beneficiary or heir to understand the impact signing any “release” will have on them in knowing and understanding the estate's assets, liabilities, debts and other relevant estate matters such as the status of the estate proceedings or their inheritance. As a rule of Georgia Probate Law, you should be very cautious about any documents you sign. This is especially true if it is requested you sign anything having to do with an estate under which you are a beneficiary or heir, where you are requested to sign in front of a witness or witnesses or in the presence of a Georgia Notary Public. Under Georgia Probate law, you are deemed to have read, understood and presumably had the right to consult with a Georgia Probate Attorney or Atlanta, Georgia Probate law firm concerning the meaning and impact of these documents. In my Probate Law practice, I often see beneficiaries and heirs unknowingly waive important rights to their detriment. Moreover, many times it becomes a “he says she says” argument as to whether the beneficiary or heir knew or understood the dire impact of the documents she or he signed or if any explanation was given at all.

If you are a beneficiary or heir under a Georgia Probate Court estate, you should consult an experienced Atlanta Probate Law Firm before signing anything. As an experienced Georgia probate lawyer, I can not tell you how many time clients come into our Buckhead, Atlanta, Georgia Probate Law Firm after it is to late and the client-beneficiary or client-heir has given up many important rights they would have been entitled to had they not signed important empowering estate documents to their detriment.

Continue reading "PETITIONS FOR INVENTORY AND ACCOUNTING IN GEORGIA PROBATE COURT – AS A GEORGIA ESTATE BENEFICIARY OR HEIR, KNOWING AND ASSERTING YOUR RIGHTS PROMPTLY CAN BE CRITICAL" »

If you are, or may be, an executor or administrator of an estate in GA probate court I believe you should consider that you are in charge of managing the bulk of the administrative responsibilities related to the administration of the estate and have a strict fiduciary duties to carry out.

As a potential or acting executor or administrator of an estate in GA probate court, you must understand that you are legally accountable for the expeditious management of nearly all administrative responsibilities related to the administration of the Georgia estate considering the circumstances. These legal obligations are referred to and set forth in Title 53 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated (O.C.G.A.) which governs “Wills, Trusts, and Administration of Estates.” These legal obligations are a lofty standard and referred to as your ‘fiduciary duties’. These “fiduciary duties’ impose on all executors and administrators exceptionally demanding legal responsibilities to the estate beneficiaries, heirs, Georgia probate court and other “interested parties”.

The Personal Representative (Administrator or Executor) Obligations and Duties Include:

1. Make sure that desired funeral arrangements are made and carried out.
2. Locate the original will and file with the Georgia Probate Court with the correct petition and other legally required documents. This includes the decedent’s death certificate.
3. Petition the GA Probate Court for appointment as Executor or Administrator (both referred to as a “Personal Representative” under GA law) and Petition for Letters Testamentary or Petition for Letters of Administration depending on the whether a Will governs the decedent’s estate and whether there is a Personal Representative available to serve under the Will.
4. For decedent’s estates, publish Notice to Debtors and Creditors of the Estate in the legal newspaper (“Legal Organ”). Publish legal Notice of Hearing in the legal newspaper, or other publication, acceptable to the Court.
5. Obtain death certificate or doctor's statement for insurance claims (sometimes birth and marriage certificates also are necessary).
6. Notify all heirs, legatees, devisees, and next of kin of their interest in the estate. Search for any heirs if necessary. Petition the Court for Determination of Heirs if necessary.
7. Locate any safe deposit box or location where relevant instructions, documents, assets of the estate may be kept. Arrange for inventory of safe deposit box contents.
8. Obtain any whole and/or life insurance claim forms, fill out, and submit with policy (or policies). Obtain proceeds for beneficiary and Form 712 for estate tax return.
9. File claims for final medical bills with Medicare and other medical insurance carriers.
10. Assemble necessary documents for each parcel of real estate or mineral interest, including deeds, leases, tax receipts, title abstracts, and insurance policies.
11. If necessary, oppose in Court all incorrect or invalid claims against the estate.

Continue reading "BEING EXECUTOR OR ADMINISTRATOR OF AN ESTATE IN GEORGIA PROBATE COURT – ARE YOU UP TO THE TASK? – GUIDELINES AND SUGGESTIONS" »

A person is qualified under Georgia Law to serve as a Guardian and/or Conservator of a proposed ward if such person is:
1. Over the age of 18 years of age;
2. A Georgia resident; or a non-resident who is:

(a) related by lineal consanguinity to the ward;
(b) a legally adopted child or adoptive parent of the ward;
(c) a spouse, brother, sister, uncle, aunt, niece, or nephew of the ward, or someone elated by lineal consanguinity to any such person; or
(d) the spouse of a person otherwise qualified above; and

3. Has never been convicted of a felony.

A Petition for appointment of a Guardian and/or Conservator for the proposed ward will be filed with the GA County Probate Court in which the proposed ward is domiciled. This Petition requires either two Petitioners to sign the document or one Petitioner and the completed affidavit of a physician or psychologist licensed to practice in Georgia or a licensed clinical social worker, who has examined the proposed ward within 15 (fifteen) days prior to the filing of the Petition. In, Georgia, unless the alleged incapacitated person is indigent, the Petition must submit with a check to the GA County Clerk of Court for the filing fees. The filing fees vary slightly per each separate GA County Probate Court.

Continue reading "GEORGIA GUARDIANSHIP AND CONSERVATORSHIP PROCEDURES IN ATLANTA AREA PROBATE COURTS" »

An executor or administrator is appointed by the GA probate court to perform the same administrative responsibilities when there is no Georgia will, the Georgia will fails to name an executor or no executor named in the GA will cannot or elects not to serve. Whether you are an executor or administrator, you must perform these important fiduciary duties imposed on you under GA probate law and in accordance with Title 53 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated (O.C.G.A.), which governs “Wills, Trusts, and Administration of Estates.” Title 53 of Official Code of Georgia Annotated imposes significant and strict fiduciary duties and lofty legal obligations on the executor or administrator to the estate, beneficiaries, heirs, GA probate court and other “interested parties”.

These important legal obligations often have severe consequences if not performed in accordance with GA probate law and the fiduciary duties and executor or administrator has and the “personal representative” of the estate. By way of quick definition, GA probate law refers to both an executor and administrator the personal representative. In the alternative of performing all of the these extensive and burdensome fiduciary duties and administration obligations on their own, many executors or administrators retain an experienced GA probate law firm to guide them through their duties, obligations and to perform their fiduciary duties in accordance with GA probate law.

In the alternative, many GA probate and estate law firms step in and act as executor or administrator of the estate. One reason prudent Georgia executors or administrators retain an experienced GA law firm to assist them, guide them and prepare important legal documents for them, is that an executor or administrator who does not perform their fiduciary legal obligations can be held personally liable for their acts. This occurs more often than one might think. In my law practice as a GA probate attorney, I have seen all forms of serious accusations against executors or administrators and all forms of misdeeds done by executors or administrators. This holds true whether these mistakes any such were made because of poor performance, not performed at all or performed with unjust intent.

Continue reading "WHAT ARE YOUR ‘FIDUCIARY DUTIES’ AS EXECUTOR OR ADMINISTRATOR OF THE GEORGIA ESTATE?" »

Being an executor or administrator of a Georgia estate in probate court is no easy undertaking. In fact, as executor or administrator of a GA estate, you are stepping into a position ripe, ready and waiting for conflict and disharmony to develop among all the interested parties to the estate, or worse yet, parties that will use their influence to control others who do have an interest in the estate. To say the least, these matters are already emotional from the death of a loved one and now, as executor or administrator, you are in charge managing the often-greedy heirs or beneficiaries. At the very least, this can add substantial administrative and bureaucratic responsibilities to your life as well as significant anxiety and stress. Furthermore, these oftentimes come at a time when you may already be grieving and have your own affairs to manage. In almost all cases, this is further complicated by the significant administrative duties imposed by law on a GA executor or administrator and the fiduciary duties and liabilities that come with this position.

In most GA estates, both executors and administrators are frequently relatives or close friends of the deceased person (the decedent). This would seemingly be a plus; however, more often it turns out to be the starting place of many arguments, endless wrangling, power struggles and ultimately many GA Probate disputes, will contests and litigation proceedings. Many of these GA estate disputes and much of this GA probate litigation stems from the fact that many of the other members contesting the actions and alleged breach of the personal representative’s fiduciary duties are also frequently, family members, relatives, or close friends of the deceased person (the decedent). In fact, it is often the case that these family members, relatives and close friends stand to inherit assets of the Georgia estate or have some interest in the outcome of the distribution of assets.

Perhaps most importantly, acting as a personal representative gives you a fiduciary duty to the estate -- that is, you are legally responsible for ensuring that your financial decisions are made with complete information, according to the estate's best interests and as expeditiously considering the circumstances. This is the same fiduciary duty given to leaders of corporations, and like those leaders, you are legally liable for any lawsuit alleging that you have not met your fiduciary duties. This includes personal liability, which is beyond assets of the estate and not limited in any way, shape or form to the assets of the estate.

Continue reading "PREVENTION OF DISPUTES IN GEORGIA PROBATE COURT BY THE EXECUTOR OR ADMINISTRATOR – FORESIGHT, DETECTION, AND AVOIDANCE " »

As executor or administrator of a GA estate, you are entitled to the statutory fees for Georgia executors and administrators. These statutory fees are based on a percentage of assets taken into the estate, a percentage of income on estate assets during the administration of the estate and a percentage of assets distributed from the estate upon finalization and discharge of your fiduciary duty under the Official Code of Georgia Annotated and payable to an executor or administrator. Please note that these statutory fees as used in the Official Code of Georgia Annotated use the term; “personal representative” to refer to both an executor and administrator you should consult an experienced Georgia Probate attorney to understand these amounts.

IT IS VERY PROMISING IF NOT PROBABLE, THAT HIRING A GEORGIA ESTATE PLANNING AND PROBATE ATTORNEY AND LAW FIRM, WILL ACTUALLY SAVE THE ESTATE MONEY AND PRESERVE AND EFFECTUATE HARMONY AMONG THE BENEFICIARIES AND HEIRS OF THE ESTATE. THIS IS ESPECIALLY TRUE WHEN YOU RETAIN GA PROBATE ATTORNEY AND LAW FIRM WITH SIGNIFICANT PROBATE AND ESTATE DISPUTE LITIGATION EXPERIENCE. THE LAWYERS AND LEGAL TEAMS OF THESE FIRMS KNOW HOW TO RECOGNIZE POTENTIAL PROBLEMS THAT COULD ARISE AND PREVENT THEM FROM COMING TO FRUITION. BY THE SAME TOKEN, THE SAME GA PROBATE AND ESTATE ADMINISTRATION LAW FIRM CAN ADDRESS, REACT AND RESOLVE ANY PROBLEMATIC SITUATIONS BEFORE THEY BECOME MATERIAL ISSUES IN THE “EXPEDITIOUS” ADMINISTRATION OF THE ESTATE.

I believe almost everyone acting as a personal representative is better off with the help of an experienced Georgia probate lawyer. Despite this reality, many people named as personal representatives start out thinking they can handle the job without help. As time goes on and the duties and tasks required of them become more complicated, many realize they need the help of a professional Atlanta wills, trusts and estate lawyer.

Continue reading "GEORGIA PROBATE COURT: EXECUTOR AND ADMINISTRATOR FEES, SAVING THE ESTATE MONEY AND KEEPING THE PEACE AMONGST THE BENEFICIARIES AND HEIRS" »

Atlanta Lawyers, who specialize in wills, trusts, estates and probate, as I do, tell clients and potential clients that meeting with an Atlanta, GA attorney to acquire an overview of how their assets are held is essential. This straightforward estate planning is indispensable because some assets are better suited when held or titled in a form under which the assets will pass outside of the purview of the county probate court. It is also a critical step to ensure that your assets pass to the persons or entities you desire and to avoid almost unavoidable fighting, bickering, probate disputes and probate litigation that develops when it is not clear where, and/or to whom, estate assets are legally to be distributed.

Unfortunately, most of us neglect to say why this is a good idea. In fact, if Georgia county probate courts didn't happen to be in charge of granting marriage licenses, most Georgians might never encounter the word “probate” until they lose a loved one and matters are mixed up and confusing to say the least. However, this is not the Georgia county probate court’s fault in any way, shape or form. It is the lack of planning on the individual’s part that causes the potential and oftentimes devastating confusion and fighting amongst family members. As such, it is critical to meet with an experienced Atlanta, GA estate planning and probate lawyer to set up your estate plan in a fashion which will avoid all of the above-mentioned confusion. In short, the old sayings go: “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” and “greed brings out the worst in people”. The fact of the matter is, if there are estate monies, stocks, assets, properties, etc. which are not clearly designated to an heir or beneficiary under an estate plan formulated by a qualified Atlanta, GA estate planning and probate lawyer, people will fight “tooth and nail” to get at these assets and make them their own. And, you can rest assured they will not come alone, they will come with their own Georgia probate lawyers, accountants, experts and the like. An experienced attorney can create an estate plan for you that can help to prevent these disputes, or at least minimize them to a large extent.

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