Atlanta Estate Planning Lawyer Blog

In the beginning of the Georgia estate probate process, the Georgia probate court will assign an executor or administrator (also known as a personal representative) to manage the distribution of an estate. This occurs when no will exists. It also occurs when the executor named in a will cannot serve or does not want to serve, or when no executor is named. Many times when the Georgia probate court appoints an individual as a personal representative, this comes as a surprise to the appointee.

The initial surprise often changes to concern when the personal representative realizes the serious nature of their new role. The administrative responsibilities of personal representatives are fiduciary in nature and require knowledge and diligence to complete. Personal representatives who fail to complete their duties and fulfill the legal obligations required by Georgia probate law can be held liable for their actions. As an experienced Atlanta, Georgia Probate Attorney, I have handled countless probate disputes where personal representatives were accused of wrongdoing. In some cases there was true intent to deceive, while in other cases an innocent lack of understanding of the duties caused the issue. Either way, the personal representative can be held legally responsible.

Because the administrative tasks of Georgia executors and administrators are so complex, a North Georgia probate attorney can be retained to mitigate liability. An attorney will assist and guide personal representatives in their duties, drafting legal documents and ensuring that court deadlines are met. Besides protecting against personal liability, a GA estate proceeding lawyer should be retained to keep the probate process moving forward as quickly and efficiently as possible. Probate proceedings that are lengthy usually involve disputes or litigation between interested parties. And litigation costs the estate money, which is not in the best interest of the beneficiaries. So a personal representative that can administer the estate efficiently will ensure that the estate’s assets are intact and available for distribution when the proceedings conclude.

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As an Atlanta, Georgia, power of attorney litigation lawyer, I have seen a sharp rise in the number of cases dealing with the misuse of a power of attorney or other similar document. Most times, the fiduciary lawyers at our Firm see the misuse and abuse of a Georgia power of attorney committed against the elderly, incapacitated, and other persons who tend to be trusting, in need of help and/or suffer from some mental disorder, cognitive disability, or laboring under circumstances, which make them easily influenced or coerced.

A power of attorney is an authoritative document and brings with it the ability to act on behalf of someone else; usually without his or her presence or any questions asked. A Georgia power of attorney is relatively easy to establish over a person. The person who gains and holds the power of attorney is referred to as the attorney-in-fact or agent. These forms can be purchased for a few dollars from a “legal document information company,” downloaded over the internet, bought in an office supply or other such store, and even found over the web for free.

The Georgia power of attorney document can be easily secured, signed by the trusting, gullible, eager to please, or even forged. Furthermore, once an “attorney-in-fact” has a Georgia power of attorney, there are relatively few security measures in place to prevent these documents from being used without any questions asked. This is the case with many banks, credit unions, credit card companies, businesses, financial institutions, mortgage companies, or other businesses.

The fiduciary litigation lawyers at our Firm have found that many persons acting as an attorney-in-fact or agent pretend to act as if they are helping someone else, when they are only helping themselves to the money and assets of another trusting person. They are also spending monies that otherwise would go into the estate of the person who gave the power of attorney and defrauding the rightful heirs or beneficiaries assets which “would have been in the estate,” but for the misuse, fraud and abuse. It is important to know a power of attorney, brings with it a fiduciary duty to act in the best interest of the person giving the power of attorney. If the attorney-in-fact or agent is acting in his or her best interest or without the best interest of the person giving the power of attorney, they are acting breach of their fiduciary duty and in breaking Georgia law. They must be stopped before too much damage is done!

Our Firm asks that you look out for your loved ones and the following circumstances:

• Overly Trusting Person Giving Power of Attorney

• Sudden Change in Financial Circumstances

• Sudden Change in Behavior – (Especially Emotional or Worrisome Thoughts or Actions)

• Need for Money by Attorney-in-Fact or Agent

• Mental Illness such as Dementia, Alzheimer’s or Other Mental Disorder

• Inability Care to for Self

• Coercion (by Family, Friends or Others)

• Duress

• Undue Influence

• Lack of Capacity

• Incompetence

• Fraud

• Other Suspicious Circumstances

The reason I am writing this article is to tell you that there are many ways to prevent, stop, and recover the damages caused by the misuse of a Georgia power of attorney. Our Atlanta fiduciary litigation law Firm specializes in Georgia power of attorney litigation. We can assist you in preventing fraudulent use of a power of attorney by an attorney-in-fact or an agent. We can also represent you against persons who have wrongfully acted as attorney –in-fact or agent. It is important to know there are numerous powerful remedies to stop and hold accountable persons who obtain, misuse, or abuse a power of attorney. We can also assist you after the power of attorney has been misused and the “would be estate” has been squandered.

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As an Atlanta, Georgia probate attorney, possibly the most frequent "Georgia probate lawyer question" I receive from the heirs and beneficiaries concerning the administration of a Georgia estate in county probate court is: How long will this take? (Or, should I say: “When will I get my money?”). My response depends heavily on how fast your Georgia probate law firm can get the petition completed for acknowledgment and perfect service on the heirs or beneficiaries, file the petition with the Georgia probate court, and how long you will be waiting on the probate court to rule on the petition.

Oftentimes, when there is no objection to the petition, the Georgia probate court will not require that a hearing be held, and issue an order opening or granting that administration of the estate begin. This, in large part, depends on the Georgia County Probate Court’s satisfaction with the petition for probate, the parties involved, and the detail and care with which the petition is drafted and filed and how this petition meets all the legal requirements set forth under Georgia probate law. This is notwithstanding any caveat/objection to the petition, which can prolong the process tremendously. My experience is that hiring an experienced Georgia probate lawyer can make the Georgia estate administration and Georgia probate process much faster and smoother.

Furthermore, do not let a let geographical distance be to your disadvantage. 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.

Additionally, if you feel parties will act in a manner inconsistent with fairness or engaging in self-dealing, please know The Adams Law Offices, LLC 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.

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.

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Hiring a probate and estate administration attorney to guide and represent you through the Georgia probate process may very well be the wisest decision any executor or administrator may perhaps make in carrying out their fiduciary duties in the process of administering a GA estate in county probate court. The consequences of improperly administering a Georgia Estate during the estate administration process are serious and have dreadful consequences which include personal liability of the Georgia executor and administrator.

These consequences stem from a fiduciary duty that all executors and administrators have when they administer an estate. These fiduciary duties are usually not even known by any would be or currently acting executor or administrator until they inevitably emerge. And, the fact of the matter is, nobody is going to tell about these “unknown” pending concerns and why there are compelling reasons for retaining a GA probate and estate administration attorney and Georgia law firm for the for the following reasons:

1) Most laypersons and attorneys who do not have considerable experience in GA probate law and GA probate estate administration proceedings, don’t know about these intricate GA “probate” laws or how to properly follow and use them to the benefit of the estate and any executor or administrator of the estate;

2) That the payment of an experienced GA probate and estate administration attorney is a valid estate expense and can be paid from estate funds;

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As a prospective or acting executor or administrator of a Georgia Estate, there are significant advantages in seeking and retaining the services of an experienced GA attorney or law firm. You likely will save money for the estate, understand and be counseled and advised on how to be fairly and fully compensated for finding, identifying and gathering the estate assets; transferring these assets into the estate name and account(s); making necessary and proper transactions, payments and distributions during the estate administration process; carrying out your fiduciary duties to the estate beneficiaries and heirs and any third parties with a binding legal interest in the estate; and, finalizing administration of the estate per Georgia law by distributing the estate assets to the proper beneficiaries or heirs of the estate. These are just an overview summary of the fiduciary duties you must carry out.

The estate administration process in Georgia probate court is much more in depth and complicated than the brief overview above and consulting an attorney and law firm that are experienced in Georgia probate and estate administration law is necessary and highly advisable. This is true whether the estate is straightforward or complex, small or large in monetary value or other assets such as real property, or whether there are only a few beneficiaries or many.

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Our Atlanta, Georgia estate law firm uses multiple vehicles when creating and an estate plan. One common estate planning tool involves joint ownership of an asset. Joint ownership of property means legal title is in two or more names. Generally this means upon the death of one legal owner, the property passes by operation of law to the other legal owner. Sometimes this type of ownership makes a lot of sense. For example, a husband and wife own their home in joint names. Upon the death of the first spouse, the home passes by operation of law to the surviving spouse.

There is no probate for most jointly owned property. There is no court involvement in the surviving joint owner assuming full legal title to the jointly owned property. Again, many times this is exactly what the decedent wants and the survivor has no probate concerns.

The lack of probate and the ease of property transfer are among the reasons a mother or father frequently add a child’s name to the mother’s or father’s bank account. But remember upon death the bank account, certificate of deposit or whatever property is held in joint names with a child transfers by operation of law to that child alone.

I’ve seen many surviving spouses name their children as equal beneficiaries in their will, but then put most if not all of their assets in joint names with just one child. Guess what happens on death? Despite the will directing that all the children share equally in the assets, there are no assets in the probate estate upon which the will operates to pass legal title. Instead, all the assets pass by operation of law solely to the child who is named as a joint owner.

Joint ownership can be a trap if you’re not careful and that is why the engagement of an estate planning attorney is essential to eliminate the many traps that you can fall into. In Atlanta, GA The Adams Law Offices crafts each estate plan with the individual in mind setting our goals for the minimum amount of probate and expense with the maximum amount of client satisfaction.

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