FAST FACTS Most Americans (55%) say they have no will or other form of estate planning Under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, the estate tax exclusion has doubled (until 2026) Trusts and other legally-protected vehicles of estate planning can ensure your wishes are carried out as intended If there’s one thing modern Americans have gotten bad at, it’s planning for the future after their possible death. A majority of Americans say they do not have a last will and testament … [Read more...]

FAST FACTS 6 in 10 U.S. adults, on average, don't have a will. 81% of people 72 and over have an estate plan. 64% of Gen Xers don't have a will.   It's not exactly shocking to discover that the majority of people in the country don't have a plan in place for their assets upon their passing, but it's disheartening. People don't like to think about their death and planning for how their money, real estate and other holdings will be disbursed after their demise since it can … [Read more...]

FAST FACTS 78% of Millennials do not have a will. 64% of GenXers don't have a will. Only 4 in 10 adults have a living trust or will.   Millions of people die every year. Unfortunately, only about 40% of these people pass away with some type of paperwork in place. Estate plans and their components are meant to protect the people left behind. While the majority of those who die leave no paperwork behind, what if you have taken the time to visit an Atlanta estate planning … [Read more...]

FAST FACTS Approximately 84% of end-of-life-care costs are paid for by a government entity. Nearly 3.5% of these costs will be paid out-of-pocket. End-of-life care may take place in a hospital, nursing home, hospice or assisted living facility.   No one enjoys considering what will happen at the end of their life. Unfortunately, if you don't make plans for end-of-life care, you could be stuck with hefty medical bills and pass those bills onto your heirs. As Atlanta … [Read more...]

FAST FACTS 55% of adults do not have an estate plan in place. More than 90% of people who create wills are over the age of 60. Even a simple estate plan may spend up to six months in probate.   It can be quite difficult for a parent to create an estate plan or will in the best circumstances, let alone when they have a child who mismanages money. A parent who deals with a child who can't seem to do anything but throw money away may be leary of leaving them a lump sum or … [Read more...]

FAST FACTS People aged 55 to 64 are statistically more likely to remarry than those younger than that. 72% of people aged 18 to 34 had remarried in 1960, compared to only 42% in 2013. Men are statistically more likely to remarry after being divorced or widowed.   According to Time magazine, the current divorce rate hovers around 40 to 50 percent. Of course, depending on your source, you may find studies that show a higher or lower number. Women who marry when they are young … [Read more...]

FAST FACTS 1 Bitcoin (BTC) currently costs about $7,500 (as of July 23, 2018). The current market capitalization of Bitcoin is $131,987,854,796. The average Bitcoin transactions per day equals 8,338. In 2010, a person paid 10,000 units of Bitcoin for two pizzas. It sounds like a good deal ---  cryptocurrency in exchange for a tangible item. Today, those 10,000 units are worth approximately $100 million. Bitcoin is still a new kid on the block when it comes to what people think … [Read more...]

An estate plan is an important part of adulthood. Whether you are single and living on your own, or you have a family, you want to be sure that your wishes are followed after your death. You also want any decisions you make for end of life care to be adhered to. Living trusts and wills are both a part of comprehensive estate plans, but do different things. Here's an explanation of each to help you decide if either, or both, need to be included in your Atlanta estate planning process. What a … [Read more...]

What happens when you know that a family member wrote a last will and testament, but you can't find it when they pass away? It's not as unusual a situation as you may think --- as every Atlanta estate planning attorney knows. Because of that, there are tips for locating the missing will and laws regarding what you can do. Let's start with your hunt for the will. Finding a Missing Will The very first thing you want to do is conduct a search in The U.S. Will Registry. If you can't find what you … [Read more...]

  No matter if your parents are well off or if they are living on their Social Security benefits, you may be thinking of speaking with them about estate planning. As an adult child of aging parents, you know that it's an important conversation to have, but you are worried about coming off greedy. If you are feeling this way, you're not the only one. Having a conversation with your parents about what to do with their assets after they are gone isn't a comfortable one. Not only are you … [Read more...]