Fouts Law Group, LLC provides estate planning services to clients at all phases of life who care about their legacy. Whether you are young or old, you need an estate plan in place to address end of life issues and to make certain that you and your family are cared for. We can help.
Whether you are creating an estate plan for the first time or want to update or expand an existing plan, our Atlanta estate planning lawyers can provide the personalized legal advice you need. To find out more about the ways in which we can guide you through the estate planning process, give us a call at (678) 242-8344. We can work with you to discuss your goals and create a personalized plan and we can also answer questions you may have about the estate planning process including:
- Do I need an estate plan?
- What should be Part of My estate plan?
- How Can an Atlanta estate planning lawyer help?
Do I Need an Estate Plan?
You need an estate plan if you care about what happens to your assets and your family after you pass away. You also need an estate plan if you want to make certain that you receive only the types of medical care you want at the end of your life.
There is a common misconception that estate planning is primarily a concern for senior citizens. Unfortunately, it is not only the elderly who pass away or who become badly hurt or unexpectedly ill. It’s also a common myth that an estate plan includes only a will, even when a last will and testament may only be a small part of a comprehensive plan.
The reality is, if you want to spare your family the difficult choices that can arise regarding the use of extraordinary measures in a medical emergency, you need an estate plan. You also need a plan if you want to make certain you have named a guardian for your minor children; provided for a disabled loved one in your life; and determined how your assets should be transferred if something happens to you.
With no plan, default Georgia laws will apply to determine how some of the most important decisions are made that affect your life, family, and legacy. By the time it becomes clear that you really needed a plan in place, it may be too late for you to create one. Don’t let that happen to you. Get legal help today to create your comprehensive estate plan.
What Should be Part of My Estate Plan?
Different components of an estate plan could include:
- Revocable Living Trust
- A Last Will and Testatment
- Health Care Power of Attorney
- Financial Power of Attorney
- IRA and 401(k) Retirement Trusts
- Remarriage Protection
- Divorce Protection
- Retirement Plan Protection
- Irresponsibility Protection
- Grandchild Protection
Understanding what each of these tools is, and how each tool works, is of vital importance when making your estate plan. You must not only make an informed decision on what components to include in your estate plan, but you also must make certain you follow formalities for creating the legal documents that should be a part of your plan. For example, revocable and irrevocable trusts serve different purposes and use different language in their creation, while a power of attorney is only an effective part of an incapacity plan if your power of attorney is a durable one.
When working with an estate planning lawyer, your attorney can provide you with invaluable assistance in identifying all of the estate planning goals you have and in moving forward with using the most effective legal tools possible for achieving those goals. Your attorney can also take care of the technical requirements of estate planning for you, including making sure your will, trust, advanced directives, power of attorney, and other estate planning documents are enforceable.
How Can an Atlanta Estate Planning Lawyer Help?
Fouts Law Group, LLC understands the estate planning process and we know what it takes to help clients develop a successful and comprehensive estate plan. Whatever your age, your life situation, or your goals for the future, we are here to help you make effective use of the legal tools available to Georgia residents for estate planning.
To find out more about how an Atlanta estate planning lawyer can provide you with invaluable assistance in protecting yourself and your loved ones, give us a call at (678) 242-8344 or contact us online.
