Estate planning, in plain English

Review your plan every three to five years, and whenever a major life event occurs — marriage, divorce, a new child, a death, a move, or a significant change in your assets. Laws change too, so even a quiet life warrants an occasional review. A plan that fit a decade ago may no longer take advantage of current protections or may no longer work as intended. A periodic review catches these issues while you can still fix them calmly and on your terms.

Online templates can create a document, but they can't account for your specific family situation, Georgia's particular requirements, or how your will interacts with your other assets and accounts. A poorly drafted or improperly witnessed will can be challenged or invalidated, leaving your family exactly where you didn't want them. We make a proper, valid will affordable — and we coordinate it with your beneficiary designations, powers of attorney, and any trust so your whole plan works together.

A will takes effect after death and goes through probate — a court process that can take months and become public record. A revocable living trust takes effect while you're alive, is designed to keep the assets it holds out of probate, keeps your affairs private, and provides incapacity protection if you ever can't manage your own affairs. A trust can also protect your children's inheritance. Many families benefit from both, and we'll help you choose based on your goals.

Absolutely. Estate planning isn't just about property — it's about naming guardians for your children, choosing who makes decisions for you if you can't, and keeping your family out of court. If anyone depends on you, you need a plan. A basic will with guardianship nominations, a power of attorney, and a health care directive gives your family essential protection at an affordable, flat-fee price, whether or not you own a home.

For most Georgia families, no estate tax is owed at all. In 2026 the federal estate tax exemption is $15 million per person, or $30 million for a married couple, and Georgia has no estate, inheritance or gift tax. A revocable living trust generally doesn't change your income or estate taxes. For larger estates, trusts and gifting strategies can help. At your free consultation, we'll tell you whether taxes are a factor for your family.

A financial power of attorney names someone to manage your money and property if you can't — paying bills, managing accounts, and handling real estate. A Georgia Advance Directive for Health Care names someone to make medical decisions for you. Both are essential for every adult, because without them your family would have to go to court for a guardianship or conservatorship — a public, costly, and slow process these documents are designed to help you avoid.

Without powers of attorney and an advance directive, your family would have to go to court to be appointed as your guardian or conservator — a public, costly, and slow process that can take weeks and strip you of control over your own affairs. These documents keep your family out of court and ensure the people you trust can act for you immediately. Every adult should have them, not just older adults — accidents and illness can happen at any age.

Every family is different, so we don't quote a flat fee before understanding your situation. After your free consultation, you'll know exactly what your plan will cost — with no surprises and no hourly billing. We offer flat-fee plans so the price is fixed before we begin. Most families are surprised at how affordable a complete plan can be, and the cost of planning is always far less than the cost of probate or a family dispute.