There are few guarantees in life for people in Georgia. One of those few guarantees though is that everyone will pass away at some point in time. People may not know when or how they will pass away, but it is inevitable. It is also something that people do not like...
Estate Administration And Probate
What happens if I die without a will?
If a Georgia resident dies without having a will or other estate plan, then her property will pass to her closest relatives according to Georgia law. Like other states, Georgia’s laws favor a person’s spouse and children as heirs of property. If a person dies married...
Understanding probate in Georgia
Probate is the legal process of estate administration that takes place when a person, called the decedent, passes away. The administration of probate settles the debts and taxes of the decedent’s estate and distributes designated inheritance and gifts. With or without...
Understanding the probate process
When someone dies, there is a legal process for distributing assets and paying off debts. This process is probate. For the executor and potential heirs, understanding what occurs during probate may help speed up and simplify the process. Probate process when there is...
Should you try to avoid probate with a living trust?
With all those commercials touting the benefits of a living trust versus probate, you may wonder if you should invest in the former to avoid the latter. After all, probate is “costly,” “time-consuming” and “public.” According to FindLaw, a living trust is rarely a...
The probate process with and without a will
By writing a will, you are ensuring that your loved ones receive the portion of your Georgia estate that you want each of them to have. However, the estate still has to go through probate, whether or not you have a will. At Boling Rice LLC, we often provide...
When can you contest a will?
It’s often surprising how families end up at odds once a beloved matriarch or patriarch passes away. When the details of the will come out, it is not uncommon for relatives to be unhappy about who received what or if they didn’t receive anything from the estate....
How a (TOD) Transfer of Death account can help avoid a legal mess
Preparing for death can be a scary thought, but it’s a necessary step to save your family some stress as they grieve. One step to seriously consider is to create a will or a trust. Some people don’t have a trust or will due to not having enough assets to leave anyone,...
John Singleton’s estate up in the air until will is filed
Georgia fans of the late film director John Singleton may be surprised to know that there may be some estate issues complicating things for the loved ones he left behind. Singleton, who died in April 2019 at the age of 51, reportedly had a will that was already...
Changes to taxes on gross estates
When a person dies in Georgia or another state, the sum of their possessions both in and outside the United States is subject to estate taxes. These possessions, known as their gross estate, don't just include physical property. Bank accounts, investments, annuities...