Let Goldberg & Associates Help
If you need help managing your estate in Atlanta, the lawyers at Goldberg & Associates are here for you. Our Atlanta estate planning attorneys are dedicated to protecting your best interests. We can help you craft a strong estate plan that addresses your priorities and concerns, offering creative solutions to support your needs.
Why Choose the Estate Planning Lawyers at Goldberg & Associates
- Our attorneys have helped Atlanta residents manage and plan their estates since 1999. We have the skills and experience necessary to help you manage your final affairs.
- We prioritize open and honest communication throughout the estate planning process. Our attorneys will provide you with the dedication and personalized attention you need to develop a strong estate plan.
- Our law firm understands how complex estate planning can be, which is why we specialize in this legal area. You can trust our attorneys to provide you with the advice you need to protect your hard-earned assets.
Why You Need an Estate Planning Attorney
Estate plans are complex documents made up of several different components. For example, your will establishes how you want your assets distributed upon your death. Trusts and life insurance policies set aside funds for various scenarios and beneficiaries, including long-term care planning and caregiving for children.
By hiring an estate planning attorney from Goldberg & Associates, you gain an advocate who can help you navigate this complex process and protect your interests. Our estate planning division assists with wills, trusts, advance healthcare directives, and powers of attorney to meet your individual needs.
Here are a few ways that we help you meet your legal needs:
- Building long-term bonds
- Crafting sound strategies
- Finding unique solutions
- Delivering knowledgeable counsel
Atlanta Estate Planning FAQ
There are several common questions that our law firm receives about estate planning in Atlanta. Read on for answers to some of the most frequently asked queries.
How Do I Make Sure That My Possessions End Up in the Right Hands?
Crafting a strong estate plan can help ensure that your assets are distributed according to your wishes following your death. Wills and trusts are vehicles that you can leverage to pass your assets on to those you designate. Proper estate planning will prevent your assets from falling into the wrong hands.
How Do I Avoid the Cost or Inconvenience of Probate?
Probate is the process of distributing a deceased person’s possessions following his or her passing. This process can be expensive, difficult, and lengthy, especially if disputes arise during probate.
Many clients ask how to avoid the cost and inconvenience of this process. For many, the best solution is to establish a revocable or living trust. However, it is important to consult with a probate lawyer to identify the best option for you.
If I Can’t Make Decisions for Myself, How Can I Protect My Interests?
In some cases, people become incapacitated due to a serious injury, debilitating illness, coma, late-stage dementia, and other causes of mental decline. You may wonder how you can protect your interests and ensure you protect your wishes if you find yourself in this situation.
With an estate plan, there are multiple tools that you can leverage to protect your interests following incapacitation. For example, you can create a durable power of attorney, which designates a person who makes decisions on your behalf and outlines instructions on handling your medical or financial matters. An advance medical directive can also be used to guide your medical care if you become incapacitated.
My spouse needs more care than I can give. Will we lose everything to pay for care, or are there options?
Not if you plan properly, the earlier, the better. There are a number of planning options available to spouses of nursing home residents to protect their financial well-being while qualifying their ill spouse for Nursing Home Medicaid coverage of nursing home fees.
My child is disabled. How can I provide for her future?
We have helped many parents of children with special needs plan for their children through the creation of a special needs trust funded with life insurance.
What Legacy Will I Leave?
Leaving a strong legacy for loved ones is a major priority for many of our clients. Your greatest legacy will always be the family that you leave behind and the memories that your relatives, friends, colleagues, and loved ones will have once you are gone.
However, leaving an estate plan that protects the interests of your family and smoothly passes on your assets can contribute greatly to the legacy that you leave behind. You can also set aside funds for charity following your passing in your estate plan, which can also enhance your impact.
Our firm will work closely with you to craft an estate plan that supports your legacy and protects your family’s welfare for years to come.
Atlanta Trusts
Trusts are complex financial instruments, and many people wonder how they work. Below, find answers to some of the most frequently asked questions that we receive regarding trusts in Atlanta.
What Is a Trust?
A trust is a legal entity that holds property for the benefit of another party or several other people. It is essentially a fiduciary relationship between the following three parties.
- The trustor, who establishes the trust and gives property for the trust
- The trustee, who has the legal title to hold assets or property for the trustor, and is responsible for managing, investing, and distributing those assets
- The beneficiary, who is able to receive funds or assets from the trust
Do I Need to Establish a Trust?
There are several advantages to establishing a trust, depending on your unique situation. The most well-known benefit is the advantage of avoiding probate, which can be a complex and highly sensitive process. When a trustor dies, the trust terminates, and any property is automatically passed to the beneficiaries according to the terms of the trust. As a result, the beneficiaries save time and money.
People may also establish trusts to protect assets from creditors, to set aside funds to protect the interest of children or pets, or help the trustor qualify for programs like Medicaid. Trusts are also private and highly regulated documents, and they can provide a continual and effective tool even if the trustor dies.
Are There Different Kinds of Trusts?
There are several types of trusts, each with their own advantages and disadvantages.
- Revocable Trusts
- Testamentary Trusts
- Irrevocable Trusts
- Supplemental Needs Trusts
Contact an Atlanta Estate Planning Attorney Today
If you are beginning to plan your estate, you need an attorney on your side who can represent your best interests. The Atlanta estate planning lawyers at Goldberg & Associates have the skills and experience you need to navigate this complex process and protect your financial assets.
Contact our law firm today to schedule your legal review and discuss your next steps. Following your consultation, our Atlanta estate planning lawyers will help you strategize your estate planning needs and develop a strong strategy for the protection of your assets.