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Georgia Estate Planning Questions & Answers
1 Answer | Asked in Real Estate Law, Estate Planning and Probate for Georgia on
Q: If someone dies intestate in the middle of selling real property, does the spouse have to continue on with the contract?

Husband who is Georgia resident signed contract to sell land in Alabama which he co-owned with his sister as tenants in common. Husband died 5 days before closing. Does the spouse or administrator have to complete the sale so the funds go into the estate? Or can spouse let Contract expire with... View More

John W. Chambers Jr
John W. Chambers Jr
answered on Aug 10, 2017

Generally, under Georgia law, the estate would be liable for the obligations of the deceased party to the contract (unless the contract provided otherwise). I do not know whether Alabama law is the same on this issue, although I suspect that it is. I recommend that the person who would be the... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning and Probate for Georgia on
Q: Hi I live in Ohio my uncle which was my mother's brother passed away in Georgia on 6/17/17. We were notified in July .

My aunt sent a single power of attorney form requesting signature and notary. Not sure what I will be giving power of attorney for. Please advise.

Thank you

John W. Chambers Jr
John W. Chambers Jr
answered on Aug 2, 2017

Without reviewing the document you have received, it is not possible to answer your question. You describe the document as a power of attorney. However, you more likely would have received a document requesting you to consent to the appointment of an executor if your uncle had a will, or consent... View More

2 Answers | Asked in Estate Planning, Banking and Probate for Georgia on
Q: Mom lived in GA for one year and opened up a bank account. When she died, it had under $900 in it, bank won't release.

I'm the one (daughter) who set up account + deposited funds, and live in NY. When I went to NY branch (major bank in practically every state) with death certificate, they told me I had to get court documents from Georgia to show I'm next of kin. She died in GA. Death certificate has my... View More

Robert W. Hughes Jr.
Robert W. Hughes Jr.
answered on Jul 25, 2017

If your mother passed away in New Jersey, you will need to proceed under New Jersey law. If Georgia, then Georgia law. Ultimately, if the bank is located only in New Jersey, you will need to follow New Jersey law to get the money from the bank.

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2 Answers | Asked in Estate Planning for Georgia on
Q: My sisters and I get equal shares of monies from my mother's estate. If I disclaim my share, will my sisters receive it?

The bank from which we are receiving the inheritance states that I have a 14 year old debt to them; they want to keep it out of my share. This would take approximately 1/4 of the money. Had I known of this debt, I would have paid it off years ago, and I did not acknowledge said debt. I want to... View More

John W. Chambers Jr
John W. Chambers Jr
answered on Jul 18, 2017

I am not providing advice about your particular situation. However, here is some general information. There are certain rules required for a person to make a valid renunciation and disclaimer of an interest he or she would inherit from an estate. Generally, if there is a valid disclaimer (i.e.,... View More

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1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning for Georgia on
Q: Why in the state of GA if one heir is missing the other heir doesn't get the money? This is driving me crazy
Robert W. Hughes Jr.
Robert W. Hughes Jr.
answered on Jul 17, 2017

This is not the law. In cases where an heir can't be located, her money is held until she shows up. Your money should be distributed to you.

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning, Family Law and Workers' Compensation for Georgia on
Q: If someone dies before a workmans comp case is settled and dies from complications from the injury does the settlement

settlement become part of his estate/probate? This is in the state of Georgia

Michael Richard Moebes
Michael Richard Moebes
answered on Jul 11, 2017

There have to be dependents for there to be any real money after a death, and the death has to be causally related to the workplace injury. Also, a settlement is never guaranteed in a workers' comp case; lots of cases never settle.

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning for Georgia on
Q: If my sibling signs there right over is they still entitled to the money of my deceased father estate

My dad pass in 2015 and my siblings agree that I be over his estate.When they found out how much money we had to pay to get things going they decided they didn't want to be a part of it so they sign thete rights over...so now since the money have been issue out and i didnt share it with them.... View More

Ben F Meek III
Ben F Meek III
answered on Jun 29, 2017

Ask your lawyer about preparing disclaimers of property interests or some other state-appropriate form of waiver/consent for your siblings (or all of the heirs) to sign, waiving their rights to receive distributions of the estate. As a practical matter, if none of them is going to object to your... View More

2 Answers | Asked in Estate Planning and Real Estate Law for Georgia on
Q: Is a POA that was signed and notarized in 2000 but no withness signature valid for a real estate transaction now?
John W. Chambers Jr
John W. Chambers Jr
answered on Jun 24, 2017

In Georgia, if a power of attorney was signed by the principal and witnessed by only a notary public and not a second witness, it would not be valid for a real estate transaction.

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2 Answers | Asked in Estate Planning and Elder Law for Georgia on
Q: My parents recently updated their will and my dad is getting sicker is under Hospice care and my dad goes before my mom

Mom currently doesn't have a will because of the Alzheimer's my dad only has a will but everything's supposed to go to my mom after in the will after my dad passes who has a lot more physically sick very badly under hospice

Kenneth V Zichi
Kenneth V Zichi
answered on Jun 22, 2017

What exactly is your question? If dad goes first, mom would either inherit everything under his will or if things are owned jointly, there may be no need for probate at all and Mom would just own everything outright. When she goes, if she has no will and can't make one (as seems to be the... View More

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1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning and Real Estate Law for Georgia on
Q: Is the title of property the deed?

All 3 listed on deed are deceased. Would property go to there brother? Or does it matter how title reads. Owner of property had no children.

John W. Chambers Jr
John W. Chambers Jr
answered on Jun 21, 2017

The answer depends on whether the property was owned by the co-owners as joint tenants with right of survivorship or as tenants in common. Whether it was owned by the co-owners as joint tenants with right of survivorship or as tenants in common depends on the language in the deed. I recommend... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning and Real Estate Law for Georgia on
Q: Should the property go to my father. Which is only living siblings. What kind of lawyer would I need to see?

My aunt owned house. Has no children. When she got sick. Her older sister started handling her finances. Including adding her and her husbands name to the deed of property. Now all three have pasted away. My cousin currently lives there free. My father is there brother. He was originally... View More

John W. Chambers Jr
John W. Chambers Jr
answered on Jun 21, 2017

You indicate that you aunt (i.e., the older sister) added the names of her and her husband to the property. If by this, you mean that your aunt who owned the property executed a deed creating a joint tenancy with survivorship with her, her older sister, and the older sister's husband, then on... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning and Probate for Georgia on
Q: Grandmother died 9yrs ago and her Son never Probated the Will. Medicaid will recover from sell of the house/land.

Does the Will need to go thru GA probate if heirs have no right to the house anyway due to lien from Medicaid? Family is wanting to sell the house and estate is still in the name of the deceased. Son is the executor of the Will.

Kenneth V Zichi
Kenneth V Zichi
answered on Jun 14, 2017

You need to consult with a local probate attorney. There are reasons to probate, and reasons why you might NOT want to spend the money to probate, but it is very fact specific and you need real legal advice not something from a Q&A forum.

This SHOULD have been determined 9 years ago,...
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1 Answer | Asked in Civil Litigation, Contracts, Estate Planning, Family Law and Probate for Georgia on
Q: Father left all siblings equal amounts and business shares in will. My siblings are refusing to give me my share in Ky,

In Kentucky. It was in the will

Regina Irene Edwards
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answered on Jun 12, 2017

You need to contact a probate attorney in Kentucky

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning for Georgia on
Q: If you purchase a CD at a bank with a POD can the nursing home get the money in the event that you have to go to a

nursing home?

John W. Chambers Jr
John W. Chambers Jr
answered on Jun 7, 2017

Generally, a certificate of deposit, whether in a pay on death account or not, would be considered the property of the owner of the certificate of deposit. I recommend that you consult with a Medicaid planning attorney to advise you regarding the effect of ownership of the certificate of deposit... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Car Accidents, Estate Planning and Personal Injury for Georgia on
Q: Can a mentally incapacitated person be subject to depositions?

Does a mentally incapacitated person have the capacity to submit to a court order

Kenneth V Zichi
Kenneth V Zichi
answered on Jun 1, 2017

Whoever has been appointed as guardian of the incapacitated person needs to respond. Depending on the nature of the subpoena it MAY be appropriate for the 'incapacitated' person to be deposed. For example, if he/she were the victim of a crime, or eyewitness of a crime, it is VERY... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning and Probate for Georgia on
Q: Who has rights to a deed as a guarantee but it doesn't say, "WITH RIGHTS OF SURVIVORSHIP"

My father died and his wife is a grantee on his house deed but it does not say "with rights of survivorship", does that mean I have rights to his house also? We live in Georgia.

Robert W. Hughes Jr.
Robert W. Hughes Jr.
answered on May 30, 2017

I have never heard of a guarantee on a house deed. I might believe that the wife guaranteed the debt on the house. If the need says that your father is the GRANTEE, then he is the only owner. If the wife is also listed as a GRANTEE along with yoru father, but no words of survivorship exist, then... View More

2 Answers | Asked in Estate Planning for Georgia on
Q: I am single and ready to hire a lawyer to write my Last Will & Testament, which includes leaving my assets to 4 minors.

A Trustee will be named in my Will who will create a separate Trust for each minor after my death. Do Trusts need to be created in my Will or can the Trustee create them after my death?

John W. Chambers Jr
John W. Chambers Jr
answered on May 24, 2017

There are options for leaving assets to minors. When the value of the gift is not significant (for example, less than $10,000), a simple option would be to give the property to a custodian for the minor under the transfers to minors act. While assets having a greater value may be given to a... View More

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2 Answers | Asked in Estate Planning and Probate for Georgia on
Q: My father just died and he did not have a will.

My father just died and he did not have a will. On the deed to his house he is listed as a guarantor and a grantee and his wife is listed as a guarantee. Does this mean the kids don't get anything from the estate?

Robert W. Hughes Jr.
Robert W. Hughes Jr.
answered on May 25, 2017

Whenever someone dies owning property in their name exclusively, an estate needs to be established in order to transfer the assets to the heirs. In your case, your father died intestate (without a will). That means that his wife is entitled to 1/3 of his estate and the children share the... View More

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2 Answers | Asked in Civil Rights, Constitutional Law, Estate Planning and Real Estate Law for Georgia on
Q: If an executor of a will/estate is given power ..Can they sell deceased house?

without beneficiary knowledge of?

John W. Chambers Jr
John W. Chambers Jr
answered on May 16, 2017

I assume you mean that the will grants the executor the power to sell property without court approval, or incorporates the statutory powers. Without such power, an executor would need to petition the probate court for approval to sell the house. Assuming that the executor has been granted the... View More

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1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning and Banking for Georgia on
Q: My children's father passed away. We were never married. My question is by law can i access his bank accounts? Fidelity

We had cs case filed and DNA tests. They are his sole surviving children.

John W. Chambers Jr
John W. Chambers Jr
answered on May 10, 2017

If you were not married to the decedent, you would not be an heir and would not be entitled to inherit anything from him under the laws of intestacy in Georgia. If the bank accounts were solely in his name, you would not have any right to access the bank accounts. This response is designed to... View More

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