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Georgia Estate Planning Questions & Answers
1 Answer | Asked in Social Security, Estate Planning, Probate and Public Benefits for Georgia on
Q: Teacher retirement benefits

If the husband dies and leaving the widow the benefits and she dies, who shall the benefits go to?

James L. Arrasmith
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answered on Mar 8, 2024

When a teacher passes away and leaves their retirement benefits to a widow, the next steps regarding the benefits after the widow's death depend on the specific rules of the retirement system. Each retirement system has its own set of policies for the distribution of benefits after the... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning and Probate for Georgia on
Q: My friend died and I paid to bury her. Can I get paid back from her estate before the money is paid to beneficiaries?

I know that she has money in the estate.

James L. Arrasmith
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answered on Feb 23, 2024

In the situation where you've paid for your friend's burial expenses and you believe there are funds in her estate to reimburse you, it's important to understand the legal process for handling debts and distributions from an estate. Generally, creditors, including individuals who... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Criminal Law, Estate Planning, Family Law and Tax Law for Georgia on
Q: How can I find out if I’m a beneficiary to multi investment accounts from my deceased grandma…

I speculated my grandmas original will was swapped for a forged one reflecting my mom as the sole beneficiary and there’s nothing that I could do unless I had the original will, which I did not…

So my mom never informed the brokerage companies of my grandma death nor put it in probate.... View More

James L. Arrasmith
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answered on Jan 26, 2024

I'm sorry for your difficult situation. There are a few options to determine if you are still a designated beneficiary on any of your deceased grandmother's investment accounts:

1) Contact each investment firm directly (e.g. bank, brokerage, etc) providing copies of the death...
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2 Answers | Asked in Estate Planning, Family Law, Immigration Law and Wrongful Death for Georgia on
Q: Can my lawyer set up a bank account for my mother who is now passed and was an illegal alien? My lawyer can’t find a way

My brother passed years ago. My mom and stepdad filed a wrongful death lawsuit, but both passed before the case was won. The proceeds from the case were split in half. One half to the children of my stepdad, and the other half to the children of my mother. The children of my stepdad had no trouble... View More

James L. Arrasmith
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answered on Jan 8, 2024

Setting up a bank account for someone who has passed away, particularly when they were an undocumented immigrant, can be challenging. However, there are alternative solutions to consider.

Since you and your siblings are U.S. citizens, one approach could be to establish an estate or a trust...
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2 Answers | Asked in Estate Planning, Family Law, Immigration Law and Wrongful Death for Georgia on
Q: Can my lawyer set up a bank account for my mother who is now passed and was an illegal alien? My lawyer can’t find a way

My brother passed years ago. My mom and stepdad filed a wrongful death lawsuit, but both passed before the case was won. The proceeds from the case were split in half. One half to the children of my stepdad, and the other half to the children of my mother. The children of my stepdad had no trouble... View More

Agnes Jury
Agnes Jury
answered on Jan 7, 2024

You may be able to apply for an Individal Taxpayer's Identification Number (ITIN) for your mom with which you should be able to open a bank account for her in the USA. If that doesn't work, you could try to start a probate case so the Court can determine that those funds do... View More

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2 Answers | Asked in Estate Planning and Probate for Georgia on
Q: Is my late uncle's wife entitled to his part of the inheritance?

My grandmother passed away a few years ago. Her house was left to her surviving children. Recently, 2 of his siblings passed away, both with leaving children of their own. My dad and his sisters want to do a major renovation on the house, but my uncle's widow is insistent that she's... View More

James L. Arrasmith
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answered on Jan 4, 2024

In Georgia, the rights of a surviving spouse to an inheritance depend on how the estate was structured and the specifics of the will, if there is one. When your grandmother passed away and left her house to her surviving children, the inheritance rights would typically follow her will or, in the... View More

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2 Answers | Asked in Estate Planning and Probate for Georgia on
Q: Is my late uncle's wife entitled to his part of the inheritance?

My grandmother passed away a few years ago. Her house was left to her surviving children. Recently, 2 of his siblings passed away, both with leaving children of their own. My dad and his sisters want to do a major renovation on the house, but my uncle's widow is insistent that she's... View More

James Clifton
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James Clifton
answered on Jan 3, 2024

It depends on whether your grandmother and uncle had a will. If neither of them did, then your uncle's wife and your uncle's children inherit his portion of the property. The husband and children of your aunt who is also deceased are also joint owners of the property. If your uncle or... View More

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1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning and Tax Law for Georgia on
Q: My parents reside in Puerto Rico and want to contribute to my daughter's education. Is there a gift tax exclusion in PR?
James L. Arrasmith
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answered on Dec 25, 2023

In Puerto Rico, like in the United States, there are provisions for gift tax exclusions. Your parents can give gifts up to a certain amount each year without incurring gift tax. As of 2023, the annual gift tax exclusion in the United States is $16,000 per recipient. Since Puerto Rico follows... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning and Probate for Georgia on
Q: What steps should I take to have deeds from my father's home changed to my name I'm his only child he passed last decemb
James Clifton
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James Clifton
answered on Dec 22, 2023

You will need to file probate. The form of probate you need to file depends on whether your father left a will or not. If your father left a will, you will need to probate the will in solemn form. It is usually a better option than probating the will in common form. If your father did not leave a... View More

2 Answers | Asked in Estate Planning and Probate for Georgia on
Q: My father died unexpectedly last December 9th and I am his only child. What type of attorney should I search for and

What steps should I begin taking to have the deeds transferred to my name

James L. Arrasmith
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answered on Dec 23, 2023

In Georgia, handling the estate of a deceased parent, especially transferring property deeds, requires specific legal steps. You should look for an attorney experienced in probate and estate planning. This type of attorney will guide you through the process of administering your father's... View More

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1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning for Georgia on
Q: Can a trust be changed if terms were not applied properly?

My husband had a minors trust that ended when he turned 21 at which time his trust terms indicated that he had a right to terminate the trust and receive all funds from it. He does not remember ever being informed of this, and the terms basically say that he had six months to apply his right of... View More

James Clifton
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James Clifton
answered on Dec 14, 2023

In order to determine what rights your husband has, it would be necessary to review the full terms of the trust. If the trust is governed by the laws of the State of Georgia, it is possible to terminate, amend, or otherwise modify the trust with the consent of all of the beneficiaries. Schedule a... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning and Probate for Georgia on
Q: My domestic partner of 10 years passed away named me as beneficiary on insurance however, no will. Do I have rights?

We have resided together for past 10 years. After the funeral the father told me to stay in the house because that is what his son would have wanted. 3 days later different story he said that he and sister have to sell the house to pay the lawyers. They also have all monies from bank account and... View More

James Clifton
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James Clifton
answered on Dec 10, 2023

If you were not legally married in Georgia or another state, then your rights will be limited to what is in writing. If the life insurance policy lists you as the beneficiary, you will be entitled to the insurance proceeds. Unfortunately, if there is no will, your rights will be limited. Schedule a... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Landlord - Tenant, Estate Planning and Probate for Georgia on
Q: Can a person that is a temporary administrator determine who can live in the deceased’s home or who needs to be evicted?
T. Augustus Claus
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answered on Nov 21, 2023

No, a temporary administrator does not have the authority to determine who can live in the deceased's home or who needs to be evicted. This is because a temporary administrator is only appointed to manage the estate of the deceased until a permanent administrator or executor is appointed. The... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning for Georgia on
Q: Need clarification on obtaining title to vehicle in Georgia after father passed.

Father passed and my brother and I were beneficiaries of his estate. All of his CDs, IRAs and Bank Accounts were included in his will. He had made each of us beneficiary on accounts that we received. He did not include his van and told us to decide between us who would get it. We agreed I... View More

Anthony M. Avery
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answered on Nov 11, 2024

If his Will was probated, then it had a Residuary Clause. That van is bequeathed under that clause as part of the residuary estate.. Executor has duty to distribute the residuary estate.

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning, Intellectual Property, Tax Law and Probate for Georgia on
Q: What does it mean when a property in Bartow county ga goes from the estate to the estate and then attn so and so????

My grandfather's property on his land tax accessor online went from owner: state of so and so then to owner: estate of so and so with ATTN so and so rite under it..... What does that mean???

Anthony M. Avery
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answered on Nov 6, 2024

That is the tax assessor's on line chain of title, which may or may not be correct or complete. Hire a GA attorney to search the title and explain to you the title.

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning and Legal Malpractice for Georgia on
Q: Is it a conflict of interest for an attorney that has been fired from an estate account to advise and assist w/next pr?

I hired my father's attny to advise me during my father's probate of his estate. The attorney ultimately held my dad's 401 k check for ransom basically, causing me to bounce checks to bounce checks that were written on the estate account so I fired him. He then had me removed as the... View More

Anthony M. Avery
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answered on Oct 11, 2024

There may be a conflict of interest for the attorney if he actually represented you, then represented someone else against you. But he may claim he represents the Estate. You should have brought this up when he moved to remove you as PR. The State Bar might be interested.

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning for Georgia on
Q: If you tore your will half. Because you got mad at fighting of children. Dont want to revokeit. Can u glue it be legal.
Anthony M. Avery
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answered on Sep 11, 2024

Do not glue it back! That would be an easy contest. Hire a lawyer to draft and execute a new Will, even if it is the same as the old one.

1 Answer | Asked in Divorce, Estate Planning and Probate for Georgia on
Q: Divorced couple had a settlement but without knowledge ex spouse never removed her name from the deed. She has passed

The ex wants to sell and asked for the death certificate. My question is , can the ex husband sell the home and take all of the proceeds? This is in Georgia

Regina Irene Edwards
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answered on Sep 3, 2024

There is not enough information to answer your question. A lot depends on what was written in the settlement agreement regarding who would get the home. You need to consult with an attorney who can review the divorce documents and give you advice.

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning, Probate and Real Estate Law for Georgia on
Q: Can a probate lawyer be "retained" before an estate owner passes.
James Clifton
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James Clifton
answered on Sep 2, 2024

Yes, any heir may retain counsel prior to the passing of the individual that the heir may inherit from. If you anticipate that the estate may be contested, it would be in your best interest to retain counsel yourself.

Schedule a free consultation to make sure that your inheritance is protected.

1 Answer | Asked in Divorce, Estate Planning, Family Law and Probate for Georgia on
Q: Can alimony in arrears at the time of an ex-spouse's death be claimed against his probated estate in GA?

Is there case law in which an estate was required to pay alimony arrearages?

James Clifton
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James Clifton
answered on Aug 29, 2024

Alimony can be claimed against an estate. The priority of alimony is set by statute, OCGA 53-7-40. Alimony falls under judgments and is 6th in priority under the statute.

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