Don't roll the dice with your estate plan. Instead, prepare it properly to help avoid will contests and ensure your wishes are followed.
Category Archives: Estate Planning
Ten Estate Planning Mistakes to Avoid – Episode 3: Picking the Wrong # of People for the Job
In part 3 of this series on estate planning mistakes to avoid, Joel Beck discusses the problem of picking the wrong number of people for the job of executor, trustee, and guardian.
Ten Estate Planning Mistakes To Avoid – Episode 2 – Not Hiring the Right People
In this video series, attorney Joel Beck discusses ten mistakes you want to avoid in your estate planning. In this episode 2, Joel discusses the mistake of not “hiring” the right people to serve in important roles such as executor, trustee, guardian, healthcare agent, and attorney in fact (agent under a power of attorney). But […]
Ten Estate Planning Mistakes to Avoid: Episode 1
In the first video of this series, Joel Beck discusses the biggest mistake in estate planning - not having your own plan.
What if Cinderella’s Stepmother Wasn’t Evil, But Was a Poor Planner? A Tale of Stepchildren in Estate Planning
How does Cinderella relate to Georgia estate planning? The story helps teach a very important lesson: if you want your stepchildren to inherit from you, you must be very intentional with your estate plan. And if you don't have an estate plan, your stepchild will miss out.
Can I disinherit a child in Georgia?
Can I disinherit my child in Georgia? Can I keep them from getting anything under my Will? Joel Beck of The Beck Law Firm, LLC discusses this issue in today's post.
If your Will cannot be found, does it exist?
If your Will is lost, do you even have a Will? Can a copy be used to probate your estate - perhaps even if you destroyed the original intending to revoke it? Joel beck discussed Georgia's law and its presumption of an intent to revoke that arises when an original Will cannot be found.
Estate Tax Update for 2019
The federal estate tax exemption increases for 2019 over the 2018 amount, though the exemption is still set to dramatically decline in January 2026. In this short article, we outline the current and future exemption amounts, and highlight where some risk might still reside for Georgia adults who don't have solid plans in place.
Why do I need a Trustee in my will for my children?
Why is it a bad idea to leave your assets to the person who will raise your children if something happens to you? In today's post, attorney Joel Beck answers that question, and explains why naming a Trustee in your will to manage those assets is a better idea.
“I just need a simple will.”
Joel Beck explains why many people who think they just need a "simple will" really don't, as their situation may be much more complex than they believe.