Our Team of Expert Attorneys Help You Preserve Your Last Wishes
One of the most important steps you will ever take in life is preparing a detailed estate plan. Estate plans distribute your assets to the people and/or charities most important to you, lay out your healthcare instructions for end-of-life care and provide financially for your loved ones. If you fail to leave a will behind, your wishes may not be carried out, and your loved ones may also have to face costly, difficult court proceedings. Our team at Baker & Summy, PC has a combined 25 years of experience assisting clients with creating customized estate plans. We make sure that your assets are safeguarded, giving you peace of mind for what will happen after you pass away.
No matter what age you are or how large your estate is, estate planning should be a priority for every individual with assets such as cash, a car, or a home. Estate planning instruments are legally binding and preserve your wishes. They distribute your assets to designated beneficiaries, appoint guardians for any minor children, reduce estate expenses and taxes, declare your instructions for end-of-life care if you become incapacitated, and eliminate the burden of your family or loved ones having to make these decisions for you.
Our team of estate planning attorneys have years of experience helping people create their estate plans. We possess a deep understanding of estate law that will help you avoid planning pitfalls in the future. You can face the future with confidence after partnering with us, knowing exactly where your assets are going after you are gone.
Our team listens carefully to your desires so that we can help you decide the best estate planning instruments to accomplish them. The main estate planning instruments are:
Our team also assists in probate matters, including estate filings, administration, and dispute resolution. Probate court is designed to ensure that a deceased person’s assets are distributed to the intended beneficiaries and that debts of the decedent are settled. When a person dies, the probate court of the decedent is the venue for estate matters. The Personal Representative of the decedent’s estate, whether it is an Executor nominated in the will or a person nominated by the heirs of a decedent with no will, petitions the probate court to probate the will or appoint an administrator if there is no will. The process is validated by the probate court and an Executor or an Administrator is granted with the powers to disburse the decedent’s estate, according to the terms of the probated will or, if there is no will, then according to the governing laws of Georgia.
If the will is not valid or it is contested, the court reviews and rules on the matter. Will contests are brought on the grounds of fraud, undue influence, lack of capacity, a failure to follow formalities, or cases where there is more than one will presented. You may need a Georgia estate attorney if your interest in a will is contested, or if you wish to contest a will if you suspect any grounds for invalidation. We represent heirs, beneficiaries, personal representatives, executors and administrators in contested matters.
If a person dies without a will, the process in the probate court becomes more complicated. That is why it is so important to create a will; it saves your loved ones from going through a lengthy court process after your death. Our attorneys collaborate with the estate’s Personal Representative or Executor to administer probate duties such as collecting and appraising assets, selling assets to pay debts and taxes and distributing any remaining assets to the intended beneficiaries. We also help you close the estate and obtain a court-ordered discharge from your appointed duties.
Our team of estate planning and probate attorneys understand that planning your financial affairs after your death is a difficult process. Probate court can be especially stressful to navigate. You are not alone. We provide sound legal counsel with compassion and professionalism. You can trust that our team at Baker & Summy, PC will put your physical and financial assets in safe hands so that you never have to worry about the future. Make an appointment today by calling 404-566-4535 or finding us online at basattorneys.com. We look forward to partnering with you.