As promised in the previous discussion of probate, we will now address the topic of avoiding this thing called probate.

But first, a pop quiz.  True or False:

1. Probate is not necessary if you die without a will?
2. If you have a will, then probate will be necessary?
3. Probate is necessary if you own property that is worth more than $1million?

If you answered false to all of the above, then you would be right – and really smart!

In a nutshell, determining if probate is necessary does not depend on whether or not you have a will or how much property you have; instead it is determined by how the property is titled. There are 3 basic ways to title property

1. in your name only
2. jointly with another
3. in trust for another

Property in your name only

Having property in your name only gives you maximum control and protection over that property, but it also presents the most problems when you die.  Under this scenario, more likely than not, probate will be necessary to transfer your property over to your beneficiaries, even if there is a will.  As mentioned previously, probate can be expensive and which could reduce the amount of assets available to be transferred to the people you want to have them.

So what do you do?  Quick and easy answer: title your property so that it automatically goes to your beneficiaries.  The most common way to do this is to hold the property jointly with another person.

Property titled jointly with another person

Bank accounts, securities, automobiles, and real property can all be owned by 2 or more people.  When one person dies, the survivor continues to own their share of the property.  But what about the dead person’s share of the property – who owns that?  Let’s look at a few examples:

• The Joint Bank Account:  Unless the agreement with the bank states differently, a joint bank account usually has rights of survivorship, which means that when one account holder dies, the surviving account holder will own the account completely.  Many married couples used joint bank accounts.
• The Beneficiary Account:  If you are unmarried, or you do not want another person to have full access of your bank account until after you die, then you can open a beneficiary account.  There are 2 types of beneficiary accounts: (1) In Trust For (“ITF”), and (2) Pay on Death (“POD”).  In an ITF account, you direct the bank to hold your account for one or more beneficiaries that you name.  In a POD account, you have a contract with the bank that directs the bank to “pay on death” all of the money in the account to one or more beneficiaries that you have desiginated.
• Joint Tenants of Real Property:  If you have real property that you own with another person, it is important to inspect the deed of that property to see how the property is titled.  If you own it as joint tenants, and if one person dies, the surviving person will own the property 100% and nothing further needs to happen to establish that ownership (i.e., probate is not necessary).  On the other hand, if you own the property as tenants in common, then the property share of the person who dies will go to the person(s) named in the will.  If there are 2 or more people owning property, and there is no mention on the deed as to how the property is held by those people, the law will presume the property is held as tenants in common.  If you own real property in your name only or as a tenant in common, some sort of probate will be necessary in order to transfer the property to the beneficiary.

Property held in trust for another person

Have you heard the terms “revocable living trust” and “inter vivos trust?”  They describe the same thing – a trust that is designed to care for your property during your lifetime and then to distribute your property once you die without the need for probate.  The trust only works for those items you actually place in the trust.  To avoid any mistakes or any left out property, a pour over will is usually created along with a revocable living trust.

Now that you know how to avoid probate – should you?

There are several pros and cons to avoiding probate.  In a few situations, simply having a will may be enough.  Estate planning is not an “all or nothing” choice – you can arrange your estate to best fit your situation.  When dealing with revocable living trusts, determining the best way to title property and deciding whether to avoid probate, it is usually advisable to talk with an experienced estate planning attorney.  Peace of mind can go along way in the estate planning process…

Somewhat off topic, but if you are a person interested in charitable activities, then this one is for you.

As some of you may know, I just completed the Virginia Beach Rock N’ Roll Half-Marathon during the Labor Day holiday weekend.  Yay, me!  My first half-marathon was earlier this year at the Nashville Country Music Half-Marathon.  At both races, I received a “finisher’s medal” – a medal given to each and every person who crosses the finish line, regardless of time.  Its a great idea – you get a wonderful sense of accomplishment strutting around with a medal hanging from your neck… even if you cannot walk straight for the next few hours…

In the October 2008 Runner’s World, there is a wonderful article that offers a suggestion on what to do with all those clunky medals once they start collecting dust with your old and discarded running shoes.  Donate them to Medals4Mettle, a nonprofit organization that collects race medals and donates them to people battling illnesses.  According to the article, most medals go to children’s hospitals.

“Dr. Walsh, medical director of the cardiac transplant program at St. Vincent Hospital in Indianapolis, hands out about five medals a year to patients who have traveled a particularly difficult road.  ‘I say: I would like to give you this medal.  It’s my recognition of your struggle,’ Dr. Walsh says.  ‘Later, my patients have told me that it meant the world to them to have their doctor acknowledge how hard their battle is.’”

In reading the article, I felt particularly blessed to be physically able to run both half-marathons.  I will be donating both of my medals, hoping that it can lift the spirits of a person who does not have the luxury of being able to run.  A quote in the article says it best: “The children who battle deadly diseases are far more deserving of this medal than I am … they deserve to be honored and cured.”

If you are a runner and have medals just hanging around, and you would like more information about Medals4Mettle, visit www.medals4mettle.org.

So we probably all have a pretty good idea what a will is – but what is this thing called probate? And does it apply to you? And, while we’re at it, what is all this talk about avoiding probate?

Probate is basically the legal process of transferring property after a person’s death. Well, what about the will, you may ask – isn’t the will used to transfer the property? Technically, yes, but have you heard the expression “probating the will?” When a person “probates a will,” what they are doing is showing to the Probate Court that the decedent (the person who died) followed all legal formalities when they made their will.

If the will was done right, an executor is named to settle the estate. The typical duties of an executor include collecting all of the decedent’s property, paying all debts owed by the estate, collecting any income or money owed to the estate, settling any disputes, and finally distributing all remaining property to the persons named in the will (a.k.a., heirs).

If the will does not name an executor, then the Probate Court will name a person to settle the estate. This may or may not be the same person the decedent would have wanted to settle his/her affairs, but this is just another reason why having a proper will is important.

The process of “avoiding probate” is usually done with the intention of saving everyone involved a lot of time and money. The process of probate usually carries with it several layers of expenses, all of which are paid out of the estate. The typical probate costs include executor/administrator fees, attorney fees and court fees. Obviously, the less the probate expenses, the more property there will be to pass on to the people to whom the decedent wanted it go.

UPCOMING BLOG POST – How can Probate be Avoided?

As a follow up to the story about the widow suing her children, this would be a good time to explain exactly what intestacy is, and how you may be affected by it.

A person who dies without a will is said to have died “intestate.” In such a situation, the court decides what is to happen to the person’s money and property. In Georgia an administrator may be appointed by the probate court to take possession of the estate, pay all debts, and then distribute the remaining property to the heirs.

Now, it is very important that you do not confuse “heirs” with “beneficiaries.” Heirs are those living individuals who are determined by law to have the right to take the property of the person who died. Beneficiaries are those persons who have been named in a will who will receive property because the person wanted them to.

Under Georgia law, if you die without a will, the law designates the following people as your heirs:

1. If married with no children, then to your spouse
2. If married and with children, then equal shares to your spouse and to your children, though the spouse cannot receive less than a 1/3 share
3. If unmarried but with children, then to the children
4. If unmarried and no children, then to the following living relatives (in order of those still living)

• Parents
• Siblings
• Nieces or nephews
• Grandparents
• Uncles and aunts
• First cousins

This breakdown simply covers where your property will go after you die – we will save the issue of taxes, fees and attorney/court costs for another discussion.

Needless to say, the court’s idea of how to distribute your hard-earned money and property may not be the same way you would like to see it happen. You have worked so hard for what you have during your lifetime  – please take the time out of your busy life and plan your estate. You will give yourself peace of mind that, not only will your assets be distributed to the persons you want, but you will also save your family and friends a lot of possible frustration and headache, not to mention money and time.

“The dog days of summer.” Ever wondered what that actually meant? Well, come to find out, the “dog days” are from July 3 to August 11. They are named after Sirius, the Dog Star, in the constellation Canis Major, which shines most brightly during this period of time. The ancient Greeks and Romans believed the star was responsible for the heat and blamed it for droughts, sickness and other “discomforts.”

Who knew?

Ok, so this has nothing to do with life or death here in Georgia. BUT, it does offer a prime example of why you should never die without a will. Read on:

According to a news story from the UK, the widow of a millionaire businessman is suing her own children (ages 1 and 3) over her husband’s fortune. He died without a will, leaving an estate worth £2,231,201. Under the intestacy laws in the United Kingdom, his wife is entitled to £125,000 and the rest of the assets will go to the children. There also seems to be another family member involved who may be trying to gain from the will financially, and it may be that the widow/mother is suing her children to protect their assets from this other person.

It is unlikely that the husband/father ever intended for his estate to cause such a litigation mess. Unfortunately, with just a little planning, all of it could have been prevented.

Regardless of how much money or property you have, a will is much too easy not to prepare. This one simple document can prevent conflicts you may not even be aware of between family members. And instead of assuming how your money and property will be divided between your family, you will know for certain. Now that is peace of mind!

Estate planning is a process. It involves 2 things:
1. People (you, your family and friends, and sometimes charities)
2. Your Assets (all of your property)

No matter how much money you have or what kind of assets you own, estate planning is important for everyone. It allows you, while you are still living, to ensure that all of your property will go to the people you want, in the way you want and when you want. It enables you to save as much as possible on taxes, court costs and attorneys’ fees, and it permits your loved ones to mourn your loss without being burdened with unnecessary legal red tape and financial confusion.

If you are a parent of a minor child, estate planning is especially important. It enables you to choose the person who will serve as guardian to your child if something were to happen to you. Generally, if only one parent dies, the other parent will maintain custody of the child. But, if you are a single parent or if both parents die at the same time, if you have not designated a person to take care of your child, the court will and the court may not chose the same person you would have chosen.

The most common documents in an estate plan include the following:

• Will
• Trust
• Power of Attorney for Finances
• Advanced Directive for Health Care (also known as a Living Will)

We will discuss each of these in the days coming.

Hello world! Welcome to Life & Death in Georgia!

The reason for this blog is twofold:

1. An educated client is the BEST client. It is important for me that my clients (and potential clients) have peace of mind when it comes to their estate planning goals and needs. The more they understand about the process, the easier it is for me to provide the best legal service I can.

2. Its not all about death and taxes – you have to enjoy life at the same time (and before its over). So even though the main purpose of this blog is to be educational, it will also be entertaining as I share some of the interesting (and sometimes humorous) day-to-day happenings of life in Georgia.

So enjoy, and if you happen to find yourself needing an estate planning attorney – I’m your girl!