Comprehensive Estate Planning Serving Metro Atlanta
No matter how small or large, everyone has an estate. If you own a home, possess a car, have savings and/or have established a retirement plan, you need to make sure your wishes are documented if something happens to you. Securing a clear plan for the distribution of your assets and the care set in place for you protects your property and health interests.
At Scroggin & Burns, LLC, we have helped clients plan the distribution of their estates for more than 30 years. With our firm, you are assured of comprehensive and insightful estate planning assistance.
Full-Service Estate Planning
A well-crafted estate plan removes uncertainty and gives you confidence that your wishes will be honored. At Scroggin & Burns, LLC, our approach combines thorough client counseling with precise legal drafting. Depending on your needs, your plan may incorporate the following essential tools:
- Trusts: From spendthrift trusts to preserving generational wealth through dynasty trusts, we advise on a full spectrum of trust arrangements, including irrevocable life insurance trusts, disclaimer trusts, spousal lifetime access trusts, marital trusts, spousal access trusts, testamentary trusts and Crummey trusts.
- Wills: Designating who receives your assets upon your passing.
- Medical directives: Documenting your healthcare preferences in the event you are unable to speak for yourself.
- Powers of attorney: Naming a trusted individual to manage your financial and medical decisions if you become incapacitated.
- Probate: Guiding families through the legal process of administering an estate after a loved one’s death.
We also provide counsel on a wide range of estate planning matters. These include:
- Retirement plan beneficiary designations
- Life insurance beneficiary designations
- Family business succession planning
- Estate tax and income tax minimization
- Premortem and postmortem income and estate tax planning
- Advising fiduciaries, executors and trustees
- Rule against perpetuities counsel
- Family incentive trusts
- Family love letters
- Gifts on estate tax returns, including returns for portability
- Probate
Whatever your estate planning needs may be, our firm has the depth of experience and breadth of knowledge to guide you toward the right solutions.
Common Questions About Georgia Estate Planning
Estate planning raises many questions, especially for those starting the process for the first time. Here are answers to a few of the questions we hear most often.
Does everyone really need an estate plan?
Yes. Regardless of the size of your estate, a plan ensures your assets go to the right people and your healthcare wishes are respected. Without one, Georgia’s intestacy laws will dictate how your property is distributed.
What is the difference between a will and a trust?
A will takes effect at death and must pass through the Georgia probate process. A trust can take effect immediately, may allow your estate to bypass probate and gives you greater control over how and when assets are distributed.
How often should I update my estate plan?
Life changes and so should your plan. Marriage, divorce, the birth of a child or a significant shift in assets are all good reasons to revisit your estate plan.
Solutions-Oriented Representation
At our firm, we don’t believe in offering technical answers that you may not even understand. We focus on what strategies will work for your particular needs and practical solutions to real areas of concern. We will take the time to go over the numbers and documents with you to ensure that you understand your estate plan and the options that you have available to you.
Contact our office by email today or phone the firm at 770-884-7197 to discuss your plans for the future.