You should never fall for the myth that you do not need estate planning simply because you are not married or do not have any children. Without considering your personal estate planning needs, you run the risk that you or your loved ones may not be prepared upon your disability or death. Speaking with a… Read More »
Blog Posts Page 6
How to Select an Executor for Your Estate
You should never minimize the decision of who will serve as the executor of your estate or trustee of your trust after you pass away. It is important to engage in a careful thought process before making this decision, and a counseling-based estate planning attorney is a great place to start. Your executor might be… Read More »
What You Need to Know About Underage/Immature Beneficiaries in Georgia
Grandparents hoping to leave their legacy behind for grandchildren may run into various legal issues if those grandchildren are not of the age of majority. Furthermore, when we really talk to clients, most feel that the legal age of majority of 18 is not enough maturity to leave that grandchild a significant gift. A Georgia… Read More »
Four Steps to Helping an Elderly Loved One Who Needs More Assistance
When one of your older relatives shows signs of needing more help, you will most likely think of the day to day practical matters first such as dealing with medication and transportation options to get this loved one to physicians or the hospital. While these are certainly valid questions that should be addressed immediately, there… Read More »
Passwords and Planning
Years ago, before online banking, finding financial records was as ‘easy’ as searching for that old shoebox stuffed with check registers and financial statements in your home office/kitchen. These days bank accounts accessed online require passwords and often multiple layers of security. According to one 2013 study by a national bank 87% of high net… Read More »
Big Changes in Medicare for 2016, with More on the Horizon
The times, they are a-changin’. And now so is Medicare. If your perception of Medicare is that it’s a behemoth system, mired in red tape and utterly resistant to change, you aren’t alone. But in 2016, it seems, we’re in for a Medicare surprise. Of course, it isn’t unusual for bureaucracy to ring in the… Read More »
Will 2016 Mark the Turning Point in the Battle Against Dementia?
Here’s a fascinating fact: Every year, the Queen of England sends a personal message of congratulations to the people in her country who’ve just turned 100. In 1952, she sent 3,000 of the messages. Last month, she sent almost 15,000. We are living longer. Nearly every major threat to our health has suffered a serious… Read More »
Watson named Partner at Bennett Watson Trust, Estate & Elder Law, LLC.
Valdosta, GA—Marnie Watson has been named a Partner at Bennett Watson Trust, Estate & Elder Law, LLC. The firm will now be known as Bennett Watson Trust, Estate & Elder Law, LLC. “Since joining our firm in 2007, Marnie has earned the trust and respect of hundreds of families in the Valdosta area,” said John… Read More »
Waiting to Make an Estate Plan? Know the Risks.
The estate planning problem is the same for most people — they know they should do it, and they plan to do it someday. Just not today. Of course, today becomes tomorrow, and tomorrow becomes next month, and so on. Procrastination can quickly become an eternity. Eternity is exactly what we don’t have. Everyone who delays… Read More »
The Best New Year’s Resolution: Plan for Your Future
‘Tis the season for making promises to yourself — and, alas, for breaking them. Research shows that most people break their New Year’s resolutions within the first seven weeks or so. The intentions are noble, but the follow-through is so much harder. This season, we encourage you to adopt a different kind of resolution — one that… Read More »