Estate Planning
Download our Will Worksheet - This will assist us in drafting your estate planning documents
Estate Planning
Whether it's ensuring proper funds set aside for a college education, preserving the family home, or ensuring that family heirlooms reach the appropriate person, we can help.
At Dixon and Lasseter, Attorneys at Law, P.C., we understand how important estate planning is to our clients and their loved ones. We focus upon understanding your particular goals and concerns to prepare an estate plan that is right for you. We know the peace of mind that comes from having a properly prepared estate plan that will work for you while you are alive, if you are incapacitated, and after you are gone.
Some of the specific planning tools and services we provide include:
- Simple and Complex Wills
- Codicils
- Revocable Living Trusts
- General and Limited Powers of Attorney
- Appointments of Health Care Representatives
- Living Wills
- Guardianships
- Conservatorships
- Irrevocable Trusts
- Advanced Heath Care Directives
- Gun Trusts
- Business Plans
- LLC Creation
- Business Operating Agreements
Whether you are looking for an experienced attorney to assist you with a loved one's estate or are thinking about establishing your own estate plan, contact our team to arrange a time to discuss your needs.
Estate planning can be a complex and intimidating process, but having a trusted advisor by your side to guide you through and explain each step of the process while you make these important decisions can alleviate at least some of the pressure. We are ready to be that advisor for your family.
Get Step by Step Guidance
We strive to make the estate planning process as smooth and simple as possible. We begin by providing you with planning forms that allows us to learn about your assets, liabilities, and potential beneficiaries. Then, after reviewing your intake forms, we schedule a confidential meeting with you to provide advice regarding potential planning techniques. This allows us to ensure that we fully understand your intent, while at the same time, confirming the best plan for you. Then, we efficiently draft all necessary documents to put your new plan in place, and set a time for your execution of the documents in our office.
Document Retention
We provide you with several copies of any documents that you execute in our office. We also scan a copy which we keep in our files, just in case you ever misplace your copy (or if there is ever a contest about what was in the original version). We also provide detailed instructions regarding how to store your documents, and who should receive a copy for safe keeping
What is probate?
When a person dies with a will, that person is called a “testator” (meaning, with a last testament) When a person dies without a will, they are called “intestate” (meaning without a last testament).
The word probate stems from the Latin term probare, which means “to prove.” Every will in Georgia must be admitted to probate to prove that it is, in fact, the last will and testament of the testator.
What is a Will?
The document a person signs to provide for the orderly disposition of assets after death. Wills do not avoid probate. Wills have no legal authority until the will maker dies and the original will is delivered to the Probate Court. Still, everyone with minor children needs a will. It is the only way to appoint the new “parent” of an orphaned child. Special testamentary trust provisions in a will can provide for the management and distribution of assets for your heirs.
What is a Living Will?
Sometimes called an Advance Medical Directive, a living will allows you to state your wishes in advance regarding what types of medical life support measures you prefer to have, or have withheld/withdrawn if you are in a terminal condition (without reasonable hope of recovery) and cannot express your wishes yourself. Oftentimes a living will is executed along with a Durable Power of Attorney for Health care, which gives someone legal authority to make your health care decisions when you are unable to do so yourself.
What is a Trust?
A Trust is either a stand alone document or a provision within a will that allows for funds to be used for the benefit of someone other than the person making the trust (or will). For example, if a person leaves $100 to their minor child to be held in trust, then the person names a Trustee who will in turn care for the money and spend it wisely for the benefit of the minor child.