Author: Sarah Siedentopf
What Happens If You Lost the Original Will?
You are ready to begin the probate process, but when it comes time to submit your friend or loved one’s will, you cannot find it. What can you do?If you are a named estate executor or an interested person, it is possible to probate a copy of the decedent’s Last Will and Testament. Under Georgia law OCGA § 53-3-6, “if a will is lost during the testator’s life, destroyed without the consent of the testator during the testator’s lifetime, or lost or […]
Video: Signing the New Georgia Power of Attorney Form
We’ve discussed Georgia’s New Power of Attorney Law, now let’s talk about signing the new Power of Attorney form: […]
Video: Georgia’s New Power of Attorney Law
Sarah Siedentopf, an estate planning and probate attorney and founder of The Law Offices of Sarah Siedentopf, LLC, discusses Georgia’s new Power of Attorney Law, OCGA Title 10 Chapter 6b. […]
Protecting Digital Assets: Facebook’s Legacy Contact
Protecting Digital Assets After DeathThis article was previously published in the October 2016 edition of the Atlanta Bar Association’s Atlanta Lawyer Magazine.***UPDATE: Facebook now provides its users the option to memorialize their accounts and appoint a legacy contact. Memorialized accounts are a platform for friends and family to share memories after the account holder has passed away. The word “Remembering” will appear next to the person’s n […]
The Top Three Estate Planning Mistakes
Many people, when they hear the phrase “estate planning,” think of wealthy individuals writing a will to explain who gets property and possessions after they die. Or perhaps some have estate planning on their To Do list, but have not made it a priority. When it comes to protecting yourself, your assets, and your loved ones, there are a lot of misconceptions out there. Here is a look at the top three estate planning mistakes people make:#1 Not having an estate […]
How to Protect Your Child with a Standby Guardian
Many people are familiar with the estate planning term “guardianship,” which is where a parent designates a person to care for his or her child in case of death or permanent disability. However, Georgia law does provide a second guardianship option – which is known as a standby guardianship. A standby guardian legally takes custody of a child in the case of some unforeseen circumstance or triggering event. The parent does not relinquish his or her paren […]
The Importance of Updating Your Beneficiary Designations
A beneficiary designation is a kind of estate plan in that it provides a mechanism for the transfer of assets. These designations are commonly found on life insurance policies, retirement accounts, and even some bank accounts. The person creating the account or policy can identify a beneficiary and, after he or she passes away, the account assets will be paid directly to the beneficiary. These types of accounts often constitute a large portion of a person’s […]
Estate Planning Issues for Generation X
Right in between the headline-making Baby Boomer and Millennial generations is an age group known as Generation X. These individuals were born anywhere between the mid-1960s all the way to the late 1970s. While this specific demographic may be unfamiliar to some, it comprises a significant part of the population. According to a study conducted by Harvard University’s Joint Center for Housing Studies, there are approximately 82 million “Gen X’ers& […]
Estate Planning for Single Parents
The responsibilities associated with being a parent can be extremely challenging. This is especially true for single parents, who shoulder even more of the day-to-day activities and obligations. Concerning estate planning, being a single mother or a single father does present its own set of unique issues. For example, who will take care of the children if the parent is no longer able to? Who will finance the children’s housing, food, and other necessities?&n […]
Georgia’s New Uniform Power of Attorney Act
Georgia’s new “Uniform Power of Attorney Act” goes into effect July 1st. The act aims to modernize the state’s Power of Attorney statute by governing the required contents of the form, when it can be used, and when third parties should accept the form.A Power of Attorney is a document in which one person grants another person the authority to act in his or her place concerning financial or business matters if the grantor is sick or otherwise incapacitated.&nb […]
Handling the Heirlooms – Part Two
Many adults are unprepared to take charge of clearing out their family home and dispersing of the heirlooms and other possessions. This may be because the idea seems overwhelming or because adults are hesitant to sort through another family member’s prized possessions. In part one of this blog, we explained how parents make this process easier for their children by taking an inventory and either starting to distribute items themselves or memorializing their wishes in a […]
