Legacy Endowment Estate Planning by Elizabeth Murphey

Revocable Living Trusts

Trusts are versatile tools for managing estates of all sizes at any point during your life. They provide asset protection for personal and business assets and allow you to customize how you pass on your legacy to your loved ones. Assets held in a trust avoid probate which keeps your estate out of Probate Court, saves time, and reduces costs. Unlike wills, trusts are private and are not filed with the Court in Georgia, offering confidentiality regarding asset distribution and beneficiaries. Trusts can protect and manage assets in the event of incapacity, ensuring continuity of financial affairs without the need for court intervention. We offer Supplemental Needs Trusts to support individuals currently receiving benefits and for those that may need assistance with benefit and asset protection in the future.

Last Will & Testament

Wills are essential legal documents that ensure your assets are distributed as you wish and provide for your loved ones at the time of your passing. Without a will, state laws (intestancy laws) determine how your assets are distributed, which may not align with your wishes. Additionally, wills allow you to appoint guardians for minor children, appoint a trusted individual to carry out your wishes, avoid family disputes, and, overall, offer peace of mind that your wishes are known and can be carried out accordingly. 

Estate Planning

Our firm is dedicated to preserving legacies and securing futures. Our comprehensive approach to estate planning guides you through the process to determine what plan is best suited for your unique needs. We know the legalese can be confusing, overwhelming, and off-putting. We're here to make it accessible and affordable to plan for you and your family's future. Whether your goal is to secure assets for a future generation or protect business assets, our firm can offer you a guided, step-by-step planning process to ensure your specific needs are met. 

Deeds and Property Transfers

We offer easy, flat-fee property deeds for real property throughout Georgia. Our experienced staff makes the process transparent and efficient to secure your property. We specialize in property transfers to trusts. Placing your property in a trust can provide asset protection, avoid probate, offer control and flexibility, facilitate incapacity planning, and potentially provide tax benefits, making it an important component of comprehensive estate planning. We also provide efficient quitclaim deeds if you simply need to transfer part or all of a property to another person or entity. 

Probate

Probate in Georgia is the legal process through which a deceased person's assets are distributed and their debts are paid under court supervision. The main purposes of probate are to ensure that the deceased person's property is distributed according to their will or the state's intestacy laws (if there is no will), and to provide a forum for resolving any disputes that may arise regarding the distribution of assets. The probate process can vary depending on the size and complexity of the estate, heir disputes, challenges to the validity of a will, and more. We handle a variety of probate matters throughout Georgia. Whether you're starting from the beginning or need help along the way, our staff can guide you through the process. 

Powers of Attorney, Advance Healthcare Directives, and HIPAA Authorizations

If you're not looking for a comprehensive estate plan, our team can provide you with the specific legal services you need at this point in time. If you only need a Power of Attorney, Advance Healthcare Directive, or HIPAA Authorization, we're happy to assist you.