Only approximately 40% of Americans have a will, according to the AARP. If you’re among the majority without an estate plan, you’re leaving your family’s future to chance. Life Well Lived Law Group, LLC provides comprehensive estate planning services to residents of Lawrenceville, Gwinnett County, and the greater Atlanta area, helping you protect your assets and secure your family’s financial future.
Let’s start by discussing your goals and situation. Call us today at (678) 272-5785 to set up your consultation with Life Well Lived.
Key Benefits of Estate Planning in Georgia
Estate planning provides crucial protection for you and your family. Here are the most important benefits of having a comprehensive estate plan in Georgia:
Ensure Your Property Goes Where You Want It
Without a will or trust, Georgia’s intestacy laws decide who inherits your assets. These laws may not match your wishes, especially for blended families or if you want to leave assets to friends or charities.
Save Money During Probate
A well-designed estate plan can significantly reduce probate costs and court fees. Give more of your hard-earned money to your family instead of paying unnecessary legal expenses and court costs.
Reduce Family Conflicts and Legal Challenges
Clear estate planning documents reduce the likelihood of disputes that can tear families apart and drain your estate through expensive litigation. When you’ve documented your wishes clearly and officially, there’s less room for disagreement.
Gain Peace of Mind
Sleep better knowing you have a solid plan in place. Estate planning provides confidence that your family will be protected no matter what happens to you.
Spare Your Family from Difficult Decisions
An estate plan removes the burden from your loved ones during an already emotional time. They won’t have to guess what you would have wanted or make difficult financial decisions under stress.
Protect Minor Children
Name guardians for your children so you decide who raises them if something happens to you. Without this planning, the court makes this crucial decision.
Minimize Tax Burden
Strategic estate planning can reduce income taxes, estate taxes, and other tax consequences for your beneficiaries, preserving more of your wealth for your family.
Maintain Privacy
Unlike wills that become public record during probate, trusts and other estate planning tools can keep your family’s financial affairs private.
Why Georgia Families Need Estate Planning Now More Than Ever
Financial anxiety has reached historic highs, with 79% of Americans more concerned about their financial future than they were last year. Without proper estate planning, your loved ones could face expensive probate proceedings, family disputes, and uncertainty about your wishes.
Georgia’s unique estate planning landscape offers both opportunities and challenges. Unlike many states with complex probate requirements, Georgia has streamlined probate laws that make estate planning more accessible.
However, this doesn’t mean you should skip planning entirely. Recent changes, including Georgia’s new Transfer-on-Death Deed law effective July 1, 2024, have created new opportunities for asset protection that require professional guidance to implement correctly.
The Cost of Not Estate Planning
Without proper estate planning, your family faces several risks:
- Intestacy laws: If you die without a will, Georgia’s intestacy laws determine who inherits your property. These laws may not reflect your wishes and can create family conflicts.
- Probate costs: While Georgia probate is more affordable than many states, it still involves court fees, attorney costs, and time delays. The process typically takes eight months to a year.
- Family disputes: Without clear instructions, family members may disagree about your intentions, leading to expensive litigation and permanent relationship damage.
- Tax consequences: Poor planning can result in unnecessary estate taxes and income tax burdens for your beneficiaries.
Georgia’s Unique Estate Planning Advantages
Georgia offers several advantages for estate planning that many residents don’t realize:
Simplified Probate Process
Unlike states like California or New York, Georgia has streamlined probate procedures. the Georgia Probate Code allows many estates to avoid formal probate entirely. Small estates under certain thresholds can use simplified procedures, and well-drafted wills can waive many court requirements.
Transfer-on-Death Deeds
Georgia’s new Transfer-on-Death (TOD) Deed law, effective July 2024, allows real estate to pass directly to beneficiaries without probate. This is particularly valuable for families wanting to keep property in the family while avoiding court proceedings.
Homestead Exemption
Georgia provides substantial homestead exemptions that protect your primary residence from creditors. Proper planning can maximize these protections for your family. Note: The homestead exemption provides substantial bankruptcy protection but only limited creditor protection outside bankruptcy.
Georgia Estate and Gift Tax Considerations
While Georgia doesn’t impose a state estate tax, the federal estate tax still applies to larger estates. For 2025, the federal estate tax exemption is substantial, but proper planning is still important because:
- The exemption is scheduled to change in 2026.
- Income taxes on inherited assets can be significant.
- State estate taxes may apply to out-of-state property.
- Generation-skipping transfer taxes apply to some family structures.
When You Need an Estate Planning Attorney
While online will-making services are popular, they often fall short of addressing your specific wishes and circumstances. Personal and complex situations require professional guidance. You need an experienced estate planning attorney if you have:
- Assets worth more than $100,000
- Business interests or professional practices
- Real estate in multiple states
- Blended families with children from previous relationships
- Special needs family members
- Concerns about family disputes or will contests, OR
- Tax planning needs for larger estates.
Why Choose Life Well Lived Law Group for Your Estate Planning
Experienced Georgia estate planning Attorney Tyler Comer and the team at Life Well Lived Law Group understand that estate planning is about more than legal documents. It’s about protecting your family and preserving your legacy. Our approach combines technical expertise with compassionate guidance during what can be an emotionally difficult process.
Local Knowledge, Personal Service
As a Lawrenceville-based firm serving Gwinnett County, we understand the unique needs of local families. We know the local probate courts, understand Georgia law thoroughly, and maintain relationships with other professionals you may need, including financial advisors, accountants, and insurance agents.
Comprehensive Planning
We don’t just prepare documents – we help you create a comprehensive plan that coordinates all aspects of your estate. This includes reviewing beneficiary designations on retirement accounts and life insurance, discussing asset titling options, and ensuring your plan adapts to changing circumstances.
Ongoing Relationship
Estate planning isn’t a one-time event. We maintain ongoing relationships with our clients, providing updates when laws change and helping modify plans as family circumstances evolve.
Comprehensive Estate Planning Services in Gwinnett County
Wills and Testaments
Legal guidance is important in crafting a will, as Georgia law requires specific formalities for a valid will. Under Georgia Code Title 53, your will must be in writing and signed by you or someone designated by you in the presence of two witnesses who also sign the document. Unlike many states, Georgia doesn’t require notarization, but proper execution is crucial to avoid contests later.
We draft comprehensive wills that:
- Clearly identify your beneficiaries and their inheritances
- Name guardians for minor children
- Appoint trusted executors to carry out your wishes
- Include specific powers to minimize probate complications
- Address potential family conflicts before they arise.
Trust Planning and Administration
While only 13% of Americans have living trusts, these estate planning tools offer significant benefits for asset protection and tax planning. Trusts are particularly valuable for families with estates over $100,000, blended families, or those owning property in multiple states.
At Life Well Lived Group, our trust services include:
- Revocable living trusts: These allow you to stay in control of your assets in your lifetime while avoiding probate and providing privacy for your family. Unlike many other states, Georgia’s probate process is relatively user-friendly, but trusts still offer advantages for larger estates or complex family situations.
- Irrevocable life insurance trusts (ILITs): These help exclude life insurance proceeds from the taxable part of your estate while allowing liquidity to pay estate taxes and support your beneficiaries.
- Special needs trusts: These protect assets for disabled family members without affecting their eligibility for government benefits.
- Asset protection trusts: For high-net-worth individuals, these trusts can protect assets from creditors and lawsuits.
Powers of Attorney and Healthcare Directives
Georgia law recognizes both financial and healthcare powers of attorney. These documents become crucial if you become incapacitated and unable to make decisions for yourself.
- Durable financial power of attorney: This document grants your chosen agent the authority to manage your financial affairs, including paying bills and making investment decisions. Georgia law allows broad or limited powers, depending on your preferences.
- Healthcare power of attorney and living will: These documents ensure your medical wishes are followed if you cannot communicate them yourself. Georgia’s Advance Directive for Health Care statute allows you to specify your preferences for life-sustaining treatment.
Estate Planning for Different Life Stages
Young Families
New parents need estate planning most urgently. Our basic estate planning packages include wills, naming guardians for minor children, powers of attorney, and healthcare directives. We also help establish trusts to manage inheritances if both parents die while the children are minors.
Growing Families
As your assets grow, we help implement more sophisticated strategies. This might include revocable trusts to avoid probate, life insurance planning to provide liquidity, and business succession planning if you own a company.
Pre-Retirees
Families approaching retirement need comprehensive planning that coordinates estate planning with retirement planning. We work with your financial advisors to ensure your estate plan supports your retirement goals while minimizing taxes.
Blended Families
Second marriages with children from previous relationships create unique challenges. We help structure plans that provide for your current spouse while ensuring your children receive their inheritance.
Working With Other Professionals
Estate planning works best when coordinated with your other advisors. We regularly collaborate with:
- Financial advisors: To ensure your estate plan supports your retirement and investment goals
- CPAs: To minimize tax consequences and coordinate gift and estate tax planning
- Insurance agents: To evaluate life insurance needs and beneficiary designations
- Trust Officers: When ongoing trust administration is needed.
Digital Assets and Modern Estate Planning
Modern estate planning must address digital assets including:
- Social media accounts
- Digital photos and videos stored in the cloud
- Cryptocurrency holdings
- Online business assets
- Digital subscription services
At Life Well Lived, we help clients create comprehensive digital asset inventories and ensure proper access for family members.
Common Estate Planning Mistakes to Avoid
Procrastination
Procrastination is the top reason people don’t have estate plans, with 43% of respondents saying they “just haven’t gotten around to it.” Don’t wait until it’s too late.
DIY Documents
While online forms are tempting, they often lack the customization needed for Georgia law and your specific situation. Improperly executed documents can be invalid or create unintended consequences.
Failing to Update Plans
Life changes require plan updates. Marriage, divorce, births, deaths, and significant asset changes all necessitate estate plan revisions.
Ignoring Beneficiary Designations
Retirement accounts and life insurance pass by beneficiary designation, not your will. These designations must coordinate with your overall plan.
Not Communicating with Family
Your family should understand your wishes and know where to find important documents. Consider family meetings to discuss your plans.
Estate Planning During Uncertain Times
The recent pandemic highlighted the importance of estate planning, yet estate planning document ownership actually decreased from 33% in 2022 to 24% in 2025. Don’t let current events distract from protecting your family’s future.
Recent economic uncertainty makes estate planning even more critical. Financial anxiety is at historic highs, and families need the security that comes from proper planning.
Getting Started With Estate Planning
The estate planning process begins with understanding your goals and current situation. During your initial consultation, we’ll:
- Review your current assets and family situation
- Discuss your goals for asset distribution and family protection
- Explain Georgia law as it applies to your situation
- Recommend appropriate planning strategies
- Provide clear fee estimates for recommended services.
Most estate plans can be completed within 30 to 60 days after you decide to proceed.
Contact the Life Well Lived Law Group Today
Don’t leave your family’s future to chance. Attorney Tyler Comer and the team at Life Well Lived Law Group can help your family protect their assets and secure their legacies.
Our office is conveniently located in Lawrenceville, and we serve clients throughout Gwinnett County and the greater Atlanta area.
Take the first step toward protecting your family’s future. Call Life Well Lived Law Group today at (678) 272-5785 to schedule your estate planning consultation. Your family’s peace of mind is worth the investment in proper planning.
