Firm Philosophy

     In its simplest terms, a last will and testament is like a business contract except it involves the distribution of a person’s assets among his or her loved ones at death.  However, unlike most business contracts where all parties typically have a seat at the table, the beneficiaries generally do not.  And, unlike a business contract where the parties usually come together from an arm’s length business perspective, your family members do not. They have a history, and the client, typically the parent, will not be around to resolve any family differences.  That role would be filled by the courts for the more exciting families.  Our firm thus encourages our clients to acknowledge the realities of their family situations to help us create a practical estate plan for them that addresses their objectives in a smart and efficient manner, one that is most likely to minimize or avoid family conflict as well as unnecessary and costly procedural hurdles or taxes.

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     Estate planning, however, is needed for all families even the less exciting ones.  In fact everyone, from the wealthiest of people to the young professional just starting out in life, benefits from a properly crafted estate plan. Estate planning can be used to eliminate uncertainties over the administration of an estate to maximize the value of the estate by reducing taxes and other expenses. The most basic documents involved in a proper estate plan are last wills and testaments, financial powers of attorney, and advance directives for health care. 

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     For a last will and testament to be valid in the State of Georgia, it must be properly prepared, signed, and witnessed in accordance with the law. Knowing you have a will that conforms to all legal requirements can give you peace of mind by ensuring you know who will receive your assets upon your death and that a responsible individual, hand-picked by you, will oversee handling your estate. If you have minor children, you can determine who would become their legal guardian in the event of your death. Although all of life’s uncertainties cannot be anticipated, having a valid will allows you to rest assured that your loved ones will not be left without a plan in dealing with the affairs of your estate. 

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     Trusts can be utilized for a variety of reasons as part of an estate plan. From safeguarding the inheritance of a minor or incapacitated family member to avoiding estate tax in larger estates or avoiding over-reaching potential creditors of a family member, there are many reasons why establishing a trust might make sense for you. However, trust law is complex, and it has been our experience that trust planning is over-prescribed.  You should resort to trust planning in Georgia only when anticipating the need for damage control.  The Law Office of G. Alan Dodson, LLC has ample experience drafting, administering, litigating, modifying, and dissolving trusts. 

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     In preparing any estate plan, please remember that it has been our experience that the primary cause of litigation is the poor choice of fiduciary.  A fiduciary, in its simplest terms, is someone who manages OPM (other people’s money), and includes executors, administrators, trustees, conservators, and agents under a power of attorney.  You should leave emotion out of the decision-making process, and name a fiduciary who is honest, financially responsible, works in a business-like manner, and can dedicate the amount of time necessary to efficiently perform his or her fiduciary duties.  These criteria typically eliminate most people you know.