Unlike probate in some states, the probate process in Georgia is not necessarily expensive, time consuming, or complicated. By Steve Worrall, Cobb County Probate Lawyer. Avoiding Probate Most people have probably heard that it's best to avoid probate. Probate is the legal process of settling someone's estate when they die. The executor or administrator of the estate will need to file a petition with the court. It’s a public proceeding, and all documents are filed with the court, so anyone and everyone can find out what you owned and what you left to others when your will is probated. This is especially important if you are planning to distribute property or assets. Nobody wants to have to go through the probate process. Probate is the court-supervised process of sorting and administering a person's will. Avoid Probate with a Georgia Pour Over Will. Mechanisms exist, from joint ownership to living trusts. By Mary Randolph, J.D. Normally, this is something that my staff and I talk about. How to Avoid the Need for an Expensive Probate Process in Kennesaw, Georgia. | Updated By Valerie Keene, Attorney. Georgia Probate: An Overview. This is because probate laws are state laws, and Georgia has a very easy and inexpensive probate system. Dealing with probate can be a long and frustrating process. 2. Although the probate process in Georgia does not require a lawyer and can be done on your own, sound counsel may allow you to administer the estate more efficiently and may allow you to save money on taxes, reduce creditor exposure, or protect your own interests since you will be serving as executor and bear a fiduciary responsiblity for serving in that capacity. Probate can be avoided if the property or possessions you own are also owned by another individual, usually a spouse, with a right of survivorship. How to Avoid Probate in Georgia? You can help your loved ones avoid this process with a little planning, but laws vary from state to state. The remainder is distributed as individual trusts to each beneficiary. There are a number of reasons why people want to avoid probate in Atlanta. Probate courts usually oversee this process, and an executor named in the will or appointed by the court manages the estate. Unlike a will, which merely distributes your assets upon death, a living trust places your assets and property "in trust" which are then managed by a trustee for the benefit of your beneficiaries. Third, you can give the property away as a gift during your lifetime. By planning ahead, people are able to avoid probate, giving their families the peace of mind they need when dealing with a sad and difficult situation. A living trust is merely an alternative to a last will. Generally, there is only one situation in which a small estate affidavit will suffice in lieu of a formal filing for administration of an estate, or probate. In Georgia, an executor can probate a will in solemn form or common form. Common Form Probate. We recommend that the petition be filed as soon as possible. It is possible that a case could take years to settle, especially if there are family members who contest the will. In our latest post, learn how to avoid probate court in Florida! This means that if someone is dissatisfied with a decision rendered by a non-Article 6 probate court, they can simply appeal to a superior court and the case will be tried all over again. Probate is relatively easy to avoid, yet many people fail to take steps to do so when they plan their estates. Practice joint ownership to avoid probate. Nobody wants to have to go through the probate process. Small estate affidavits can be executed to avoid filing for letters of administration in a probate court. Avoid the hassle of listing your house or land and waiting months for it to sell. By planning ahead, people are able to avoid probate, giving their families the peace of mind they need when dealing with a sad and difficult situation. A similar procedure, called "administration," takes place when an individual dies owning assets but without a valid Will. In our latest post, learn how to avoid probate court in Atlanta! It can be very beneficial for heirs to avoid the probate process in Marietta. In our latest post, learn how to avoid probate court in Honolulu! Avoiding probate in Cobb County, Georgia, is a very real concern for people who want to make sure certain assets such as stocks, bonds, brokerage and bank accounts automatically pass to their heirs upon their death. The question I have today is, how do you avoid probate on your house in Georgia? Probate in common form does not require notice to any heir, beneficiary or creditor of the estate. What will work in your situation will depend on how your assets are titled and who you want to inherit your estate when you die. But, every probate takes between several months (6 to 12 months on average) and several years to complete. There are a number of reasons why people want to avoid probate in Florida. It’s Actually Really Simple and Straightforward… You’re on this website because you need to sell a property, and you’d rather sell it sooner than later right? Georgia is unique in that if all the heirs agree, you can skip probate altogether. Probate has a reputation for being costly and for taking forever – up to two years in some cases. Consulting a probate attorney in the Savannah area will ease the process even more; we’re here to help you navigate through the Georgia probate process as smoothly as possible. In every other county in Georgia, a probate court judge's orders can be reviewed by a superior court de novo. There are often multiple court filings. However, if the will is contested the process can become very complicated and costly. First of all, you can own the property as joint tenants with right of survivorship. There are three main ways to avoid probate in Georgia, as well as an affidavit process that can be used to settle small estates. An irrevocable living trust (most often used for Medicaid planning) also avoids probate, but requires the person creating it to give up the right to revoke it. Fortunately, state laws in Georgia may allow some or all of your estate assets to bypass probate and go straight to your intended beneficiaries. You can protect yourself from probate court with a trust. Check out our Avoiding Probate Georgia Blog here. Avoiding court and lawyer fees, taxes, and other costs amidst a great expense of time and effort. A living trust will transfer all assets to the beneficiary without the need for court supervision. Depending upon your circumstances and the type of assets that you own, any one of these solutions – or some combination of the three main avoidance techniques – may be right for you. How to Avoid Probate in Cobb County, Georgia, Using Transfer on Death (TOD) Agreements Estates Probate court General Practice In such a scenario, Transfer on Death Agreements (also known as TOD’s) can be a very useful and convenient estate planning tool in making sure your loved ones are financially taken care of in your absence. To be considered small, the amount of the estate will vary based on where you live. The most straightforward way to avoid probate is simply to create a living trust. Let’s discuss. But Georgia still requires the will to be filed with the probate court. In our latest post, learn how to avoid probate court in Metro Atlanta! Georgia probate law provides methods to block someone from misusing or taking estate property, but you will need to act swiftly to stop them. Avoiding Probate Georgia. Why Avoid Probate? To avoid probate, most people create a living trust commonly called a revocable living trust. By planning ahead, people are able to avoid probate, giving their families the peace of mind they need when dealing with a sad and difficult situation. Nobody wants to have to go through the probate process. The question of how long does the Georgia Probate Process take is an interesting one because every probate is different. If you plan ahead with your estate, it is possible to avoid probate in Georgia. Then, when 1 of the owners dies, the title simply passes on to the other owner — no probate involved! By planning ahead, people are able to avoid probate, giving their families the peace of mind they need when dealing with a sad and difficult situation. Why Avoid Probate? Our probate system is easy because there are standard forms for almost everything, typically the Executor only has to make one trip to the … It is “revocable” because you may revoke it at any time. An attorney who specializes in wills and trusts can help draft a Petition for Order Declaring No Administration is Necessary to be filed with the probate court. How to Avoid the Lengthy Probate Process. Strategies to avoid probate in Georgia. Proper Planning Can Help You Avoid Probate In Georgia, probating the estate of a decedent who died with a valid will is not terribly time-consuming or expensive as long as the will is not contested. avoid probate, such as the high cost, the long and involved Probate process, and the fact that going to probate means the process is open to the public? How to Avoid Probate Why Avoid Probate? Take title with someone else so that joint ownership exists. With careful estate planning, it is possible to avoid the probate process. Between … The trust then pays bills and distributes personal effects. There are several ways to avoid putting your assets through probate when you pass, including: Create a Living Trust Assets under a living trust get passed on to the designated beneficiaries automatically without going through probate. By Steve Worrall, Neighbor Jan 15, 2014 3:32 p m ET. In certain states, it can be easier to avoid probate if the person passing away has only a small estate. Some counties have rules and requirements other counties don’t have. If you have additional questions about probate, please contact Siedentopf Law at (404) 736-6066 or via our online form. Settling an estate typically involves paying off the deceased's outstanding debts and final taxes and transferring property to any heirs or beneficiaries. However, they might not be sure what probate is and why you should avoid it. Avoiding Probate Georgia, How Can I Sell My House? If the deceased died without a will and no outstanding debts, the family can avoid probate if everyone agrees on how assets should be distributed. Specifically, in Georgia, the most effective type of joint ownership is called “Joint Tenancy” or “Joint Tenants with Right of Survivorship.” This is often used by married couples to pass real estate directly to a surviving spouse, though it is not restricted solely to married couples. Secondly, you can own the property through a trust. Understanding how to avoid probate can save you time, money, and frustration. On behalf of Emert Law Firm, LLC | Nov 2, 2020 | Estate Planning | If you are planning your estate, you may have concerns about your family handling the expensive, complex probate process. The manner of probate selected by the executor determines the deadline for filing a caveat. Reply. Rules in probate court are different across different counties. With a Georgia Pour Over Will you can avoid probate because you don’t have any probate assets – everything is owned in your name as trustee in the living trust. There are a number of reasons why people want to avoid probate in Honolulu. Our probate system is inexpensive because the fees are standard – roughly $200 and not dependent on the value of the assets in the estate. None of these reasons are true in the typical case in Georgia; the typical cost, including legal fees, should be roughly $2000.00, and may be much less. Probate can be quite costly and time-consuming. Probate is a court-supervised legal process that may be required after someone dies. Avoiding Probate in Georgia Using Transfer on Death (TOD) Agreements. There are three main ways. Knowing what to expect and preparing yourself for the probate process will help you avoid a negative experience. Nobody wants to have to go through the probate process. 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