Form: Estate Inventory

4 years ago

Unless the applicable Probate Court requires a different form, the following form may be used when preparing an estate inventory…

Form: Petition for Authority to Open Safety Deposit Box

4 years ago

The following form may be used when seeking authority to open a safety deposit box after a decedent's death to…

Form: Heirs Determination Worksheet

4 years ago

When you file a Petition to Probate a Will or for Letters of Administration, you must give notice to the…

Form: Affidavit When Will is not Self-Proved and Witnesses Cannot Be Located

4 years ago

In Georgia, a Will must be self-proved or the witnesses to the Will must either sign written witness interrogatories or…

Form: Affidavit of Diligent Search

4 years ago

When you file a Petition to Probate a Will or a Petition for Letters of Administration in Georgia, you must…

Form: Will for Information Purposes Only

4 years ago

In Georgia, anyone in possession of an original Will after the Will-maker's death, must file it with the appropriate Probate…

Tenncare Notices

4 years ago

The following notices are routinely included with other correspondence from Tenncare. Below are Tenncare's notices regarding: (1) Estate Recovery, (2)…

In Terrorem Clauses are Strictly Construed

4 years ago

In In Re Estate of Penland, 357 Ga. App. 369 (2020), the probate court found that James Ray and Eloise…

Press Release Announcing EZElderLaw.com

4 years ago

Attorney David McGuffey and the Elder Law Practice of David L. McGuffey, LLC recently announced the launch of EZElderlaw.com. DALTON,…

Probate Court erred when it imposed fine of more than $19,000 for contempt

4 years ago

In In re Estate of Butler, 356 Ga. App. 287 (2020), Anita Butler filed a petition to probate her father's…

Appeal Route From Article 6 Probate Court is to Court of Appeals

4 years ago

Appeal Route From Article 6 Probate Court In Spence v. Dep't of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities, 359 Ga. App.…

Conservator/County Administrator appointed ex-officio administrator of ward’s estate

4 years ago

In In re Estate of Brown, 357 Ga. App. 869, 850 S.E.2d 503 (2020), the Fulton County Probate Court appointed…

Celebrity Deaths in 2021

4 years ago

In 2021 we said goodbye to many well-known celebrities - some famous and some infamous. This list includes many of…

Common Law Marriage: Court finds Wife was not a “Wife”

4 years ago

By statute, Georgia law provides that "No common-law marriage shall be entered into in this state on or after January…

Executor Is Subject to Probate Court’s Authority While Serving

4 years ago

In In re Estate of Cornett, 357 Ga. App. 310 (2020), Sarah Cornett was appointed successor Executor over the Will…

Form: Health Values Questionnaire

4 years ago

In addition to a health care advance directive, one way to create evidence regarding your health treatment wishes and end-of0life…

Form IRS Form 2848, Power of Attorney

4 years ago

If you want someone to represent you in front of the IRS, you will need to execute Form 2848. The…

Petition for Accounting Does Not Trigger In Terrorem Clause

4 years ago

In In re Estate of Burkhalter, 354 Ga. App. 231 (2020), William Burkhalter was executor of the estate of Louise…

Probate Court May Restrict a Conservator’s Power to Spend Ward’s Income

4 years ago

In In re Estate of Jenkins, 358 Ga. App. 254 (2021), the ward (Shaun Jenkins) sustained profound injuries as an…

Form: Ethical Wills

4 years ago

An Ethical Will is a statement of values you want to pass along to those you leave behind. It is…

Form: Funeral Planning Guide

4 years ago

One gift you can give your family is a guide to what you want (and don't want) after you die.…

Form: Special Needs Planning Guide

4 years ago

The key to successful special needs planning is preparing for the day when parents, grandparents, spouses or others are no…

Form: Georgia Conservator’s Return

4 years ago

In Georgia, a Conservator must file an annual return and a final return. The current form appears below. For the…

Debt Collection Rule

4 years ago

The Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection issued a  new debt collection rule effective November 30, 2021. The final rule revises…

Georgia Medicaid Estate Recovery Changes

4 years ago

As of December 21, 2021, Georgia has changed its Estate Recovery Program rules under Title 49 O.C.G.A. § 49-4-147.1. This…

Georgia Medicaid Renewals Extended Again

4 years ago

As of December 15, 2021, Georgia Medicaid renewals have been extended again due to Covid-19.

Medicare Supplement Policies for Individuals Under 65

4 years ago

In Georgia and 26 other states, insurers that sell Medicare supplement insurance must also sell those policies to individuals under…

Arc of the United States Virtual Program Library

4 years ago

The Arc of the United States has posted more than 40 video programs designed to provide online activities for individuals…

2022 Spousal Impoverishment Standards

4 years ago

The standards for the 2022 Community Spouse Resource Allowance and Community Spouse Monthly Income Allowance have been updated in the…

News Roundup – December 8, 2021

4 years ago

General News Sources: NAELA member Janet Colliton, CELA, wrote Eligible Charity Distribution can reduce taxes Lack of special ed teachers…

HIPAA Permitted Disclosures

4 years ago

The HIPAA privacy rule is not absolute. It recognizes that certain disclosures are beneficial, such as those where information must…

Olmstead Decision

4 years ago

The Olmstead case was brought by two Georgia women whose disabilities include mental retardation and mental illness. At the time…

Standby Guardians

4 years ago

A parent or a guardian (each a “designated individual”) may appoint a standby guardian of a minor. O.C.G.A. § 29-2-10.…

Medicaid Liens Revisited: Gallardo v. Marstiller

4 years ago

A new Medicaid lien case is pending in the U.S. Supreme Court. The question presented is "[w]hether the federal Medicaid…

End-of-Life and the Right to Refuse Treatment: Quinlan through Schiavo

4 years ago

The cases discussed here make clear the importance of making health decisions in advance and communicating them. Too often, decisions…

Physician Order for Life Sustaining Treatment (POLST)

4 years ago

A POLST form is a legally sufficient medical order that health care providers and health care facilities may use in…

Do Not Resuscitate Orders (DNRs)

4 years ago

Georgia law (O.C.G.A. § 31-39-1 et seq.) defines a candidate for non-resuscitation as a patient who, based on a determination…

Right to Nursing Home Records and Medical Information

4 years ago

Nursing home residents and their personal representatives have a right to stay informed regarding their condition and their care. 42…

Form: Patient Liability Worksheet

4 years ago

The worksheet below is not intended as a substitute for legal advice. It requires an understanding of the Medicaid budgeting…

Build Back Better Act

4 years ago

The Build Back Better Act passed the U.S. House of Representatives on Friday, November 19, 2021 on a mostly party-line…

Certified Elder Law Attorneys in Tennessee

4 years ago

Attorneys are certified as Certified Elder Law Attorneys by the National Elder Law Foundation. NELF lists the criteria for being certified…

HUD Section 8 Rental Certificate Program

4 years ago

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) administers a number of programs to assist low-income families, older adults…

Involuntary Hospitalization and Treatment of Involuntary Patients

4 years ago

The procedure commonly referred to as a “1013” is governed by O.C.G.A. Title 37, Chapter 3 (§ 37-3-41 et seq).*…

Temporary Health Care Placement Decision Maker for an Adult Act (O.C.G.A. § 31-36A-1 et seq.)

4 years ago

An attending physician, treating physician, or other physician licensed according to the laws of the State of Georgia, after having…

Excel Worksheet to Estimate Effect of Gifting with Offsetting Promissory Note

4 years ago

Gifting is usually a last resort when creating a Medicaid Plan. The reason is gifts trigger a transfer of resources…