As a resident of Georgia who is currently considering how you want to tackle estate planning, it can feel overwhelming at first. There are plenty of dos and don’ts related to estate planning, but today we will take a look at some of the mistakes you can avoid. The first mistakes are related to how well you stay on top of your estate planning. Some people never create a plan at all, which is a mistake in and of Read More

As the Georgia parent of a special needs child, figuring out how to provide for that child once you pass on or become incapacitated is likely among your primary estate planning objectives. At the law firm of J. Kevin Sharpe, P.C., we recognize that estate planning for a special needs child requires some additional forethought and action, and we have helped many clients create estate plans that reflect their needs and Read More

The rising cost of essential health care services and medication, longer life expectancy and an increase in multigenerational living have had a significant impact on how Americans approach their healthcare options. Medicare and Medicaid are two publicly funded programs available to qualifying seniors and people with disabilities that aim to assist vulnerable individuals to cope. However, many people do not fully Read More

When you create your estate plan, you may decide what will happen to your home and assets after you pass away. But a good estate plan should also prepare for what may happen if you can no longer make decisions for yourself. While imagining yourself unable to make health decisions can be difficult, accident or illness may leave you incapacitated. If this happens, an advance directive can make sure that someone you Read More

Georgia residents who are age 65 or older often begin to encounter certain challenges in life. Perhaps physical health is not what it once was and an older person finds him or herself needing to visit a doctor’s office more often. As loved ones age, some may also show signs of mental illness, which can be debilitating in its most serious form. In fact, mental decline or incapacitation is often a central focus of Read More

Retirement planning is an important process that helps ensure your financial stability as you age. For many adults, planning for retirement goes hand-in-hand with estate planning for the future. Some of the same issues need consideration in estate and retirement planning. Quite a few people don’t really consider what will happen if they experience a significant decline in their overall health as they age. However, Read More

When a Georgia adult son or daughter helps an aging parent transition to assisted living, he or she often speaks with many facility officials before determining which specific place is the best fit for his or her loved one. Nursing home issues are often a central focus of long-term care planning. Sadly, not all care providers do their jobs well. In fact, some are downright neglectful or abusive, which was apparently Read More

Many Georgia families include elder members who are suffering from various stages of mental decline. There is often more than one person, such as adult children of the loved one, who are trying to work together to protect their loved one’s rights and best interests. The problem is that siblings often encounter challenges when they disagree about what is best for an aging parent. Such situations sometimes lead to Read More

A big part of your role as the parent or caregiver for a special needs adult involves making important decisions on behalf of your special needs child, regardless of how old they now are. One of the most difficult realities for parents of special needs children is the fact that the children will continue to need care into adulthood and even well after you eventually die or become medically unable to provide care Read More

If mental or physical incapacitation prevents a Georgia adult from being able to speak or act on his or her own behalf, the court may issue a ruling that designates another person to do it. Conservatorship allows a court-appointed person to manage financial or other daily life affairs for an aging parent, other loved one or even a non-family member. This can sometimes spark contention if the person over whom a Read More