Probate is the legal process that takes place after someone dies so that an orderly and legal distribution of one’s assets can occur according to their wishes. As in every case in Georgia, the probate process begins with filing a petition. Once a petition is filed, the court will open the estate and appoint a…
Many people think of lawyers in adversarial roles, arguing one side or the other in a courtroom dispute. But there are times when a lawyer can play a more personal hand-holding role, simply helping someone get through a major crisis or a big decision in their life. For those situations, it’s important to have trusted,…
The State Bar of Georgia’s Consumer Assistance Program is a clearinghouse for the public. The Consumer Assistance Program helps identify a person’s problem and which State Bar department may be able to help. Most of the time, people are just looking for direction for how to handle a situation with a lawyer. They are not…
All lawyers in Georgia are members of the State Bar of Georgia. The State Bar has been around in some form since the late 1800s when it was called the Georgia Bar Association. It was not until the 1960s that all lawyers in the state were required to be members of the State Bar of…
Almost all of us have gotten that envelope in the mail with the words Jury Summons across the front. It’s the way American citizens participate in the judiciary branch of the government. It may seem like an inconvenience, but jurors play a vital role in our court system. The question that comes up all the…
Almost every business in the United States that has employees must deal with the question of workers’ compensation. Most states, including Georgia, require employers to purchase insurance to handle their statutory obligations to workers who suffer a work-related illness or injury. Business owners will offer a lot of reasons why they don’t have workers’ compensation,…
Home buying is a complex process and even more so when it’s your first home. No doubt, buying a home will be the largest and most significant purchase you will make in your life. It also involves the law of real property, which is unique and raises special issues of practice and problems not present…
With the economy doing well and unemployment low, companies are competing for employees. When entering an employment agreement, one area to consider is a “non-compete” clause. A non-compete contract is a restrictive covenant or agreement between employer and employee. As a condition of employment, the employer can require a new employee to sign an agreement…
For some, legal protection may be necessary even after they have entered adulthood. It could be an injury, medical condition or mental illness that prevents them from caring for themselves or managing their finances or property. The law allows for someone to be named guardian or conservator for the individual needing help. In the legal…
We are a ‘Do-It-Yourself’ society. We’re going to try to save money and fix that leaky faucet ourselves. Sometimes that works, but other times it causes more problems. One area that needs to be left to the experts is estate planning. The biggest concern with online legal services relates to documents that may not be…