Estate Planning

Estate Planning Fundamentals

What is Estate Planning?

It’s true that estate planning involves wills, trusts, legal directives, and planning for disability or death. At Alex Gaines Law, we use a number of sophisticated legal tools to help ensure your desires for you, your family, and your assets are legally binding. But we believe that creating an estate plan is not just about the documents; rather, estate planning is about your life and the lives of those who are most important to you.

Our Approach to Estate Planning

We’ve made estate planning a friendly and approachable topic, not a scary or morbid one. Our goal is to make your experience easy, efficient, and enjoyable. All of our plans are based on a flat fee, so there are no surprises.

  • First, we spend time listening to you and learning about your hopes, fears, and goals for your family.
  • We then break down the key components of an estate plan, what it means for your family, and what could happen if you don’t have an estate plan.
  • Then we work with you to design your custom estate plan and ensure that it will be legally binding.
  • After we finalize the paperwork, we provide you with an opportunity to memorialize your insights, desires, and personal history through a legacy video or letter that your family can keep forever.
  • Lastly, we keep in touch with you to ensure all of your documents are up-to-date as you go through life’s stages.

What Are the Key Estate Planning Documents

Your Estate Plan Should Include:

  • A Will. Also known as a Last Will and Testament, appoints a person to carry out your wishes and manage your affairs after your death, including gathering all of your assets, paying your final bills, and finally distributing your remaining assets to your heirs.
  • Healthcare Directive. The Advanced Healthcare Directive outlines your wishes regarding medical treatment if you are unable to communicate your wishes and appointing a person to make healthcare decisions for you if you are unable to make decisions.
  • Durable Power of Attorney. This is similar to a Healthcare Power of Attorney but for financial and legal decisions.
  • Medical Information Release. A HIPAA authorization that allows you to name loved ones and friends who can access to your medical information;
  • Revocable Living Trust. A RLT is a powerful tool that not only provides for the management of your assets while you are alive and well– but also if you become incapacitated – and distribution of your assets after your death without court supervision.
  • Guardian Nominations for Minor Children. Guardianship nominations are absolutely vital for parents with young kids and they detail those people you would – and would not – want to care for your minor children.



3101 Cobb Parkway, Suite 124
Atlanta, GA 30339
770-285-0033
info@alexgaineslaw.com