Atlanta Estate Planning for Families with Young Children

Our Atlanta estate planning attorneys help parents across Georgia create plans that protect their children, safeguard inheritances, and ensure their care no matter what happens.

Our attorneys work with families throughout Atlanta and across Georgia to build estate plans that fit real life. We help you choose guardians, set up the right protections for your child’s inheritance, and give your family a clear path forward.

With the right plan, you can:

• Name a guardian you trust so a court does not decide for you
• Protect and manage your child’s inheritance and keep it out of a conservatorship
• Preserve family relationships
• Prevent court delays that can make it harder for your child to access the resources they need
• Avoid unnecessary expenses

Nominating a Guardian

If something happened to you, who would raise your children? Without a plan, a judge must decide. Judges try to do their best, but they do not know your family. A Last Will and Testament lets you choose the person you want to step in and care for your children if you or your spouse cannot.

Protecting Your Child’s Inheritance

Legally, a minor child cannot own inherited property until they turn 18. If a child inherits assets in Georgia, the court appoints a conservator to manage the money. That means

• A judge decides who controls your child’s inheritance
• Every time money is needed for school, healthcare, or anything else, the court must approve it
• Court fees and legal costs are taken out of the inheritance
• When your child turns 18, they get full access to whatever is left, all at once

Most parents do not want their child’s financial future tied up in court, and not all parents feel comfortable with an 18-year-old inheriting a large sum of money without any safeguards.

A trust lets you set the rules for how and when your child’s inheritance is used. You can:

• Choose a trusted person to manage the funds
• Set age or life milestones before they receive full access
• Allow early access for important needs like education, health, or buying a first home

A trust can protect your child’s inheritance without the delays and expenses of court oversight. Our Atlanta estate planning attorneys can help you design a plan that works for your family.

Leaving an Inheritance to a Child with Special Needs

If your child receives public assistance disability benefits, such as those provided by Social Security and Medicaid, a Georgia third-party special needs trust (sometimes referred to as a supplemental needs trust) allows you to leave them an inheritance without compromising their benefits.