How to Choose the Right Guardian or Conservator for Your Family
Learn how to choose the right guardian or conservator for your family. Discover key factors to ensure your loved ones are in trusted hands.
Trusts in Georgia
A trust can give your family clarity, privacy, and long-term protection, especially during stressful transitions. At Edris Law, we help you understand how trusts work, why they matter, and which type best supports your goals, your values, and the people you love.
What Is a Trust in Georgia?
A trust is a legal arrangement that holds and manages your assets for your benefit during your lifetime and for your beneficiaries after you pass away. You name:
A grantor: The person creating the trust
A trustee: The person or institution managing the trust
Beneficiaries: The people or organizations who will receive what you leave behind
When set up and funded correctly, a trust can help your family avoid probate, maintain privacy, reduce conflict, and protect assets for future generations.
Types of Trusts in Georgia
Every family has unique needs. We help you choose a trust that matches your goals and the level of protection you want for your assets and loved ones.
Revocable Living Trust
The most common trust for families. You stay in full control, and you can update or dissolve it at any time. A revocable trust can help your family avoid probate while keeping your plan private.
Irrevocable Trust
Provides stronger asset protection, potential tax benefits, and long-term structure. Once created, the terms generally cannot be changed, making it ideal for certain high-value assets or long-term planning.
Charitable Trust & Charitable Remainder Trust
Allows you to support a charitable cause while also creating financial benefits for you or your beneficiaries during your lifetime.
Deed of Trust (Clarified)
Not a true “trust” in estate planning. In Georgia, it is typically used in real estate financing. We ensure clients understand the distinction.
Other Specialized Trusts
Trusts tailored for blended families, loved ones with unique needs, or families with property in multiple states.
How a Trust Works
While the details can feel technical, the core idea is simple: a trust gives you greater control over how and when your assets are managed and shared.
A trust allows you to:
Direct how money is used for children or dependents
Protect assets from future disputes
Transfer your home or real estate without probate
Ensure your wishes are carried out with dignity and clarity
We walk with you through each step, from design to funding, so the trust you create actually works when your family needs it most.
Will vs. Trust: A Simple Comparison
Sometimes families wonder whether they need a will, a trust, or both. Here’s the easiest way to understand the difference:
A will takes effect after death and must go through probate.
A trust can take effect right away and may help your family avoid probate altogether.
Most families benefit from both, using a will to name guardians and a trust to make inheritance simpler and more private.
Who Needs a Trust in Georgia?
You may benefit from a trust if you:
Own a home or multiple properties
Have children (minor or adult)
Are part of a blended family
Want to avoid the probate process
Prefer to keep your affairs private
Want long-term guidance or asset protections for beneficiaries
Manage significant assets
Want to prevent family conflict
A trust provides clarity, structure, and stability, especially during challenging seasons of life.
How to Set Up a Trust in Georgia
Our process is warm, thoughtful, and designed to remove confusion from every step.
Clarify your goals
We discuss what you want for your family, your assets, and your long-term vision.
Choose your trustee
We help you select someone who can carry out your wishes reliably and respectfully.
Draft the trust
Your trust is customized to your family’s needs, not a generic template.
Fund the trust
This is essential. We help you move assets into the trust so it will work properly when needed.
Review and update over time
As your life changes, we revisit your trust to keep it aligned with your goals.
Why Work With Edris Law
Trust-based planning is deeply personal. At Edris Law, we provide guidance that is:
Relationship-based: Built on understanding your family’s story
Holistic: Considering legal, financial, and personal factors
Judgment-free: No shame, no pressure, just clarity
Family-centered: Protecting the people who matter most
You deserve a plan that honors your life and supports your loved ones.
What Families Say
FAQs
What is the difference between a revocable and irrevocable trust?
A revocable trust can be changed at any time; an irrevocable trust provides certain specific protections or strategies but cannot easily be altered.
Does a trust avoid probate in Georgia?
A properly funded trust can help your family avoid probate, saving time and maintaining privacy.
Do I still need a will if I have a trust?
Yes. A will, specifically a pour-over will, covers guardianship and any assets not titled in the trust.
Who should be my trustee?
Choose someone trustworthy, organized, and capable of managing financial and legal responsibilities.
How often should I update my trust?
Any time a major life change occurs, marriage, divorce, new children, moves, financial changes or changes in the law, we recommend a review.
