Macon Magazine

78 maconmagazine.com | August/September 2026 them. Without a will, the court will likely order the children to sell the house and split the proceeds equally. If the home has a mortgage, there could be problems dealing with the lender — and foreclosure could occur. With a will specifying your wishes, your goals will be accomplished. Stafford notes that many people do tell their loved ones what they want orally, but "memories and desires change over time, which is why a written will is more reliable." A state probate court could rule in a way that goes against verbal wishes. "Most importantly, an estate plan gives you a voice when you cannot speak for yourself," says Leslie Cadle, an attorney with the Macon firm of Smith, Hawkins, Hollingsworth & Reeves, LLP. The bottom line is you should make the time and financial investment to formally plan your estate. It can provide benefits you may not even realize. They include minimizing any tax liability, supporting loved ones with special needs, providing future care for pets and passing wealth onto long- term partners, non-traditional family members, and charities. "A good estate plan may be one of the most meaningful gifts you ever give your loved ones," Cadle says. It provides for them — and gives you peace of mind. Submit your business and estate planning story ideas to us at hello@maconmagazine.com. Macon estate planning attorney Veronica McClendon. makes things worse. Attorneys report that disagreements are common when someone dies without a will because a court's distribution may not match expectations or reflect family dynamics. W h a t f o r m a l p l a n n i n g c a n a c h i e v e An estate plan generally includes a will and legal documents that allow someone to manage your finances if you're unable to do so and make medical decisions for you if you become incapacitated. In more complex estates, attorneys may set up trusts to achieve various goals. What about beneficiary designations? You don't need an attorney to make beneficiary designations on life insurance policies, retirement accounts and payable on death bank and brokerage accounts. You simply fill out a form at the financial institution where you have an account. But these designations override a will, so they must be coordinated with the rest of an estate plan, and an attorney may provide advice about this. M a i n t a i n i n g c o n t r o l a f t e r y o u 'r e g o n e One of the biggest benefits of drafting a will and planning your estate is control. You get to decide how your assets will be distributed, and who will be in charge of your estate. A state court won't make the decisions. McClendon described a parent with three children who wants a house to pass to one of "Conversations about money can be awkward but avoiding them often makes things worse. Attorneys report that disagreements are common when someone dies without a will because a court's distribution may not match expectations or reflect family dynamics."

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