Amanda Jelks, Chattanooga Business, Trust, Wills, Probate & Estate Planning Attorney
Jelks Law, PLLC is a boutique Chattanooga business and estate planning law firm which primarily serves Tennessee and Georgia.
Our estate planning attorneys take proactive steps to protect what's most important to our clients: their families, their businesses and their dignity.
Whether you are scaling your business or preparing for the inevitable, our experienced estate planning lawyers will walk you through all of your options so that you can make the best decision. Our law firm values every client, please feel free to contact us today!
Chattanooga Estate Attorney, Amanda Jelks brings a wide range of legal experience to her law firm
Her background includes business law with clients ranging from small business owners to international corporations. Amanda is also a business owner herself. Her experience also includes giving her clients peace of mind through her elder law and estate planning services.
Whatever stage you are at in your family cycle or your business formation and operations, Jelks Law is here for you and your family's needs.
Business Law
Business Formation
Contracts
Copyrights
Trademarks
Liability Waivers
Succession Plans
Risk Management
Estate Planning
Living Wills/Advanced Care Directives
Powers of Attorney
Information on Estate Planning. Quick Guide to Our Legal Services
Estate planning is the process of forming a plan for what happens to your minor children, and all of your assets after you die or become unable to care for yourself. Continue reading more about estate planning.
Who is Estate Planning a good fit for?
If you have children, you need an estate plan regardless of the amount of assets you have. If you do not have children, you need an estate plan if you have savings or retirement accounts (such as 401ks or Roth IRAs) or other assets including cards, houses and real estate, or a business. Everyone over the age of 17 at least needs a power of attorney. Continue reading about who needs estate planning.
What age or time in life is best to start planning for my estate?
When you begin to accumulate savings or assets, buy a house, or have children, and you would like to have some control over how and to whom those assets are distributed after death or in the case of serious injury rendering you unable to care for yourself. Continue reading about when to start estate planning.
What are the dangers to me and my family of not having an estate plan?
In the event that you die or become legally unable to make your own decisions, if you do not have an estate plan, your savings and assets may become subject to the probate process. Probate is both lengthy and expensive and can involve financial and legal burdens such as litigation and court costs for your family. This could lead to unexpected or undesirable distribution of your estate, causing family conflict and other issues. Continue reading about probate law.
How does a Trust and Estates Lawyer control what happens with my estate?
Estate, Probate, and Inheritance Laws vary from state to state. Our estate planning attorneys are familiar with the estate planning laws and use tools including different types of wills and trusts, powers of attorney, conservatorships, guardianships, and business succession plans to ensure that your estate is distributed according to your wishes. Continue reading about estate planning tools.
What are wills and how do they work?
A will is an official legal document which details what happens to your minor children, property, and assets after you pass away. Continue reading about wills.
What are Trusts and how do they work?
A trust is a legal entity which can hold ownership or control of your property, assets, or income, and can be used for greater control over how your estate is handled at the time of your passing or in the event that you are no longer able to care for yourself. There are many different types of trusts used by an Estate Planning Lawyer. A Trust can also be used in planning for entering long term care facilities to separate yourself from your estate, to assist with medicaid eligibility. continue reading about trusts.
What are Advanced Care Directives and how do they work?
Advanced Care Directives are legal documents which can allow you to specify, in advance, how you would like to be treated medically if you are unable to do so at time of sickness or injury. They can alleviate the burden of responsibility for family members to make uncomfortable decisions in these times, and ensure that your wishes are fulfilled in these situations. A common example of an advanced care directive you may be familiar with is a DNR or do not resuscitate order. continue reading about advance care directives.
What are Conservatorships and how do they work?
A conservatorship is a legal proceeding where a judge appoints a third party to make your medical or financial decisions due to your incapacitation. An estate planning lawyer can help you avoid the assignment of a conservator in certain situations, or help control who is specified as your conservator. continue reading about conservatorships.
Estate Planning Attorneys: Amanda Jelks and Leslie Starritt
As an estate planning attorney, the main focus of my law firm is primarily to provide peace of mind to entrepreneurs and small business owners through my business, legal services, and estate/succession planning.
Amanda N. Jelks - Trusts, Estate Planning, Probate, & Business Law
Leslie A. Starritt - Estates, Elder Law, and Medicaid Planning
Leslie A. Starritt brings seven years of estate planning, elder law, and Medicaid planning experience to the firm.
Medicaid Planning with the right attorney can make a huge difference when it comes to preserving your estate for your family.
This type of planning service becomes even more important as you or your loved ones approach a time in your lives when in-home or permanent residential medical care, such as a nursing home or assisted living residence, might be needed. Having the right estate planning attorney can also make a difference as well. As part of the Jelks team, Leslie is your "go to" for Medicaid Planning as a part of your overall estate planning and long term care planning goals. Contact her today. She will be happy to share her expertise with you.
Letting an estate planning attorney help you with an estate plan will save your loved ones time, difficulty, money, and stress, in the event of your death or incapacitation.
A Professional estate planning attorney could help you develop a plan for your estate to ensure that your assets are distributed as you intend them to be, your minor children have a guardian you appoint to raise them, and that their guardian has access to the funds needed to raise your minor children.
If you have questions on the estate planning process, we have experienced attorneys who know the estate planning process and value every client. Please don't hesitate to contact us today!