Shannon Pawley, The Estate & Asset Protection Law Firm Owner, prepares her readers to have more control over how their assets are passed on to loved ones.

DECATUR, GA, July 19, 2024: Shannon Pawley, Owner of The Estate & Asset Protection Law Firm, has posted a new blog on the law firm’s website entitled “Probate vs. Non-Probate Assets.” Ms. Pawley offers examples of both asset types along with information about how to turn probate assets into non-probate assets.

Pawley states, “If you are starting to think about planning your estate and want to exercise more control over how your assets are passed to your loved ones, then it’s wise to understand what types of assets so and don’t have to go through the probate process.” She continues, “There are assets that are called “non-probate assets” and others called probate assets. It’s wise to educate yourself on the differences and to make sure you have as many “non-probate assets” as possible in your estate.” Pawley notes, “It is my intention with this article, to clarify the differences between probate and non-probate assets. Additionally, I will offer information about methods to convert probate assets into non-probate assets.”

“For simplicity’s sake,” Pawley explains, “non-probate assets typically include life insurance policies, bank accounts, and investment or retirement accounts that require you to name a beneficiary.” She emphasizes, “These assets are paid out directly to your named beneficiary when you pass away.” She then turns to probate assets explaining they “include things that do not require a named beneficiary. Think personal property like real estate, jewelry, cars, boats, or furniture.”

According to Pawley, “Not only do non-probate assets not have to go through probate, but you also get to define and control the timing and way these assets are distributed to your loved ones. Also,” she states, “jointly owned assets (such as a joint bank account) are typically non-probate assets. This is because when one of the owners passes away, their share of ownership is redistributed proportionately among the remaining owners.”

The entire blog can be read here: Probate vs. Non-Probate Assets

About The Estate & Asset Protection Law Firm

The Estate & Asset Protection Law Firm was established to serve the legal needs of retiring citizens. The Firm focuses its entire practice on providing strategies to protect independence, privacy, assets and taxes from the government. Shannon Pawley has grown her law practice by providing excellent customer satisfaction with personalized wealth protection plans.

About Shannon M. Pawley, J.D., LL.M

As the owner of The Estate & Asset Protection Law Firm, Shannon M. Pawley and her entire team share a passion which focuses on being able to serve the legal needs of retiring individuals. In our firm, WE BELIEVE that people should not have to lose everything they’ve worked a lifetime to earn and that every person is an individual who deserves respect and the highest quality of life possible, regardless of age or ability. We also believe that privacy and protection are the keys to personal peace. Born and raised in the Tidewater area of Virginia to a tight-knit family with strong military service roots, Shannon learned from an early age the value of hard work and the importance of social awareness to ensure you always leave a situation in a better place than how you entered it. In her junior year of high school, Shannon served as U.S. House of Representatives Page during the 101st United States Congressional Session in Washington, D.C. This experience exposed her to numerous new cultures and worldly issues. Walking away from her experience as a U.S. House of Representative Page, Shannon knew that she wanted to pursue legal studies and be able to assist others in obtaining the best results available in difficult situations.

Shannon earned her undergraduate degree at North Carolina Wesleyan College and pursued a law degree from Michigan State University College of Law. After obtaining her law degree and becoming a licensed attorney in Michigan, she continued her educational pursuit by acquiring a LL.M. (Master of Law) in Taxation from Wayne State University. After moving to Georgia in 2018, Shannon obtained her Georgia law license and has enjoyed being able to pursue her desire of ensuring persons are able to age with dignity, grace and independence.