Friday, February 22, 2013

Frank Hamilton Speaks to SALT About Protecting Your Assets & Future


Frank Hamilton, founding partner of the Hamilton Law Firm, spoke with local group SALT this past week to discuss the importance of protecting your assets and preparing for your future, while you still can.  SALT, which stands for Seniors and Lawmen Together, is a local group of senior citizens and Forsyth County Sheriffs Officers who meet to discuss topics relevant to the senior citizen community in Cumming and Forsyth County.

Over seventy-five attendees joined Mr. Hamilton in a discussion regarding the importance of planning for the future.  Many people neglect discussing and planning for what they want to take place after their death because it is an uncomfortable topic, but a few hours today can save a lot of trouble for your family tomorrow.  According to a recent survey by Rocket Law, 57% of adults do not have a will.  This is an unfortunate statistic, as Frank discussed. 

Mr. Hamilton warned the SALT members about the dangers of not having a will, stating, “I have seen client’s property totally liquidated for pennies in estate sales because the client never prepared.”  If a person dies without a will, their property is divided up through Georgia’s intestacy laws.  You may want the home you’ve shared with your spouse to remain with that spouse after you pass away, but intestacy laws could end up dividing the home between your spouse and children.  

On the other hand, Mr. Hamilton has assisted in the smooth and seamless administration of a well thought out and drafted will, covering everything from the burial arrangements the client wanted to which family member received the client’s china collection.  "There are little-to-no headaches involved when a client has taken the time to document their wishes in a will.  The will is a living and breathing document that the client can change as their needs and wishes change." 

The SALT members also learned the importance of involving an attorney in the will drafting process.  Frank explained that years of training and experience make a difference in creating a valid will (the key word being valid).  “Most people don’t realize that printing a will from Internet and filling in the blanks does not create a valid will in Georgia.  There are certain formalities that have to be met for the will to be valid.”  An online "form" will could leave your family in the same position as you would be in had you never drafted a will.  The formalities are most easily met by enlisting the help of a practicing attorney, who can make the process simple and ensure that your will is drafted in a way that best suits your needs and wishes.

The SALT group enjoyed and appreciated Frank Hamilton’s candid discussion of the dangers of not having a will, as well as his look at the process of creating and probating a will.  Check in here next week as we continue to explore the dangers of not having a will. 

Contact The Hamilton Law Firm today with any questions you have about creating a plan for your future. 

Wednesday, February 20, 2013

The Hamilton Law Firm Welcomes Kimberly Colmey



The Hamilton Law Firm welcomes attorney Kimberly A. Colmey 



The Hamilton Law Firm is please to announce the addition of Kimberly A. Colmey to their growing staff of attorneys.  Ms. Colmey was admitted to the Georgia State Bar in 2012, and will focus on family law.  She will also practice in the areas of civil litigation, criminal defense, and probate law.

Ms. Colmey was born and raised in Oneida, New York.  She attended St. John’s University in Queens, New York, where she earned her bachelors degree, cum laude, in Sports Management, in 2009.  Ms. Colmey was the recipient of the Michelle Doherty Award, awarded to the female with the highest Sport Management G.P.A. and was active in the Women in Leadership program and St. Vincent DePaul Society.

In 2012, Kimberly received her Juris Doctorate, magna cum laude, from Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School. Kimberly was the valedictorian of the 2012 graduating class.  While in law school, she worked in the school’s Office of Admissions and was the Managing Editor of the John Marshall Law Journal.  She also spent over a year as an intern with the Georgia Public Defender Standards Council, Appellate Division, where she worked on criminal appeals before the Georgia Court of Appeals and Supreme Court of the State of Georgia. After law school, Kimberly spent three months as an intern with the Honorable Judge William S. Duffey in the United States District Court, Northern District of Georgia. 

Frank W. Hamilton said, "In her short time with our firm, Ms. Colmey has already proven herself to be a very capable attorney.  Clients immediately appreciate her concern and understanding for their unique cases, which insures that her clients are able to make the best decisions about their future." Additionally, Frank stated, “We acknowledge and appreciate Kimberly’s academic achievements and we are excited about her future with the Hamilton Law Firm.”

Frank Hamilton is the founding partner of the Hamilton Law Firm. The Hamilton Law Firm is one of Cumming, Georgia oldest Family Law Firms.  Since 1993, they have helped clients with criminal, civil, family law, bankruptcy, juvenile court, divorce, business and other legal problems. 

Monday, February 18, 2013

Waving the Green Flag for our Social Marketing Race

The Hamilton Law Firm has waved the green flag for our social media marketing effort.  We have officially taken the plunge on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and Linkedin, and we are inviting you to join us in the fun.

We will be posting everything from the best of the web sort of topics, blog posts on changes to the law and informational videos.  If you have a question or comment, please friend us on Facebook or tweet us at @HamiltonLawFirm.

The fun starts ....   


NOW!

Saturday, February 16, 2013

The Hamilton Law Firm This is the first post on our Firm's Blog. Located in Cumming, Georgia; the Hamilton Law Firm provides family law, criminal, bankruptcy and construction legal advice to clients throughout North Georgia.