That might seem like a strange question to ask but future changes to the mortgage lending laws may make that happen. Scotty Ball, a real estate attorney specializing in residential and commercial real estate law with the Gainesville, Ga. law firm Stewart Melvin & Frost, offer his perspective on what has taken place on the front lines of the real estate market crisis as well as at the national level in Congress.

Most people have heard the term “living trust” but it is sometimes a commonly misunderstood legal arrangement. You may have heard that Living Trusts are an alternative to a traditional will – because it allows families to avoid going through the probate process upon the death of a loved one. Bucky Highsmith, a partner with Stewart Melvin & Frost, answers questions concerning a living trust. And why is there so much confusion surrounding this legal strategy, especially here in the state of Georgia?

Deciding whether to have a will is a choice we all have to make. Bucky Highsmith, an estate attorney and partner with the Gainesville, Ga. law firm Stewart Melvin & Frost, specializes in legal areas that affect older citizens, including estate planning, wills, trusts, guardianships, retirement planning, and other similar legal matters. Bucky offers guidance on an issue everyone must consider.

It’s that most “unfavorite time of year” – the April 15^th deadline for filing income taxes. Only this year, there is a twist – and it’s an especially good thing for procrastinators. The deadline this year for filing your 1040’s has been extended by three days.

The federal income tax deadline is now behind us, but taxes remain very much on our minds – whether you are awaiting a big refund check in the mail, or your bank account just suffered a big hit from your 1040 return.

As we know, record numbers of homeowners are defaulting on their mortgages and losing their most precious asset to foreclosure. Unfortunately, this ongoing crisis has opened up opportunities for scam artists to prey on the desperation of distressed homeowners who fear losing their home.

Like a lot of states, Georgia is implementing tax reform. Jim Coyle, a tax attorney with Stewart Melvin & Frost in Gainesville, Ga., discusses how this will affect tax and estate planning.

In 2010, the City of Gainesville successfully secured approval from the state of Georgia to designate 270 acres in the downtown area as an “Opportunity Zone.” Under this program, any business within this special district is eligible to receive a reduction in their state tax bill if they hire at least two new employees.

Whether it's the holiday season or that summer cookout around the pool, party host need to know their responsibilities when alcoholic beverages are served. You should already know that it's important to practice moderation. But what about the other guy? How far should you go to make sure that a friend or fellow party-goer doesn't' drink too much and gets behind the wheel of a car?

In the past, divorce rates among the elderly in America have been much lower than for younger couples. But those statistics seem to be changing in recent years with a marked increase in divorce cases among couples 60 years and older.

Georgia voters approved a constitutional amendment to what is known as Georgia’s Restrictive Covenant Act in 2010. Mark Alexander, a partner and trial attorney with the Stewart Melvin & Frost law firm in Gainesville, Ga., offers advice on what both employers and employees should consider when they set up or review a restrictive covenant in their company.

It’s not just homeowners or landlords who need to know what to do in the case of foreclosure. Renters do, too. Most discussions on foreclosure center on the plight of homeowners, but what about the renters in homes or apartments that have been foreclosed?

With the down economy and record high unemployment, workers are desperate for any job – so much so that they tend to overlook the fine print of their employment agreements, including the “non-compete” clause.

In mid-July, Congress passed legislation imposing the strongest restrictions on banks and Wall Street since the Great Depression. The legislation was pushed by President Obama in response to the 2008 meltdown of the national economy. The new law expands federal oversight into a vast number of financial areas in an attempt to prevent a similar economic crisis.

We hear a lot in the news about the impact of the recession on local governments and our school systems. Budget cuts at the state and local levels have led to furloughs, layoffs and reduction of government services throughout our communities. But less attention has been given to our judicial system, despite undergoing the same belt-tightening measures.