Once regarded as an estate planning tool for only the ultra-rich, trusts have gained popularity among Texans of varied social and economic standing. There are many different types of trusts, each providing various advantages. Texas estate planning attorneys regularly help clients of all circumstances determine which type of trust will best meet their...

Congress intended the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) of 1996 to protect people from invasions of their privacy about their medical records. Unfortunately, the well-intentioned legislation created HIPAA issues in estate planning. A Texas estate planning attorney can explain these problems and craft an estate plan that will meet your needs...

What happens to your estate if you die without heirs in Texas will depend on whether you had estate planning documents or not. If you had a will or living trust agreement, your money and assets would get distributed according to the terms of those papers. If you did not have a will or...

Every parent should develop a complete estate plan to provide for and protect their children in the event that the parent dies before the child grows up and moves away from home. If you are living with the child's other parent, it is unlikely that the child will have to move away from the...

Texas allows you to automatically transfer property upon your death without those items having to go through probate if you prepared and signed Texas Transfer on Death Deeds (TOD). This document works like a TOD designation on a bank account. A Texas estate planning attorney can draft a TOD deed for you and...

Many people assume that the only purpose of estate planning is to decide who receives their property after their death. However, there is much more to it than choosing heirs to receive your property. Comprehensive estate planning can include incapacitation planning, asset protection, and tax planning. Contact a Texas estate planning attorney if...

Estate planning is important for everyone. However, if you are building your business, there are additional reasons why you need a comprehensive estate plan. The type of business you are building can have a significant impact on the provisions included in your estate plan. A Texas business succession planning lawyer can help you...

For many people, their plans for their final estate are a private matter that they do not wish to share with other individuals. Therefore, they may be concerned to know that most probate matters are public record in Texas. A matter of public record is open for viewing by any interested person. If you...

The goals for an estate plan of any size are typically protecting assets for heirs, avoiding the probate process whenever possible, providing for loved ones, charitable giving, and avoiding estate and gift taxes. High-net-worth estate planning poses several challenges for an individual. However, working with a Texas estate planning attorney to develop a...

It’s a good practice to review your estate plan after a major life event, including marriage. Newlyweds who have estate plans when they get married should review those plans to ensure that the plans still reflect their desires now that they are married. For newlyweds who do not have an estate plan, working with...