Category: Estate Planning

A personal representative is an individual who is appointed to manage a probate estate. If a person does not have a will that appoints someone to this position (or the person nominated in the will is unwilling or incapable to serve), the court chooses an individual to serve as the personal representative. In most...

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) has impacted many areas of law other than how much we owe in income taxes. Estate planning and divorce have also been impacted by some of the provisions of the TCJA. One of the most significant impacts of the TCJA on divorce is that alimony payments...

Many different factors will affect how long probate will take in Texas, but the short answer is that probate is not usually a fast process. Probate involves many steps, and each phase can take weeks or months, even years. To determine how long your loved one’s probate process will take, you must speak with...

For many people, their pets are a member of their family. They refer to them as their “four-legged children” or their “fur babies.” For many individuals, planning for their pet’s care after their death is an import element of estate planning. However, pets cannot inherit money or property. Therefore, if you want to provide...

Estate planning may not be a high priority for many people, but it should be for several reasons. A comprehensive estate plan helps you protect your property and provide for your heirs during and after your lifetime. Your estate planning documents also allow you to remain in control of important financial and medical decisions...

People often use trusts as part of an estate plan. These arrangements can reduce your estate taxes and offer additional benefits that you do not get with a simple will. Many types of trusts usually do not go through probate, so your beneficiaries might get to access the assets more quickly than they could...

Many people consider estate planning as a way to ensure their wishes are carried out upon their death. However, estate planning also includes incapacity planning. Our Texas incapacity planning lawyers discuss reasons you need to plan for incapacity in this article, as well as the legal documents that can protect you and your...

If you have a comprehensive estate plan, you are one step ahead of many people. However, drafting and executing an estate plan is only the first step in protecting your future, your family, and your property. You need to periodically review your estate plan with your Texas estate-planning lawyer to ensure the...

When it comes to estate-planning, it’s usually a good idea to create documents that allow you to avoid probate. There are a number of really good reasons to avoid probate, from tax savings, time savings, and of course, privacy. However, there are times when probate is unavoidable, and when that happens, whomever is...

Planning for your death or incapacitation may not be the most appealing task on your to-do list; however, it is very important to make time to work with a Texas estate planning lawyer, especially if you own a business and are looking to get tips for business owners. Failing to develop an...