Estate Planning for Blended Families: Pitfalls and Solutions
Blended families are the norm now, and these situations can make estate planning more complicated than the “leave it to Beaver” fantasyland. It is already tempting for many people to procrastinate about making an estate plan, but when you throw in the obvious emotional entanglements inherent in blended families, it is easy...
The Risks of Being a Trustee & How to Avoid Common Pitfalls
Although a person might feel as if they “won” because they got named to serve as the trustee of a relative’s trust, they often feel differently when they realize the massive amount of work involved. Also, they seldom understand the potential liability they face in that position. Just because you were named...
What is a Small Estate Affidavit?
Probate is the process of transferring a person’s property after their death. If the person has a Will, the court oversees the distribution of the person’s assets to the heirs named in the Will. The probate process can be lengthy, time-consuming, and costly in some situations.
However, some...
Four Reasons Your Will May Be Contested in Court (How to Protect Your Will From Unhappy Relatives)
Your will represents your final wishes for how you would like your remains and property handled upon your passing. Often, what we want does not make all of our loved ones happy and leads to discord. You may be anticipating this could be possible in your situation. In that case, our
How Long Does Probate Take in Texas?
After a close relative dies, there is often a whirlwind of activity like making funeral arrangements, notifying people, looking for your deceased loved one’s important papers, and the many other tasks that must get taken care of when someone dies in Texas. When you locate the will, another series of events will...
Should You Set Up a Revocable Living Trust?
If you want to get your financial matters organized and protect the future of your loved ones, you might be considering a revocable living trust.
This article answers some of the common questions about these documents. A Texas estate planning attorney can answer more of your questions...
Do You Want Your Children to Live Extravagantly?
You have worked hard and managed to accumulate a tidy sum of money. As you think about setting up your estate plan, you might want to consider how inheriting a substantial amount of money could help or hurt your children. As a popular book series has cautioned for over 20 years, receiving...
How Do I Transfer Texas Real Estate of a Deceased Non-Resident?
If your deceased relative owned real property in Texas but did not live here or have Texas residency, you might wonder how to transfer the real estate from the decedent’s estate to the person who is to inherit it. Texas has a procedure for transferring the property in this situation.
Does Your College Student Need Estate Planning?
Most people in their late teens and early 20s do not own a substantial amount of assets, but it can still be prudent to have certain estate planning documents in place on their behalf. When your child turns 18, you no longer have the legal right to make healthcare or financial decisions...
Is a Handwritten Will Valid? Everything You Need to Know About Holographic Wills
Texas allows handwritten (holographic) wills, but usually, a typed will is a better option. There are some restrictions, however, on holographic wills in Texas that could invalidate a handwritten will under the right circumstances. Because of those rules, relying on a handwritten will can be risky and subject your loved ones to...