What Is the SECURE Act? How Will It Affect My Retirement?
The SECURE Act has transformed American retirement planning with its sweeping changes. This legislation affects how you save, when you can access your funds, and the way your retirement assets are handled after you pass. It adjusts the age for required minimum distributions and modifies rules for inherited retirement accounts, offering new...
Requirements for a Valid Will Under Texas Law
Understanding the requirements for a valid will in Texas is crucial for ensuring your wishes are respected after you pass away. In Texas, specific legal criteria must be met for a will to be considered valid. This includes aspects such as age, mental capacity, the presence of witnesses, and how the will...
Understanding Your Rights as an Estate Beneficiary
Estate planning plays a vital role in determining how one's assets are allocated after their demise. Beneficiaries stand at the center of this process, as they are the individuals designated to receive assets from an estate. It's important for beneficiaries to recognize their rights as those inheriting. By understanding these rights,...
Why Is Having a Will Important in Estate Planning?
Many people procrastinate about making a will because they incorrectly assume that their loved ones will automatically receive their property after they die. In fact, dying intestate (not having a valid will at the time of your death) could leave the people you care most about empty-handed and...
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...
Top 5 Types of Trusts
What Are the Rights of a Trust Beneficiary in Texas?
The rights of the beneficiary of a trust in Texas will depend on the language of the trust and our state’s statutory and case law. Generally, the terms of the trust document will take precedence over the statutes about the duties of the trustee and the rights of the beneficiaries, but the...
What Are Spousal Lifetime Access Trusts (SLATs)?
Trusts offer many advantages: avoiding probate, managing distribution of assets, and ensuring that your wishes are carried out after your death. However, you might wonder if there are any benefits trusts provide to the living? The short answer is “Yes.” Texas trust attorneys have been working diligently to advise clients about the...