What Happens If You Don’t Name a Beneficiary in Texas?
When you set up a life insurance policy, retirement account, or bank account with a “payable on death” option, you’re usually asked to name a beneficiary. It may seem like a minor task, but skipping it or failing to update it can create bigger problems than you might expect.
What Happens to Retirement Accounts and Life Insurance in Estate Planning?
If you’re putting together an estate plan or updating an old one, you may have questions about what happens to your retirement accounts and life insurance policies. Do they get passed on through your will? Are they taxed? Will your loved ones have to wait through the probate process? Here’s what...
How Recent Tax Law Changes Could Affect Your Texas Estate Plan
If you haven’t looked at your estate plan recently, now might be the right time. New federal tax laws are changing the way high-net-worth families think about wealth transfer, and even if your estate isn’t massive, these shifts could still affect how you plan, give, and protect what you’ve built. Here’s...
Why Estate Planning Is Different in Texas (and What Dallas Families Should Know)
When it comes to estate planning, one size doesn’t fit all, especially if you live in Texas. State laws shape everything from how your assets are divided to how smoothly your loved ones can handle things after you’re gone. And while online templates may seem convenient, they often fall short when...
Can an Ex-Spouse Inherit? How Divorce Affects Wills and Trusts in Texas
When you go through a divorce, you probably think about child custody, dividing property, or changing your last name. But one thing many people forget? Updating their estate plan.
In Texas, the law does offer some automatic protections after divorce, but not enough to guarantee your ex doesn’t...
Naming Minors as Beneficiaries: Why It’s a Risk and What to Do Instead
When you’re putting together an estate plan, it’s only natural to want your children to inherit what you’ve worked hard to build. Many parents assume that listing a child as a beneficiary on a life insurance policy or bank account is the easiest way to make sure they’re taken care of.
Pour-Over Wills Explained: How They Work With Trusts in Texas
If you’ve created a living trust to manage your estate, you may think your work is done. But what happens if you forget to transfer an asset into the trust before you pass away? That’s where a pour-over will comes in.
In this post, we’ll break down...
Keeping the Peace: Estate Planning Tips to Prevent Family Disputes
No one wants to imagine their loved ones arguing over money or belongings after they’re gone, but it happens more often than you’d think. Family disputes over wills and inheritances can cause lasting damage, especially when expectations aren't clear or the estate plan is incomplete.
The good news? With...
Are Your Beneficiaries Prepared for the Tax Impact of Their Inheritance?
When you think about estate planning, your focus is on protecting your assets and providing for loved ones. But just as important is this question: what happens to those assets once they’re inherited? More specifically, will your beneficiaries face a tax burden they weren’t expecting?
In Texas, there’s...
How to Handle Outstanding Debts During Probate
When a loved one passes away, the last thing most families want to think about is debt. Unfortunately, managing outstanding debts is an essential part of the probate process. Before any inheritance can be distributed, the estate’s debts must be settled during the probate process. If you're serving as an executor...