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...
What to Do If an Heir Cannot Be Located During Probate
Probate is a process designed to make sure a person’s assets are distributed according to their wishes or, if there’s no will, under Texas law. But what happens when an heir cannot be found? Missing heirs can complicate probate and delay closing an estate. If you’re an executor or personal representative...
How Transfer-on-Death Deeds Affect Probate
When it comes to planning for the future, many people want to make things as easy as possible for their loved ones. One tool that can help simplify the process is a Transfer-on-Death (TOD) deed. In Texas, TOD deeds allow you to pass real estate directly to a beneficiary without going...
Can an Executor Be Removed? Understanding Your Rights and Options
Choosing an executor is an essential part of any estate plan. An executor has the duty to carry out the deceased person's wishes, manage the estate’s assets, and ensure that debts and taxes are appropriately handled. But what happens if the executor isn't doing their job — or worse, is causing...
What Happens When There’s No Executor Named in the Will?
You’ve found the will. It looks valid. It names who should inherit what. But there’s just one problem—there’s no executor listed. Or maybe the person named has passed away, is unable to serve, or simply doesn’t want the responsibility.
While this can be unsettling, it doesn’t mean the probate...
How to Resolve Family Disputes During Probate
When a loved one passes away, emotions run high, and unfortunately, so can family tensions. Even the most close-knit families can find themselves divided during probate. Arguments about the will, confusion over who gets what, or suspicion about how things are being handled can quickly turn into long-term disputes.
Understanding Undue Influence in Will Contests
When a loved one passes away, the last thing most families expect is a fight over the will. But when that document leaves everything to one person—or shuts out close relatives entirely—it raises fundamental questions. Was this indeed what your loved one wanted? Or was someone pulling the strings?