Estate Planning

Texas allows you to automatically transfer property upon your death without those items having to go through probate if you prepared and signed a Texas Transfer on Death (TOD) Deed. This document works like a TOD designation on a bank account. A Texas estate planning attorney can draft a TOD deed for you and answer your questions about how to use this legal vehicle in your estate plan.
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A comprehensive estate plan includes directives related to incapacity and health care. If you do not include an incapacity plan in your estate plan, your loved ones may be required to petition the court for the authority to make decisions regarding your personal care and health care. Furthermore, the court and your family members could ignore your wishes and desires unless you put them in writing now.

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Many people assume that the only purpose of estate planning is to decide who receives their property after their death. However, there is much more to estate planning than choosing heirs to receive your property. Comprehensive estate planning can include incapacitation planning, asset protection, and tax planning. Contact a Read more . . .

Estate planning is important for everyone. However, if you are building your business, there are additional reasons why you need a comprehensive estate plan. The type of business you are building can have a significant impact on the provisions included in your estate plan. A Read more . . .

For many people, their plans for their final estate are a private matter that they do not wish to share with other individuals. Therefore, they may be concerned to know that most probate matters are public record in Texas. A matter of public record is open for viewing by any interested person. If you wish your estate to remain private, you might want to speak with a Read more . . .

The goals for an estate plan of any size are typically protecting assets for heirs, avoiding the probate process whenever possible, providing for loved ones, charitable giving, and avoiding estate and gift taxes. High-net-worth estate planning poses several challenges for an individual. However, working with a Texas estate planning attorney to develop a strategy using various estate planning tools can accomplish your goals for an estate plan.
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It’s a good practice to review your estate plan after a major life event, including marriage. Newlyweds who have estate plans when they get married should review those plans to ensure that the plans still reflect their desires now that they are married. For newlyweds who do not have an estate plan, working with a Texas estate-planning lawyer to develop an estate plan is an important step in preparing for their future lives together.
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Many people think of digital assets in terms of bitcoin or other digital forms of currency. However, your digital assets encompass a wide variety of accounts, including accounts related to banking, shopping, entertainment, emails, and social media. What happens to your digital assets when you die? Unfortunately, without an estate plan, these assets could be lost forever. A Read more . . .

Federal bankruptcy exemptions and most state bankruptcy exemptions protect most retirement funds from creditor claims. Many states also have laws protecting retirement accounts from creditor claims outside of a bankruptcy case. However, inherited IRAs may not always qualify for the same protection from claims. A Read more . . .

A living trust can be a valuable estate-planning tool that can meet many of your estate-planning goals and needs. With a living trust, you can protect assets, avoid probate, reduce the taxable value of your estate, and provide for loved ones. A living trust may also provide other benefits depending on your situation and needs. However, you should also discuss a will with a Texas wills and trusts lawyer.

Why Do I Need a Will If I Have a Living Trust?

There are a few reasons why you need a will, even though you have a living trust.
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If you are the executor or personal representative of an estate in Texas, you have several important duties. The executor has a fiduciary duty to perform the tasks necessary to probate the state and to protect the best interests of the heirs. If you are unsure of what you need to do as an executor, a Texas estate planning lawyer can help you.
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