Resources

Estate and Gift Tax Changes for 2026

Congress recently passed sweeping legislation, which includes many changes to tax policy, spending, and entitlement programs. One of the most significant changes for estate planning is an increase in…

Does Every Estate Have To Pay An Estate Tax?

Most clients I work with voice concern about the amount of federal estate taxes that their families will have to pay after their death. They have heard…

What is a Miller Trust?

Texas is one of 12 states that have an income cap to qualify for Medicaid long-term care. That means some people who need nursing home care have too…

Who Makes Medical Decisions in Texas If There Is No Medical Power of Attorney?

If you become incapacitated in Texas and haven’t signed a Medical Power of Attorney, state law determines who can make medical decisions on your behalf. The law is…

What are the Inheritance Rights of Half-Siblings When Someone Dies Without a Will?

When someone dies without a Will in Texas, siblings inherit only if a spouse, descendants, or parents do not survive the deceased person. When there is a…

Can I Make Handwritten Changes To a Typewritten Will?

Many people assume they can make simple handwritten changes to a typed Will—cross out a name, add a line, initial the change, and be done. But under Texas…

Designing a Trust if Asset Protection is Your Goal

Attorney Rania Combs explains how to design a spendthrift trust for beneficiaries if asset protection is your goal.

Trapped Inside Your Body: Would you Choose to Live?

As someone who helps people plan their end-of-life wishes, I often discuss advance directives with clients to prepare for situations when they can’t speak for themselves and loved…