Estate Planning, Planning for Special Circumstances

‘Tis the Season to be Swindled

Several of my neighbors have recently received calls from individuals impersonating IRS agents. The callers claim that back taxes are owed and threaten arrest if immediate payment is…

Estate Planning, Planning for Special Circumstances

How to Care for a Caregiver

November is not only National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month, but also National Family Caregivers Month. Today, more than 5 million Americans are suffering with Alzheimer’s, and if…

FAQs About Wills, Planning for Special Circumstances

The Characterization of Real Estate Purchased With Separate Property During Marriage

A reader asked a very interesting question recently after reading my article on the characterization of property in Texas. He asked whether a house purchased during…

Questions About Estate Tax

2016 Gift and Estate Tax Limits

The IRS recently announced the estate and gift tax limits for 2016. In 2016, the exemption amount for individuals increased from $5.43 million to $5.45 million, which…

Wacky Wills

Wacky Wednesday: Wills That Make You Go “Hmmm…” Leslie Ann Mandel

NB: This post is part of a series highlighting wills that contain some interesting, and sometimes bizarre, bequests and stipulations. You can see all these posts…

Estate Planning, The Texas Transfer on Death Deed

What Happens if I Divorce After Naming My Spouse as a Transfer on Death Deed Beneficiary?

The Texas transfer on death deed is a document that allows homeowners to transfer property to their heirs outside of probate. Most couples who own property…

Planning for Special Circumstances

What Would You Do If You Had 46 Days to Live?

Imagine visiting the doctor for what you thought was a minor illness, and being told instead that you had a rare disease that would take your…

Estate Planning, The Texas Transfer on Death Deed

What Happens if the Beneficiary of my Transfer on Death Deed Dies Before Me?

The Texas Transfer on Death Deed, allows homeowners to name a beneficiary who will inherit their property after they die. It works like a beneficiary designation…

FAQs About Probate

Do I Have To Accept An Inheritance?

I have written about a deadbeat dad who claimed part of his deceased son’s estate, even though he had not been part of his son’s…

FAQs About Estate Planning

Frequently Asked Questions About Estate Planning

What happens if I die without a will in Texas? If you die without a Will in Texas, the Texas statutes will determine how your property will be…