Wacky Wills

Wacky Wednesday: Wills That Make You Go “Hmmm…”- Harry Houdini

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 here.

Special Needs Trusts

What is the Difference between a First-Party and a Third-Party Special Needs Trust?

Understanding the differences between first-party and third-party Special Needs Trusts is important when planning for a loved one with special needs. Both types of trusts serve to protect…

What To Do When Someone Dies Without A Will

Who May File an Application to Determine Heirship in Texas?

When an individual dies without a Will, a procedure called a Determination of Heirship proceeding can be filed establish the deceased individual’s rightful heirs. An application to…

FAQs About Estate Planning

What Will Happen To Your Facebook Account When You Die?

A friend from college died suddenly a couple of years ago. She was a healthy person, but contracted the flu and died from complications from it.

FAQs About Wills

Is A Will Signed By One Witness Valid If It Is Also Signed by a Notary?

I have written before about the requirements of a valid will in Texas. To be valid, a Will must be signed by the testator, or another…

How Property Distributed When Someone Dies Without A Will

The Complexities of Intestacy in Non-Traditional Families

I received a note last week that highlights the heartbreaking consequences of dying without a Will in non-traditional families. The couple had lived together for twenty-one years…

FAQs About Trusts

To Trust Or Not To Trust

Last Christmas, the only thing on my older children’s Christmas list was a laptop computer. As they have gotten older, school assignments have increasingly required access to…

FAQs About Wills

Do I Have to be an Adult to Make a Will in Texas?

The Texas Estates Code provides that in order for a Will to be valid, the person making the Will must not only be of sound mind, but…

Newsworthy

Celebrating Five Years!

When I started my law firm years ago, I was nervous. Petrified, actually. I had always worked for other attorneys before, so I never had to…

Newsworthy

Ending the Year on a High Note…Again!

This month, I was honored to be included in Houstonia Magazine’s list of “Top Lawyers” for 2014! This is the second year in a…