Financial Powers of Attorney, Planning for Special Circumstances

A Guide to Understanding the Texas Durable Power of Attorney and North Carolina Durable Power of Attorney

This article explains, in plain terms, what a Durable Power of Attorney is, when it begins, when it ends, and what it allows an agent to do. It…

What To Do When Someone Dies Without A Will

Understanding Applications to Determine Heirship in Texas?

When a person dies without a valid will, families are often left with practical problems that need solutions. A house is still in the decedent’s name. A bank…

Estate Planning, Planning for Special Circumstances

The Five Basic Estate Planning Documents Every Adult in Texas Needs

When some people hear the words “estate planning,” they picture a mansion or significant wealth. But estate planning is not just about making sure your property gets to…

FAQs About Estate Planning, Questions About Estate Tax

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…

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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…

Medical Powers of Attorney and Directives

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…

How Property Distributed When Someone Dies Without A Will, Intestacy

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…

FAQs About Wills

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…

FAQs About Trusts, Trusts

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.

Special Needs Trusts

Special Needs Trusts FAQs: Answers for Parents of Children with Special Needs

If you are a parent of a child with special needs, a special needs trust (SNT) should be an essential part of your estate planning. Without one, leaving…