Estate Planning, The Texas Transfer on Death Deed

The Texas Transfer on Death Deed

The Texas transfer on death deed is a legal document that allows you to name beneficiaries who will inherit your real estate after you die, without a probate…

Trusts

The Power of Beneficiary Deemed Owner Trusts for Retirement Assets

If you have a large retirement asset that you intend to pass to your beneficiaries in trust, consider updating your estate plan to include Beneficiary Deemed Owner Trusts…

FAQs About Probate

Is It Always Necessary to Probate a Will in Texas?

It is necessary to probate a Will in Texas when the estate includes assets titled in the decedent’s name. A person who dies typically has two classes of…

Medical Powers of Attorney and Directives

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

Texas law controls who makes medical decisions if there is no medical power of attorney. The law is rigid, and the person authorized to make decisions under the…

FAQs About Wills

Can I Make Handwritten Changes To a Typewritten Will?

Handwritten changes a Testator makes before signing a typewritten Will are valid; however, handwritten changes made after signing a Will be disregarded unless the Testator observes all the…

How Property Distributed When Someone Dies Without A Will

What Happens If You Die Without A Will in Texas?

If you die intestate, or without a Will in Texas, your property will pass according to the intestacy statutes, a predetermined formula created by the state legislature that…

Estate Planning, Odds and Ends, Uncategorized

Beware the Rise of Voice Cloning Scams

Cybercriminals are using AI to mimic the voices of our family members. Learn how to protect yourself from voice-cloning scams.

Uncategorized

What is a Miller Trust?

A Miller Trust, or qualified income trust, is an irrevocable trust that allows individuals qualify for Medicaid long-term care services, such as nursing home care, when they earn…

Special Needs Trusts

Special Needs Trusts FAQs

If you are a parent of a child with special needs, your estate planning should include a special needs trust. Closeup of mother holding her children hand.

Probating a Will

Who Can Apply for Probate in Texas?

Usually, a person a testator nominates as executor in a Will applies for probate, but not always. The Texas Estates Code provides that any interested person can…