Medical Powers of Attorney and Directives

Does My Texas Medical Power Of Attorney Need To Be Notarized?

Many people have medical powers of attorney that they have signed in the presence of two witnesses. They become concerned that their power of attorney is not valid…

FAQs About Powers of Attorney and Directives

What is a Texas Medical Power of Attorney?

A Texas medical power of attorney is a document that allows you, the principal, to designate a trusted family member or friend to make medical decisions for…

The Risk of DIY Planning

LegalZoom vs. Lawyer: What You Don’t Know Can Hurt You

LegalZoom and other do-it-yourself document preparation services want you to believe that the process of preparing a Will is as easy as filling in the blanks on…

FAQs About Wills, Planning for Special Circumstances

The Characterization of Property in Texas

I have written before that the characterization of property as separate or community dictates who inherits property when a married person dies without a Will in…

Estate Planning, Planning for Special Circumstances

Can I Sign My Will Electronically in Texas?

UPDATE: On April 8, 2020, Governor Abbott issued an order temporarily allowing regular notaries to notarize the following documents by video conference: durable powers of attorney, medical powers…

Estate Planning, Planning for Special Circumstances

How to Sign Estate Planning Documents in a Pandemic

UPDATE: On April 8, 2020, Governor Abbott issued an order temporarily allowing regular notaries to notarize the following documents by video conference: durable powers of attorney, medical powers…

Odds and Ends

Who Can Make Funeral Arrangements in Texas When There Isn’t a Will?

A man died without a Will. He died unmarried, with two children, one 19 and the other 17. However, he and his children had been estranged for least…

Estate Planning, Planning for Special Circumstances

Planning for a PandemicFor a summary of CDC recommendations for adults over 60, read:

My children asked me yesterday how many times in my life the world has dealt with a pandemic like COVID-19. I couldn’t think of any other. COVID-19…

Odds and Ends

Beware of Social Security Scams

My husband and I disconnected our home phone number recently. We both have cell phones, and it seemed like the only calls we received were sales calls…

FAQs About Dying Without A Will, Intestacy

Who Are The Heirs of a Single Person With No Surviving Parents or Children Who Dies Without a Will?

When an unmarried person dies without a Will in Texas, the Texas Intestacy Statutes control how their property will be distributed. The intestacy statutes are the…