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 here.

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?

I…

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 life…

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…

Planning for Special Circumstances

Estate Planning for Same-Sex Couples

For many years, the Defense of Marriage Act (“DOMA”) prevented the federal government from recognizing marriages of same-sex couples. As a result, same-sex couples could not take…

Planning for Special Circumstances

Estate Planning for Alzheimer’s

I was recently reminded that incapacity is something that can happen at any age. Someone I know was diagnosed with early onset of Alzheimer’s disease at just…

The Complexities of Intestacy in Blended Families

Can Stepchildren Force a Surviving Spouse to Sell Homestead Property?

Conflicts often arise in blended families when one spouse dies. This is especially true if the deceased spouse’s children and their stepparent do not have…

Probating a Will

Is an Executor Required to be a US Citizen?

I recently received a phone call from someone whose wife was not a US Citizen. The caller wondered whether his wife could nevertheless serve as an executor…