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…

FAQs About Trusts

How a Spendthrift Trust Safeguards Inheritances

A spendthrift trust is a powerful estate planning tool that can help safeguard inheritances for beneficiaries who may be prone to poor financial decisions. Whether due to immaturity,…

FAQs About Trusts, Trusts, Uncategorized

Secure Your Legacy: How Proper Estate Planning Protects Your Retirement Accounts

Retirement accounts often make up a substantial portion of an individual’s estate and warrant thoughtful planning. Naming a trust as the beneficiary of these accounts can offer important…

Uncategorized

How to Protect Seniors from Financial Fraud

Financial fraud targeting seniors is a growing crisis, costing older Americans over $3 billion annually. Scammers target older adults because they often have significant savings, retirement funds, or…

Intestacy, Uncategorized

Texas Intestacy FAQs

What Is Intestacy? Intestacy refers to the legal process that determines how a person’s estate is distributed when they die without a valid will. Texas intestacy laws establish…

The Risk of DIY Planning

The Problem with LegalZoom (And Other Do-It-Yourself Estate Planning Solutions)

LegalZoom markets itself as a cheaper alternative to hiring an attorney. As a result, many individuals choose LegalZoom over professional legal services, believing that its documents will…

Special Needs Trusts

What is a Letter of Intent for Child With Special Needs

A Letter of Intent (LOI) is an essential document for parents or caregivers that provides critical information about medical needs, routines, preferences, and long-term care plans of a…