How Property Distributed When Someone Dies Without A Will
If you die without a Will in Texas, referred to as dying intestate, your property will pass according to the Texas intestacy laws – a strict legal…
FAQs About Trusts, Trusts
When I suggest Crummey Trusts to clients, I often get a confused reaction: “Why would I want a crummy trust?” they ask. Despite the misleading name, Crummey…
Estate Planning, FAQs About Estate Planning
IIn Texas, minor orphans who have reached the “age of discretion”—typically 12 years old or older—have the legal ability to appoint their own guardian. This law provides…
Estate Planning, Questions About Estate Tax
Under federal tax law, the person making a gift (the donor) is responsible for any federal gift tax due—not the recipient (donee). The gift’s recipient (the donee) does…
Trusts
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
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…
Estate Planning, Odds and Ends, Uncategorized
Cybercriminals are using AI to mimic the voices of our family members. Learn how to protect yourself from voice-cloning scams.
Probating a Will
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…
FAQs About Wills
A holographic Will is a handwritten Will. And there have been some strange ones. For example, can you imagine writing your will on your bedroom wall? How…
Uncategorized
An Irrevocable Life Insurance Trust, or “ILIT” is an irrevocable trust that own life insurance. Historically, Americans have used ILITs as a vehicle to make gifts to beneficiaries…